February 4, 2009 Playlist

Psychedelic Soul
      
"It's Just Begun" by The Jimmy Castor Bunch (1972)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Jimmy Castor Bunch "It's Just Begun"  1972 (USA)
After years as an aspiring doo-wop singer (he filled in for Frankie Lymon in The Teenagers) and session musician (playing sax for Davy Cortez), Jimmy Castor made his first major splash in 1966 with the unforgettable Latin soul novelty number "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Callin' You".  By 1972, Castor had dubbed himself "The Everything Man" and was leading his own group as singer, songwriter, arranger and bandleader as well as a musician.  The debut album by The Jimmy Castor Bunch features everything from orchestrated strings and easy listening instrumentals to incendiary psychedelic funk grooves.  While he may never have lived up to the promise of this debut (though he did continue to score disco hits through the end of the 70's), It's Just Begun still stands as one of the landmarks of "psychedelic soul."
Here's a silly music video for "Troglodyte", a Top 10 pop hit for the Jimmy Castor Bunch included on this album.  And here's the Bunch performing the title track "It's Just Begun", with Jimmy showing off his skills on saxophone and timbales as well as singing.

     
Artist Song Album Year Country
The Chambers Brothers Are Your Ready (single version) Time Has Come: The Best Of The Chambers Brothers (compilation) 1969 USA
Jimmy Castor Bunch It's Just Begun It's Just Begun
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1972 USA
Purple Image Living In The Ghetto Purple Image 1970 USA
Curtis Mayfield Underground Roots 1971 USA
 
 
Jimmy Castor Bunch Bad It's Just Begun
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1972 USA
The Undisputed Truth What It Is? Face To Face With The Truth 1971 USA
The Bellrays Changing Colors Let It Blast 1998 USA
The Dirtbombs I'm Through With White Girls Dangerous Magical Noise 2003 USA
Shuggie Otis Ice Cold Daydream Freedom Flight 1971 USA
Iron Knowledge Showstopper Chains & Black Exhaust (various artists) rec. 1974 USA
Jimi Hendrix / Band of Gypsys Power Of Soul Band Of Gypsys 1970 USA
 
   
Digital Underground The DFLO Shuttle Sons Of The P 1991 USA
Egyptian Lover The Dark Side Of Egypt One Track Mind 1986 USA
Me'shell Ndegeocello Elliptical The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams 2007 USA
Miles Davis Maiysha Get Up With It 1974 USA
   
 
Parliament Loose Booty First Thangs (compilation) rec. 1972 USA
Funkadelic Loose Booty America Eats Its Young 1972 USA
Sly & The Family Stone Loose Booty Small Talk 1974 USA
Ultramagnetic MC's (Kool Keith) Big Booty The Four Horsemen 1993 USA
The Beastie Boys Shadrach Paul's Boutique 1989 USA
 
 
Black Merda Windsong Black Merda 1971 USA
Bad Brains Leaving Babylon Bad Brains 1982 USA
Bob Marley & The Wailers Rastaman Chant Burnin' 1973 Jamaica
New Kingdom Cheap Thrills Heavy Load 1993 USA
Prince Paul 2 B Blunt (A True Story) Psychoanalysis . . . What Is It? 1997 USA
Gran Am Get High Chains & Black Exhaust (various artists) rec. 1975 USA
The Fifth Dimension Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream) The Age of Aquarius 1969 USA
Charles Earland Aquarius (from Hair) Black Talk! 1970 USA
 
 
De La Soul Breakadawn Buhloone Mindstate 1993 USA
A Tribe Called Quest Bonita Applebaum People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm 1990 USA
Prince & The Revolution Around The World In A Day Around The World In A Day 1985 USA
The Isley Brothers Summer Breeze (Seals & Crofts) 3 + 3 1973 USA
      
     
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