The Village Callers – Hector
The Village Callers LP
Listen/Download – The Village Callers – Hector
Greetings all.
I hope the end of the week finds things in your corner of the world settled, mellow and wonderful.
Things here are fairly groovy, with my lovely wife nestled in the warmth of home.
She’s doing well, considering the hell she’s been through, but her prognosis is good. She goes back in for round two of chemo next week, and while we’d all rather she be home, as the old saying goes, you gotta do what you gotta do, and right now that involves doctors and medicine and all that goes along and while it’s tough now we’ll have the rest of our lives to sit back and hoist our collective middle finger toward cancer as it disappears in the rear view mirror.
This has been a real awakening into the capricious nature of life, or at least what can happen to “our” life and how quickly it can be rearranged whether we like it or not. You can’t really waste a lot of time carping about why it is thus (though we’ve done that too), and in the long run the only sane thing to do is kind of stare down the beast with all the technology and mental strength you can muster, value the good things you still have (and that is a lot) and soldier on.
I won’t lie and tell you that I haven’t spilled a few tears, whether the product of fear, sadness or frustration, but I will tell you that you find real, solid comfort from all corners (sometimes in places you didn’t expect), and that is always a pleasant surprise.
Our friends – here in our immediate sphere, and out in the wilds of the interwebs – have been singularly uplifting, and in my own case, being able to retreat into the blog has been of immense value.
I should stop here and remind you that Friday night at 9PM sees the return of the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva Radio. This week is a survey of international funk and soul, with stops in Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Japan and Jamaica. If you can’t be there at the time of broadcast, you can always pick the show up as an MP3 on Saturday, right here at the blog.
That said, while I had a couple of articles stockpiled, I found myself straightening the record vault this week and while I was digging for a few records that I had neglected to scan, I pulled out my 45 of the Village Callers ‘Hector’ and realized, much to my surprise, that in the seven years the Funky16Corners blog has been up and running I have never (outside of inclusion in a mix or two) put the spotlight on this incredible record.
I think the first time I ever heard ‘Hector’ was wayyyy back in the day on one of the old UK ‘Sound of Funk’ comps (I think on the same volume that introduced me to ‘Iron Leg’ by Mickey and the Soul Generation) and it was a classic case of love at first listen.
It took me a few years before I got my hands on an original copy of the 45, but it has always held a special place of honor in my record box.
‘Hector’ is one of those records that has a secure place in my personal all-time Top Ten, and I always dig getting the chance to light it up on a big, loud sound system.
It has the kind of groove that builds so organically, with the drums, bass, congas, hand-claps, guitar and above all Hammond organ, that you’re up and out of your seat before you know it.
‘Hector’ has something that a lot of funk 45s don’t, that being it swings and the overall effect is nothing less than life affirming, and not on some corny, message-y way, unless you’re willing to take your message as delivered within the groove, in which case it’s super heavy and profound in the same way that sunlight, or a smile can be.
The Village Callers (borrowing their name from the Johnny Lytle soul jazz classic of the same name) were an East LA club band that mixed the soul hits of the day with Latin soul and jazz for funky stew. You can read more about their history here.
‘Hector’ is an uplifting, happy record that elevates my spirits whenever I play it, and I know that’s something I need now, and something all of you can benefit from as well, on account of the weekend is almost here.
So pull down the ones and zeros and then get up and shake to the sound of the Village Callers.
I’ll see you all on Monday.
Peace
Larry
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Themocracy
FWIW, The Beastie Boys used this in a mash-up skit they did on Check Your Head called “Blue Nun”. I love it when you throw on a new tune and all the sudden you’re like, “Oh, THAT’S where it comes from!”
Thanks!
You’re welcome!
Here’s the list of sampling usage from the Sample FAQ:
* “Hector” Beastie Boys’s “The Blue Nun” Cypress Hill’s “The Funky Cypress Hill Shit” Cypress Hill’s “The Phuncky Feel One” De la Soul’s “The Mack Daddy on the Left” Ice Cube’s “Jackin’ for Beats” King Bee’s “Havin a Good Time” Redman’s “Redman Meets Reggie Noble” Wreckx-N-Effect’s “New Jack Swing”
Long time lurker here, who always listens but has been bad about reading lately because of life’s demands… This is the first I saw about your wife’s cancer. I am so glad to hear that her prognosis is good. Your whole family is in my thoughts, as I send wishes for her speedy and complete recovery. Thank you for the good cheer you bring with your good music.
Good to hear that your wife is on the mend, Larry – put my middle finger in the collective too in memory of my dear dad….
Indeed glad to hear your wife’s prognosis is good – cancer sucks, and I figure you have a lot of people to lean on.
This Village Callers tune – I think it was the first day I found your blog that I also found this tune. Non-stop rotation at my place, in the car, on a run. I think my kids are a little sick of Hammond Funk #1.
Thanks again for all the great times!