Jimmy Castor

Listen/Download Jimmy Castor – Rattlesnake

Greetings all

The end of the week is approaching and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show. Tune in Friday nights at 9PM on Viva Radio for the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. If you ca’t be there at airtime, make sure to subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes.

While I’m pretty sure that most of you with a passing interest in old school soul and funk will already be aware of Jimmy Castor, I suspect that few of you have heard today’s selection.

Castor, a New York City native who’s musical career reaches back into the days of doowop, had a very interesting, and slightly convoluted path to success.

His first hit came in 1966 with the Latin flavored boogaloo of ‘Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You’, which was an R&B Top 20 hit (making it into the Pop Top 40).

His mid-60s recordings for Smash were built on a similar frame.

As far as most casual observers are concerned, the next chapter in the Castor story comes in 1973 with his hit ‘Troglodyte’ (a song that was even on my radar as a 10 year old).

A few years back I was out digging at a record show when I pulled the record you see before you today out of a box of 45s.

The label – Compass – caught my eye, since I already owned 45s on it by Helena Ferguson (‘My Terms’) and the Ohio Players (‘Tresspassin’).

The NY-based label, which featured psychedelic pop alongside soul, only lasted from 1967 to 1968.

Castor recorded one 45 for Compass, ‘Rattlesnake’ b/w ‘Soul Sister’ in 1967.

‘Rattlesnake’ is a hard-edged soul number, complete with sound effects, and a groovy horn chart.

The flipside ‘Soul Sister’ is a slightly more melodic tune, both songs being written by Castor with his longtime collaborator John Pruitt.

Both sides of this 45 (which was also released in France on Barclay) were included – along with some of his other early sides (on Hull and Jet Set) – on an old Winley records comp called ‘From the Roots’, which – oddly enough – has resurfaced on iTunes.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

 

 

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.