caveinspiredmusic.com ROCK MUSIC SOUL & FUNK _____________________________________ RK-SL1 United States 1974 THE BERTHA BUTT BOOGIE (PART I & II) Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental – Caveman Pic Cover Comp: Jimmy CASTOR & John PRUITT (RK-LY) Arr: Jimmy Castor Rts: Jimpire Music (BMI) Perf: THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH Jimmy Castor (vocal, tenor sax) Gerry Thomas (keyboards) Jeff Grimes (guitar) Doug Gibson (bass) Ellwood Henderson (drums) Lenny Fridie, Jr. (conga drums) Prod. Co: Castor-Pruitt Productions Matrix: (Part 1) 29701 & (Part 2) 29702 Rel. Date: Nov. 1974 Time: (45) (Part 1) 3:10 & (Part 2) 2:58 (LP) 6:20 & (CD) 6:11 A. American Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM) Cartoon from back of LP jacket cover Atlantic SD-18124 (stereo) 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 2) 2. Single 45 (from album): (Parts 1 & 2) Atlantic 45-3232 7" 45rpm (Sides 1 & 2) 3. Single 45 (from album): (Part 1 only) Atlantic 3232 (DJ Promo) 7" 45rpm (mono & stereo) 4. Reissue Single 45: (Parts 1 & 2) Atlantic 13189 5. Reissue on Compilation CD: THE BEST OF THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (1995) Rhino 72209 (Tk 7) B. Canadian Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE (PC-CM) Atlantic SD 18124 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2) (1974) Atlantic AT 3232 C. British Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE…(1975) (PC-CM) Atlantic K 50120 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2)
Transcript
caveinspiredmusic.com
ROCK MUSIC
SOUL & FUNK
_____________________________________ RK-SL1 United States 1974
THE BERTHA BUTT BOOGIE (PART I & II) Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental – Caveman Pic Cover
Comp: Jimmy CASTOR & John PRUITT (RK-LY) Arr: Jimmy Castor Rts: Jimpire Music (BMI)
Perf: THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH Jimmy Castor (vocal, tenor sax) Gerry Thomas (keyboards) Jeff Grimes (guitar) Doug Gibson (bass) Ellwood Henderson (drums) Lenny Fridie, Jr. (conga drums) Prod. Co: Castor-Pruitt Productions Matrix: (Part 1) 29701 & (Part 2) 29702 Rel. Date: Nov. 1974 Time: (45) (Part 1) 3:10 & (Part 2) 2:58 (LP) 6:20 & (CD) 6:11 A. American Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM) Cartoon from back of LP jacket cover Atlantic SD-18124 (stereo) 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 2) 2. Single 45 (from album): (Parts 1 & 2) Atlantic 45-3232 7" 45rpm (Sides 1 & 2) 3. Single 45 (from album): (Part 1 only) Atlantic 3232 (DJ Promo) 7" 45rpm (mono & stereo) 4. Reissue Single 45: (Parts 1 & 2) Atlantic 13189 5. Reissue on Compilation CD: THE BEST OF THE
JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (1995) Rhino 72209 (Tk 7) B. Canadian Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE (PC-CM) Atlantic SD 18124 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2) (1974) Atlantic AT 3232 C. British Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE…(1975) (PC-CM) Atlantic K 50120 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2)
H. Italian Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM) Atlantic W 50120 (stereo) 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2) (Pic Sleeve) Atlantic W 10592
Flip Sd: E-Man Boogie I. Greek Releases: 1. LP: BUTT OF COURSE (PC-CM) Atlantic A 0102 2. Single 45: (Sides 1 & 2) Atlantic 10 101 J. Turkish 45: (Sides 1 & 2) (1975) Atlantic 75501 K. Lebanese 45: Atlantic AT 16026
Flip Sd: E-Man Boogie L. South African LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM)
Atlantic ATC 9572 M. Panamanian 45: Atlantic ATLP-203
Flip Sd: You Make Me Feel Brand New N. Brazilian LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM) Atlantic 3-17-404-016 (stereo) O. Chilean 45: (Sides 1 & 2) (1975) Atlantic (?) P. Japanese LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM)
Atlantic P-8564A Q. Australia LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (PC-CM) Atlantic SD 18124 (stereo) Spec: LP: BUTT OF COURSE… (All) 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 2) Notes: This is the third in a series of "caveman" songs done up by the Jimmy Castor Bunch, the only group to have ever created a whole family of caveman characters and written songs around them. "Jimmy studied anthropology while in collage and has always been a horror and monster movie fan." (Pruitt 1979) Actually this one of the very few songs about a "cave woman." Bertha Butt was first introduced in another JCB song, "Troglodyte (Cave Man)." Here, in Part 1, she is the star of the show, as she works out her boogie dance. It begins with the rhythmic grunting of the chorus – Bum, bum, baba, dum Ba, bum, bum, bum, baba, dum"
A good funky beat is laid down behind the narrator but the instrumentation remains just as sketchy as it was on the other two JCB "caveman" songs. The story (see Rock Song Lyrics for text) is interrupted three times by the chorus singing – When Bertha Butt did her boogie She started, "The Bertha Butt Boogie
Which is followed by the rhythmic grunting – Bum, bum …
Eventually the troglodyte makes an appearance in the story and tries to bother Bertha again. In the end we are told – The Troglodyte, Leroy, Luther an' the Butt sisters all knew That the Bertha Butt boogie was now the thing to do.
Leroy was a character already introduced in other JCB songs but he's not really a caveman; he's the son of the creature from the Black Lagoon. Part II on the flip side is just a repetitive instrumental version with the deep grunting sounds and the two lines of chorus in the appropriate places. The LP combines the two parts seamlessly and runs for 6:20. A critic of 70s soul music wrote – “There had never been a groove this fat blasting out of AM radio. Castor's approach to prehistoric sexism was so obviously tonque-in-cheek and full of good humor that even in those heady years of social outrage and the women's movement, nary a ferri complained, to the contrary, the song's central figure-Bertha Butt (one of The Butt Sisters) – would become (along with the aforementioned Leroy) Castor's most beloved character.” (Anon. n.d.) “In ‘Bertha Butt Boogle (sic),’ Bertha, her sisters, the Troglodyte himself, and Leroy are all reprised against a funky wash of guitars and percussion (Jeff Grimes had replaced Harry Jensen on guitar). It kicked off a string of R&B hits that lasted for five years. ‘Bertha Butt Boogie’ rose to #16 on the pop charts in late 1974 and is featured on the classic LP Butt Of Course.... whose garish cartoon cover depicts Jimmy in his E-Man costume (much like Superman's suit) chasing down Bertha.” (Anon. n.d.) Ref: Anon. n.d., Seventies Dance Music Page, Jimmy Castor Bunch, 70disco The Bertha Butt Boogie, Wikipedia Groia, Philip 1978, Castors Well Oiled, Black Music, v. 5, Issue 51, Feb. 1978, London, p. 10-11 Jimmy Castor, Bio, Wikipedia Jimmy Castor Bunch, The Bertha Butt Boogie, Parts 1 & 2, All countries, Discogs Jimmy Castor Bunch, The Bertha Butt Boogie, (6:15), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Jimmy Castor Bunch, Butt Of Course… LP, All countries, Discogs Pruitt, John, Personal letter dated Dec. 7, 1979, New York, NY
_____________________________________ RK-SL2 United States 1967
CAVE MAN – 1 & 2 Soul – Funk – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Bill McCLOUD Rts: Helt Music (BMI)
Perf: Vernon GARRETT (vocal)
(with electric guitar, bass, congas, & drums) Prod: Bill McCloud Prod. Co: Open-G Records; Los Angeles, CA Rec. Co: Ted Brenson Studio; Washington Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA Matrix: OPG-809 & OPG-810-A Time: (Sd 1) 2:10 & (Sd 2) 2:10 Label: Open-G OG-401 Spec: 7" 45rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: One of the very best caveman songs. One of those obscure, completely unknown great records, which when you hear it for the first time a big smile comes across your face and you can't help wondering why this one didn't make it. It didn't go anywhere because the lyrics were a bit too rough-edged for general acceptance at that time and it simply didn't get any decent promotion or airplay. From the late 50s right into the 80s, Vernon Garrett recorded at least 20 singles and 6 albums, mostly rhythm 'n' blues and soul music for several small independent record companies (all of them in the Los Angeles area) – labels such as Modern, Kent, Watts U.S.A., Venture, Kapp, etc.
Garrett also toured in Europe and in 1994 I had the pleasure of hearing him live and talking with him at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club of the Meridien Hotel in Paris. I showed him my transcription of McCloud’s lyrics to have him verify that I got all the words right, but he told me he couldn’t sing it for me because the backing combo he was with didn’t know the piece. This 45 single has been seen listed by three different sellers on the Web for over $100. This song was used for the "Cavers' Hop" at the 1995 Old Timers' Reunion in Randolph County, West Virginia. Ref: Danchin, Sebastian 1994, (Interview with Vernon Garrett), Soul Bag, n. 134, Printemps 1994 (Article not seen) Mohr, Kurt & Arniac, Jean-Pierre 1994, Vernon Garrett Discography, Soul Bag, n. 135, Été 1994, p. 22-24 (This discography does not include this 45 single) Nickols, Pete 2009, Vernon Garrett, Mid-Tempo Deep Soul, sirshambling Unknown Author, Soul Bag, n. 22/23, Janv.-Fév. 1973, (Article not seen) Vernon Garrett, Cave Man 45, 45cat Vernon Garrett, Cave Man 45, Discogs Vernon Garrett, Cave Man 45, (2:14), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Vernon Garrett, Discography, Soulful Kinda Music, soulfulkindamusic
CAVEMAN BILLY RK – Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Tony WILSON & Errol BROWN Rts: Rak Publishing Ltd.
Perf: HOT CHOCOLATE Errol Brown (lead vocal) Tony Wilson (vocal & bass guitar) Harvey Hinsley (lead guitar) Patrick Olive (conga drums &
percussion) Ian King (drums) Prod: Mickie Most Prod. Co: Rak Records Ltd. Rel. Date: Aug. 1971
Time: 3:59 & (LP – B2) 4:02 Errol BROWN A. British Single 45: Rak RAK 118
Flip Sd: I Believe (In Love) B. American Releases: 1. Single 45: Rak ZS7-4506 2. Reissue on LP: CICERO PARK (1974) Big Tree 89503 2X12” 33rpm (Disc 2 - Sd 1 – Bd 6) 3. Reissue on CD: A’S B’S & RARITIES (2005) EMI Music 5602172 (Tk 8) C. Irish Single 45: Columbia IDB 791 D. German Single 45: Columbia 1C-006 92 811
E. Dutch Single 45: Columbia 5C-006 92 811 F. Greek Single 45: Columbia (?) Spec: (Nos. A, B1, C, D, E, & F) 7' 45rpm Flip Sd: (All 45 Singles) I Believe (In Love) Notes: Not a particularly noteworthy addition to the assemblage of "caveman" songs. The lyrics (see Rock Song Lyrics) perpetuate the familiar myth regarding the sex appeal of prehistoric cavemen and also manage to get a small dig at a current topic of that period – woman's liberation. The flip side reached No. 8 on the British charts. Consisting of six members from various parts of the West Indies and England, this important group on the British soul-rock scene was organized in 1970 by Errol Brown. Another drummer replaced King in 1973 and the group continued performing right through the 90s. Ref: Anon. n.d., Hot Chocolate, Caveman Billy, 45cat Hot Chocolate (band), Bio, Wikipedia Hot Chocolate, Caveman Billy 45, Four releases, Discogs Hot Chocolate, Caveman Billy 45, US release, 45cat Hot Chocolate, Caveman Billy 45, (3:57), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Hot Chocolate, Cicero Park LP, Allmusic (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Young, Jon 1983, Now’s the Season for Hot Chocolate, Trouser Press, v. 10, n. 5, July 1983, New York, p. 12-14
_____________________________________ RK-SL4 United Kingdom 1973
CAVEMAN BILLY RK – Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Tony WILSON & Errol BROWN Rts: Rak Music
Perf: I. P. O. H. Hamilton King [aka. Ken Jeffers] (vocal & organ) Don Gillies (guitar) King Rollo (bass) Jim (congas) Ken Reynolds (drums) Prod: Tony Wilson Prod. Co: Rare Music Ltd. Time: A. British Single 45: Pye 7N.45215
Flip Sd: Doggy B. Portuguese Single 45: (Pic Cover)
Pye PATS 7027 Flip Sd: Doggy
Spec: (A & B) 7" 45rpm (stereo) Notes: The I.P.O.H. also recorded a single for CBS Records with a song entitled, “In Pursuit of Happiness,” and the initials of this title were used as the group’s name. King Rollo remembers – “In 1970 met Hamilton King who allowed me to help hump his Hammond organ and Leslie tone cabinet around London to all manner of gigs with a six-piece band we put together called I.P.O.H (In Pursuit of Happiness)…. The most exciting thing we did was in meet-ing up with Tony Wilson, the original bass player with Hot Chocolate, and Mickie Most. The first time I met Mickie he was seated at a piano in some studio which I can't recall the name of, and I found him the most likeable person I've ever met in the music business.” (King Rollo 2008) It was no doubt through this meeting that I.P.O.H. got hold of this song. “Our single 'Caveman Billy' was released, or I should say, escaped in spring 1973 on the Pye label rather than RAK and after a few radio plays it slithered down the door of destiny without the slightest attempt to stick. It's the only thing I have in my archive left from that era. The balance is appalling…
“I remember popping in to see Mickie again about ten years later in his new Berkeley Square offices. Just as friendly and considerate as before, he asked me if I minded waiting a bit as he wanted to try out some expensive-looking leather motorcycle suits… When I'd finally got his attention I pulled out the 'Caveman Billy' single, ‘I think the time might right to have another look at this.’ He played it for about thirty seconds. ‘I think not’ is all he said handing it back to me.” (King Rollo 2008) The photos here going from top left clockwise: Don Gillies, King Rollo, Ralpho (timbales – not on this single), Jim, Ken Reynolds, & Hamilton King. Their cover version was produced by one of the song’s writers. No British regular stock copies of this single 45 have ever been seen or found by the author. Ref: Anon. n.d., I.P.O.H., Caveman Billy, 45cat I.P.O.H., Caveman Billy, Portuguese Single, Discogs King Rollo 2008, Archive – Sing a Song of Sixpence, king-rollo.co.uk King Rollo 2009, Archive, King Hamilton & I.P.O.H., king-rollo.co.uk
_____________________________________ RK-SL5 United States 1973
CAVE MAN BILLY RK – Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Tony WILSON & Errol BROWN Rts: Buddah Music (ASCAP)
Perf: FOXTROT Prod: Ed O'Loughlin & Bob Gilligan Prod. Co: Midland Music International Time: 2:49 (Intro – 0:18) Label: RCA Victor APB0-0169 (stereo) Flip Sd: These Passing Days Spec: 7" 45rpm Notes: One of the few cases where a cave rock song originating in England was later recorded in the States. The Hot Chocolate version had already been issued by Rak Records in the U. S. Here only one minor change has been made in the lyrics in stanza I, verse 2 – But I'm jealous of Caveman Billy
becomes – But I'm just a Caveman Billy The chorus is sung only once each time instead of being repeated as in the original. One critic wrote – “Cave Man Billy is one of the many Glam Era Bubblegum Obscurities released on RCA at the time. It's a silly yet compelling tune with a nice Fuzz part and Sweet–like vocals. It recalls a more frothy Neanderthal Man and is another pure Bubbleglam delight.” (Wills 2008) Ref: Foxtrot, Cave Man Billy 45, 45cat Foxtrot, Cave Man Billy 45, Discogs Wills, Robin 2008, Foxtrot, Cave Man Billy, purepop1uk.blogspot.fr
_____________________________________________________ RK-SL6 United States 1981
Prod: Lesette Wilson Prod. Co: Headfirst Records Inc.; Los Angeles, CA Rec. Co: Northlake Sound Studios; White Plains, NY Time: 7:30 A. American LP: NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION Headfirst HF-9708 12” 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 1) B. British Releases: 1. LP: NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION (2002) Soul Brothers LP SBCS 16 12” 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 1) 2. 12” Maxi 45: Soul Brothers (?) Flip Sd: Look into Tomorrow 3. Reissue on CD: NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION (2002) Soul Brothers CD SBCS 16 (Tk 1) Notes: Starts slow and easy then kicks into funky beat. Consists short repeated nonsense lyrics (sounds like “Lotty, lotty, low”) interspersed with keyboard improvising. This album “included the track 'Caveman Boogie', which is now highly collectable on the U.K. rare groove scene.” (Anon. 2015) Ref: Anon. 2015, Lesette Wilson, Bio, last.fm Lesette Wilson, Caveman Boogie (7:38), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Lesette Wilson, Now That I’ve Got Your Attention CD, Sample on Spotify, Allmusic Lesette Wilson, Now That I’ve Got Your Attention, Discogs
________________________________ RK-SL8 United States 1997
Perf: Will BRADY (vocal) Prod. Co: Will Brady Time: 4:47 CD: CAVEMAN BRAIN
Will Brady (?) (Tk 1) Notes: A decidedly funky offering that rides very nicely. He starts out saying – Ever since the dawn of time We’ve had too many bullies cry
He then goes on to talk about the “family tree” and other stuff ‘til he come to the third stanza – Jungle king standin’ in the rain
Tryin’ to think with a caveman brain
It was unfortunately not possible to transcribe all the lyrics. Ref: Will Brady, Caveman Brain CD, CDBaby Will Brady, Caveman Brain CD, CDUniverse Will Brady, Caveman Brain CD, Google (◄INCOMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE)
________________________________ RK United States 1988
THE CAVES OF ALTAMIRA * Soul – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Walter BECKER & Donald FAGEN Arr: Perri & Jon Baker
Comp: Jimmy CASTOR, John PRUITT, & Jerry THOMAS Arr: The Jimmy Castor Bunch Rts: Jimpire Music (BMI)
Perf: THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH Jimmy Castor (vocal) Gerry Thomas (trumpet) Harry Jensen (guitar) Doug Gibson (bass) Bobby Manigault (drums) Prod. Co: Castor-Pruitt Productions Rec. Co: RCA Studio; New York, NY Matrix: BPKS-6618 Time: (LP – includes intro) 3:20 (45) 3:08 A. American Releases: 1. LP: PHASE TWO (PC-CM) RCA Victor LSP-4783 (stereo)
12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 3) 2. Single 45: RCA Victor 74-0763
Flip Sd: Party Life 3. Reissue 45: RCA Victor (Gold Standard Series) AMHD-0120
Flip Sd: Troglodyte (Cave Man) B. French 45: RCA Victor 41-031
Flip Sd: Party Life C. Canadian, German, & Australian LP: PHASE TWO RCA Victor LSP-4783
12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 3) D. German & Dutch Single 45: (1972)
RCA Victor 74-0763 Flip Sd: Party Life
Spec: (Nos.A2, A3, B, & D) 7" 45rpm Notes: The follow-up to the Jimmy Castor Bunch hit, "Troglodyte (Cave Man)" (see just below). Done in the same narrative style (which was a precursor of rap and hip-hop styles), it tells the story of another caveman, Luther the anthropoid. On the LP album this cut is presented with a short spoken intro – You know everybody learned the meaning of
Troglodyte so quickly that we figured we'd throw Anthropoid at 'em. "Anthropoid" was the link between man and the apes.
You could say the missing link.
Then the rhythm section starts to lay down the beat – You know, back in the days when dinosaurs ruled the earth There was a disco that not many people knew about … Now Luther loved to dance, ya know He would come in every night To do "The Caveman" and "The Breakdown."
Among the regulars, there was Betty Breakdown, Dancing Dora, and Fat Fanny. Luther picked out the first girl he saw, Betty Breakdown, but she broke right down. That was nothin' to Luther He went into his caveman thing Cartoon from back of Bertha Butt LP jacket cover
He said, "Uughh!"
Then he left mad and eventually came to a big house with a big peephole in the door. … He started a saying back then That we use today We just got it a little mixed up, ya know. When he put his eye to the peephole You know what he said – "Power to the peep-’ole!"
This play on the words, "peephole" and "people," can only be appreciated if you are familiar with the African American way of pronouncing the word "peop-le." For the full lyrics go to the Rock Song Lyrics section. One critic wrote – “Phase Two adheres closely to the previous album's formula, right down to using an orchestral instrumental for its intro and epilogue. As a result, parts of it feel like a re-tread: the standout example of this problem is "Luther the Anthropoid (Ape Man)," which sports a nice groove but is a merely a thinly veiled rewrite of "Troglodyte." Despite some uninspired moments like this, Phase Two makes up for the problem with tight arrangements and an infectiously funky performance from the band.” (Guarisco 2015) Ref: Guarisco, Donald A. 2015, Jimmy Castor Bunch, Phase Two, Review, (Sample on Spotify), Allmusic Jimmy Castor, Bio, Wikipedia Jimmy Castor, Bio, Seventies Dance Music Page, 70disco Jimmy Castor Bunch, Luther the Anthropoid 45, Discogs Jimmy Castor Bunch, Luther the Anthropoid, (3:22), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Jimmy Castor Bunch, Phase Two LP, Discogs
TROGLODYTE (CAVE MAN) Soul – Novelty – Vocal & Instrumental – Caveman Pic Cover Comp: Jimmy CASTOR & Gerry THOMAS Rts: Jimpire Music (BMI)
Perf: THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH Jimmy Castor (vocal) Gerry Thomas (trumpet) Harry Jensen (guitar) Doug Gibson (bass) Lenny Fridie Jr. (conga drums) Bobby Manigault (drums) Prod. Co: Castor-Pruitt Productions Rec. Co: RCA Studio; New York, NY Matrix: APKM-5761 Time: (LP – includes intro) 3:36 (45) 3:24 A. American Releases: 1. LP: IT'S JUST BEGUN (PC-CM) RCA Victor LSP-4640 (stereo) 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 3) 2. Single 45: RCA Victor 48-1029
Flip Sd: I Promise to Remember 3. Reissue 45: RCA Victor Sp Pro 1106
Flip Sd: P. Harris – The Thing 4. Reissue 45: RCA Victor (Gold Standard Series) AMHD-0120 Flip Sd: Luther the Anthropoid (Ape man) 5. Reissue 45: Collectables 4598 (1990)
8. Compilation CD: NIPPER'S GREATEST HITS – THE 1970s (1990) RCA Victor 9684-2-R (Tk 6) 9. Reissue on Compilation CD: THE BEST OF THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (1995) (PC-CM) Rhino 72209 (Tk 4) 9. Reissue on Compilation CD: 16 SLABS OF FUNK (2002) BMG Heritage 07863651042 (Tk 7) B. Canadian Single 45: RCA Victor 48-1029
Flip Sd: I Promise to Remember C. British Releases: 1. Single 45: RCA Victor 2226
Flip Sd: I Promise to Remember 2. Compilation LP: AMERICAN DREAMS 70s – VOL. 1 Label: RCA Victor (?) D. French 45: RCA Victor 41-018 E. Spanish 45: RCA Victor 3-10786 (1972) (PC-CM)
[Titled: Troglodyte (Cavernicola)] F. Portuguese 45: RCA Victor 20 061 G. West German 45: RCA Victor 74-16 186 H. Dutch 45: RCA Victor 76-16186 I. Italian Releases: 1. Single 45: RCA Victor N 1659 (PC-CM) 2. Compilation LP: TROGLODYTE: THE BEST OF JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (1975) (PC-CM)
RCA Victor TLC1-7063 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 1)
J. Greek Releases: 1. Single 45: RCA Victor 46g 125 2. Compilation LP: TROGLODYTE: THE BEST OF JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH (1975) (PC-CM)
RCA Victor RCLP 20045 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 1)
K. South African 45: RCA Victor 42-334 L. Japanese LP: IT'S JUST BEGUN (PC-CM) RCA RCA-6039 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 3) M. Australian 45: RCA Victor 102098 N. New Zealand 45: RCA Victor 48-1029 O. Brazilian 1. LP: IT'S JUST BEGUN (PC-CM) RCA Victor 104.4021 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 3) 2. 45: RCA Victor 101.4019 (PC-CM) P. Chilean 45: RCA Victor 48-1029 Brazilian 45
[Titled: Hombre de las cavernas] Spec: (Nos. A2, A3, A4, B, C1, D to H, J1, & K to N) 7" 45rpm Notes: A soul music contribution to the long series of "caveman" songs that had become something of an institution within rock music. Most of the emphasis is on brute sexual force plus a bit of black humor. The story of the troglodyte is spoken over the music rather than actually sung as would become the norm, 20 years later, with rap music. On the LP album this cut is given a short spoken introduction and then goes right into the narrative –
What we're gonna do right now is go back Way back – back into time When the only people that existed were troglodytes Cave men – cave women ! Neanderthal – troglodytes ! Let's take the average caveman at home Listening to his stereo –
Here the music comes in and the troglodyte starts "doing his thing" by dancing (see under Rock Song Lyrics for the rest of the text). The rhythm section handles most of the backup with occasional phrases on the amplified trumpet or guitar to underscore certain passages. The whole thing winds up with the grunt sounds that have become practically a standard ingredient of all "caveman" songs. In November 1979 I wrote to the Jimmy Castor Organization in New York asking – “What exactly inspired the JCB to do this whole series of Troglodyte-Cave Man songs, or, in other words, what originally gave them the idea to create this unique family of cavemen characters?” Their co-producer, John Pruitt (shown here on left with Jimmy), bounced back with a list of their albums and this very interesting information – “Jimmy studied anthropology while in college and has always been a horror and monster movie fan.” (Pruitt 1979) He also sent a personally dedicated photo of Jimmy with his 3 saxes (by James Kriegmann) and a nice sweat shirt with “The Jimmy Castor Bunch” printed on the front. The photo of the group above shows (l. to r.): Doug Gibson, Harry Jensen, Jimmy Castor, Bobby Manigault, Lenny Fridie Jr., & Gerry Thomas.
One critic of 70s soul music wrote – “‘It's Just Begun’ is Castor's masterpiece, the most fully realized example of his vision and his most successful album to boot. In addition to tapping into his doo-wop and Latin soul roots, The Jimmy Castor Bunch had developed a relentlessly funky groove, with full-bodied churning bass, ultra-distorted fuzz-tone guitar, and layered percussion. "Troglodyte (Cave Man)," which exemplifies this, was one of the monster records of '72, rising to #6 on the pop charts by May (sic) of that year, as well as being one of the discs that refined that coining funk explosion of the mid -70s… It's funny, menacing, and funkier than anything that had come before it… Ending with the echo-laden scream 'Hot Hot Pants!’ ‘Troglodyte (Cave Man)’ is one of the pinnacle moments of '70s funk.” (Anon. n.d.) In June 1972 this single peaked at #4 on the R&B charts and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a Gold Record award. Phil Groia notes that – “At last count, in 1972, ‘Troglodyte’ sold 1,800,000 as part of the ‘It’s Just Begun’ LP, his biggest album.” (Groia 1978) Donald Guarisco comments – “This 1972 outing set the tone for The Jimmy Castor Bunch’s 1970s success
through an effective and distinctive mix of funk, pop hooks, social commentary, and gonzo comedy. It’s Just Begun also helped the group score a million-selling crossover hit single with "Troglodyte." This memorably whacked-out funk jam is built on an infectious fuzz-guitar hook and features Castor detailing the romantic adventures of a caveman who meets up with Bertha Butt, a comic character that would continue to appear on his albums for many years to come.” (Guarisco 2015)
“Now on RCA with his new Bunch, Jimmy Castor’s career is once again glowing in the sheen of success as his single, ‘Troglodyte (Cave Man),’ bulleted at #7 (sic), and his LP [It’s Just Begun] is also still in the upwardly mobile stages [#30]. The RCA act’s future looks bright. There’s a strong light shining in them there caves!” (Anon. 1972) Jimmy Castor first started recording as "Jimmy Castor & The Juniors" for the Wing label in 1956. Working with him on getting this first recording cut was Dickie Goodman, the originator of the break-in novelty record (see under Novelty Rock – The Creature). And to close the circle, several selections from "Troglodyte" were used by The Delegates (a group of Tampa Bay DJs) for their break-in record,
"Convention '72" – 45 single on Mainstream 5525 and on the LP – Mainstream 100. Between 1972 and 2013 there were 22 songs that sampled some part of "Troglodyte". (Anon. 2015) One video clip of this song on YouTube is an entire staging of the lyrics starting with the caveman dressed in a leopard skin with a long stick club dancing in a natural cave. He smokes a cigar and has headsets as he listens “to his stereo.” Then he goes over to the mirror and says “Gotta find a woman.” The rest of the story takes place with the women down by the lake. The caveman chases a women into the lake, grabs at her underwater and comes up with a wet wig. On the shore he encounters Bertha Butt and things go from there. Another video does a great job with a montage of comic book illustrations, movie clips, prehistoric exhibits, cartoons, and renditions of prehistoric men & women all smoothly edited and ending with Alya’s face from the 1986 film, Clan of the Cave Bear. Ref: Anon. 1972, Jimmy Castor, Front Cover, Cash Box, v. 34, n. 1, June 24, 1972, Cover & p. 4, 7, & 31 Anon. 2015, Troglodyte (Cave Man), The Single 45, Wikipedia Anon. n.d., Seventies Dance Music Page, Jimmy Castor Bunch, 70disco Gillet, Charlie & Frith, Simon (Ed.) 1976, Rock File 4, Panther, p. 107 Grendysa, Peter & Whitesell, Rick, Goldmine, n. 26, May-June 1978, p. 30-31 Groia, Phil 1972, Jimmy Castor, Bim Bam Boom, v. 2, n. 2, Issue 8, Dec.1972, Bronx, NY, p. (8-10) Groia, Philip 1978, Castors Well Oiled, Black Music, v. 5, Issue 51, Feb. 1978, London, p. 10-11 Guarisco, Donald A. 2015, Jimmy Castor Bunch, It’s Just Begun LP, Review, (Sample on Spotify), Allmusic Jimmy Castor, Bio, Wikipedia The Jimmy Castor Bunch, It’s Just Begun LP, Discogs The Jimmy Castor Bunch, 16 Slabs of Funk CD, Allmusic (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte (Cave Man), 45cat Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte (Cave Man), The Single 45, Discogs Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte (Cave Man), Lyrics, songlyrics Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte, Best Video with Lyrics & Notes, (3:29), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte, Video by ghoulardi, (3:25), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Jimmy Castor Bunch, Troglodyte, Live 1973 (3:40), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Nipper’s Greatest Hits: The 1970s, Allmusic (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Pruitt, John 1979, Letter dated Dec. 7, 1979, New York, NY
_____________________________________ RK-SL11 United Kingdom 1991
TROGLODYTE HISTORY Hip Hop – Vocal & Instrumental Comp: Jimmy CASTOR & John PRUITT Arr. & Rewrite: Robi LASKAR & Mark LAYMAN Rts: Protoons Music Ltd.
Perf: CAVEMAN Robi Laskar Mark Layman Roger Benou (bass) Prod: The Principle Prod. Co: Profile Records Ltd.; London Rec. Co: Monroe Studios Time: 1:35 or 1:40 1. LP: POSITIVE REACTION Profile FILER 406 12” 33rpm 5Sd 1 – Bd 1) 2. CD: POSITIVE REACTION Profile FILECD 406 (Tk 1) Notes: Sets down a nice hip hop beat, someone says – “There was a time when men didn’t [….] known as cavemen, Neanderthal men, troglodytes” – then it samples the entire introduction of Jimmy Castor and John Pruit’s “Troglodyte (Cave Man)” (see above for text). Ref: Caveman (group), Bio, Wikipedia Caveman, Positive Reaction, Discogs Caveman, Troglodyte History, (1:35), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Positive Reaction (album), Wikipedia
Selections: Side One – 1. Pre-Historic Remix – Remix by Jan Janssen – 5:45/ 2. Original Mix – 3:18 Side Two – 1. Intro Remix – Remix by Jan Janssen – 0:47/ 2. Free-Style Remix – Remix by Jan Janssen – 4:12/ 3. Name VAC – Mix by Peter Swing – 1:44
Comp: Jimmy CASTOR & Gerry THOMAS Arr: Jan Janssen & Peter Swingman
Perf: THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH Jimmy Castor (vocal) Gerry Thomas (trumpet) Harry Jensen (guitar) Doug Gibson (bass) Lenny Fridie, Jr. (conga drums) Bobby Manigault (drums) Prod: Jan Janssen & Bodo Staiger Prod. Co: Rams Horn Records Time: (See above) 1. 12” Maxi 33: TROGLODYTE (CAVE MAN) (PC-CM) Rams Horn RHR 3872 2. Maxi-Single CD: TROGLODYTE (CAVE MAN) (PC-CM) Rams Horn RHR 4095 Notes: The original Jimmy Castor Bunch single is remixed four different ways for the 1990s dance crowd. These mixes are also available on 8 inch CD single. Ref: Jimmy Castor, Troglodyte (Cave Man), Rams Horn Records, Discogs Jimmy Castor, Troglodyte (Cave Man), JunoRecords, juno.co.uk (◄5 AUDIO SAMPLES)
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See also CAVEMAN – 2001 – by THE NEANDERTHAL (under House & Dance)
CD: WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS (PC-BT) Moewen LCO 1248 (Tks 1, 2, & 4)
Notes: Clinton tells how these bat songs got written – “Like so many other projects of mine this project began with a coincidence. My friend Wolfgang Joseph from Bad Segeberg (a town in northern Germany with a very high bat population) invited me to come to a bat convention. It was so impressive for me. After the show he said: ‘Why don't you write a bat-song?’ So I said: ‘Ok, why not!’ I produced a song called ‘We are your friends’ with the help of UN-secretariat EUROBATS.” (Clinton, n.d.)
“Conservationists, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and international organizations are making efforts to translate this concern [about the possible loss of flying creatures] into a mass movement where people are sensitive to species other than their own. And, to take this message forward, UNEP (United Nations' Environment Programme)/EuroBats has come up with an innovative musical CD … And, this music CD is an outcome of that effort [to help save bats] because, as the text written on the CD says: ‘Imagine having a few mates around on a mild summer evening, eating up to 4000 troublesome insects a night. And, if you want they could keep coming back for up to 25 years or longer. Wouldn't that be tremendous?’ It further adds that ill-informed prejudices about bats and a lack of knowledge about their needs as well as the degradation of our
countryside by humans have caused a dramatic decline in bat populations. Taking this concern forward in the music composed for the CD, Ernest Clinton sings in the second song: 'There must be a better way to preserve their lives. It's up to you and me, let's work together as one.' “ (Anon., n.d.) One French critic remarked – “Avec l’artiste et producteur libérien Ernest Clinton, le Secrétariat d’EUROBATS a produit un CD remarquable combinant des sons originels de chauves-souris avec une musique séduisante. Les délégués à la Conférence des Parties à la CMS ont applaudi et accompagné Ernest Clinton lorsqu’il chantait en direct le refrain « Nous sommes vos amis ». Le CD est disponible au Secrétariat d’EUROBATS au prix coûtant pour les ministères, les organismes de conservation de la nature, les musées d’Histoire naturelle et autres institutions oeuvrant pour la conservation des chauves-souris. C’est un moyen séduisant pour mieux sensibiliser le public à cet égard. Les ONG peuvent revendre le CD au bénéfice de leurs travaux en faveur des chauves-souris. Le CD est aussi distribué à toutes les stations de radio européennes importantes.” (Anon. 2002) [With the Liberian artist and producer Ernest Clinton, the Secretariat of EuroBats has produced a remarkable CD, which combines actual bat sounds and a seductive music. The delegates of the Conference of Parties at the CMS applauded and accompanied Ernest Clinton when he sang the chorus “We are your friends.” The CD is available from the Secretariat of EuroBats at cost price for the ministries, the organizations for nature conservation, the museums of natural history, and other institutions working for bat conservation. It’s an attractive method to make the public more sensitive to this problem. The CD has also been distributed to all the important European radio stations.] WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS – A mellow soul-flavored song inviting people to understand bats better and grow to have a friendly attitude toward them. (See under Rock Song Lyrics) For the chorus Clinton is backed by Nini Uebel in typical soulful fashion. A very successful effort at bringing bats into a more friendly, favorable space. There are some unnecessary anomalies in the text – In stanza 1 it says that bats are “not blind,” then stanza 2 starts out with “Imagine they had eyes.” Stanza 2 goes on to say “Imagine they would look like nightingales,” well, why can’t bats just look like bats. But all ends on a strong note in the third stanza (labeled “Bridge” in the liner notes) –
All we got to do is to stop the destruction, yeah Now we don’t say it if we don’t mean it.
BAT SONG (THEY FLY HIGH) – Starts with chirping bird sounds, which are supposed to be bat sounds (too bad they couldn’t find real bat sounds). A more upbeat song about the bat’s fight for survival (See under Rock Song Lyrics) with the repeated refrain – There must be a better way
To preserve their lives It’s up to you and me Let’s work together as one.
WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS (Long Version) – The same lyrics as the first song again accompanied by piano. The operatic singer Regina Wunderlich comes in after the second chorus and sings the chorus in Italian
(See under Rock Song Lyrics for Italian lyrics). It’s doubtful that this over-the-top shrill operatic bit, completely out of synch with the soul-style, adds anything to the song. See also Track 3 – KING OF THE DARK SKY – A psychedelic rock song by Alexandra Nagel is included on this CD. This cut does seem to include some good imitation bat sounds plus some appropriate beep-beep sounds. For more information see under Psychedelic Rock – King of the Dark Sky. All these songs are a highly commendable effort to do something very positive about protecting the bat populations not only in Europe but also all around the world. And it has the advantage of appealing to the younger generation that inherits this planet. This CD could at one time be obtained by writing to UNEP/ EUROBATS Secretariat in Bonn, Germany or also, as indicated in the 2003 Eurobat Chat newsletter, online at the NABU-Naturshop in Hannover. Around 2006 I was able to get my copy free at the Bonn address, but today I could find no valid place where it can be found or purchased. Ref: Anon. 2002, CMS Bulletin, n. 19, Décembre 2002, p.25 cndwebzine.hcp.ma Anon. 2003, We Are Your Friends – Radio for Nature – Music for Bats, Eurobat Chat, n. 10, March 2003, p. 5, eurobats Anon. n.d., TerraGreen; teri.res.in (No longer online) Bats: We are Your Friends CD, Convention of Biological Diversity, cbd.int Clinton, Ernest n.d., Projekt, Bats (in German), moewen-music (Original English text no longer online) Ernest Clinton, Homepage, moewen-music de Swart, Herman 2005, Letter dated Sept. 1, 2005, Leiden, Holland UNEP/ Eurobats, eurobats
