Tag: Castro Coleman

“Heaven” – Changed

“Heaven”
Changed (2012)
Baby Boy Records

Mississippi has bragging rights when it comes to great traditional
quartet music, and Changed of Natchez is doing its best
to maintain those rights with the single “Heaven,” produced by Castro
“Cat Cole” Coleman on his Baby Boy Records imprint.

Besides lyrics describing the sweet by and by and its stark contrast to the troubles of this world, “Heaven” is a classic gospel soul groove that nearly convinces you that
Changed met up with The Williams Brothers and then hooked up with Rance Allen’s band on
their way to Cat Cole’s lab.

"Don't Forget About Me" – Cat Cole

“Don’t Forget About Me”
Cat Cole
From the digital mixtape, Strait from Da Soul of Cat Cole (2012)
Available at Soundcloud

“Can I do an old Tommy Ellison song?” Cat Cole asks at the start of “Don’t Forget About Me.”  Cole has a way of merging sounds of yesteryear with a style that appeals to gospel quartet lovers, R&B heads, and young folk alike.

Right after his question, the song he’s asking about struts off in shuffle rhythm while Cole pours out his lines with the intensity of a 1970’s soul singer.  About halfway in, the rhythm falls into a good ol’ straight quartet pocket as he turns the corner on the run and petitions, “Come on, Jesus.”  The background vocalists sing the same, falling slightly behind the beat.  It’s a groove you have to hear for yourself.  And you can–absolutely free.

Cole, whose real name is Castro Coleman, made this and several other tracks available online for free, last month.  He says Strait From Da Soul of Cat Cole is the first of several mixtapes that will drop every 90 days while he works on his upcoming album, The Favor Factor, which is scheduled for release later this year on the 4Winds/Malaco label.  Cole is the lead singer of Castro Coleman and Highly Favored and the music director for the Williams Brothers.

Castro Coleman releases free “live” mixtape

Castro Coleman, also known as Cat Cole, released his “live” mixtape online today for absolutely free.  Cole says Strait From Da Soul of Cat Cole is the first of several mixtapes to be released every 90 days while he preps for the release of his forthcoming album, The Favor Factor (4Winds/Malaco Music Group), slated to drop later this year.

The free download is available at http://myxer.com/CATCOLE.

Sizzlin’ This Week (6/20/11) – “He Did It For Me”

“He Did It For Me”
Castro Coleman and Highly Favored
From the CD, Time Out!!! (2009)
http://catcolenation.com/

Castro Coleman is busy these days.  He and his group, Castro Coleman and Highly Favored, have a packed summer schedule; he is on the road (or more fittingly, in the air) with The Melvin Williams Group as a US music ambassador through The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad; and the man owns his own label, Baby Boy Records.

He definitely has the means to release his creative energy, and that’s exactly what he’s done with “He Did It For Me” from his Time Out!!! project.

“He Did It For Me,” which he labels “New Motown,” resembles cuts by guy groups from the mid to late 1960’s and is rich with a horn section (sax and trombone) and Funk Brothers-like percussion (triangle, hand claps, and a tight crisp snare–where’s the tambourine?).  More noticeably, “He Did It For Me” is a mid-tempo feel-good ode of gratitude: “I can’t take the credit for what I have/Said my blessings keep coming through/And I realize that everything in my life–oh–is because You did it for me.”