BUY NOW
“Bum, Bum, Bubbadum....” Years ago, when I was working at Tower Records, I heard this chant emanating from the huge, dilapidated speakers circling the sales floor. I was immediately entranced by the stanky funk of the song (“Bertha Butt Boogie”), and the audacious bunch behind it, namely the Jimmy Castor Bunch. Mr. Castor and his Bunch received many spins on the store stereo, much to the awe of the music lovin’ fools who worked there. We had never heard, nor heard of this maestro, who put the “FUN” in funk, and the “OO” in groove. Upon arrival at Rhino, I was quite psyched that the Jimmy Castor Bunch collection “The Everything Man” was in our catalog. So, I humbly present to you, the group that (to borrow a phrase from Wesley Willis) “whips a billy goat’s ass!”
The Jimmy Castor Bunch charted a career from the mid 1960’s to ‘80’s. Along the way they laid down several R&B and Pop hits. Singles like “Hey, Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You” and “Troglodyte (Cave Man)” are just a couple examples of an eclectic mixture of styles that defined the Jimmy Castor sound. He incorporated Latin soul, doo-wop, and a relentlessly funky groove, (along with larger than life characters like Leroy & Bertha Butt) into a nonstop funk and soul party. The fact that he is not mentioned in the same breath as funk kingpins like George Clinton and Sly Stone is rather unfortunate. He was at the same shindig. He was just the funny dude in the corner with the lampshade on his head. But, make no mistake about it, his groove was all pocket, baby.
So don’t chuck this CD on top of that pile in the corner, or use it as a coaster. Pop it in your player and put a slip in your hip and a dip in your yip. You’re in for a pleasant surprise. And, if you’ve experienced the Castor Bunch before, trust me, there’s nothing like rediscovering this sweet classic.
Subscribe to Feed
