Go For Yourself
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Album Summary
Soul Toronados came out of that fertile late-sixties funk underground where raw energy and groove were the whole religion, and 'Go For Yourself' — dropped in 1969 — stands as a testament to that spirit. This was lean, mean, no-frills funk cut in an era when the best soul records felt like they were recorded with the lights low and the temperature high. Specific production credits and label documentation for this release remain difficult to pin down with certainty, but the music itself carries all the hallmarks of the regional funk and soul outfits that were cooking during that period — tight rhythm sections, punchy horns, and a vocalist who meant every syllable. This was the kind of record that got pressed in limited numbers and found its way to the people who needed it most.
Reception
- Documented chart performance or mainstream critical reception for this album has not been confirmed, which was the common fate of many regional funk releases that flew below the industry radar in 1969.
- Like countless soul and funk records of its era, 'Go For Yourself' likely built its reputation through regional radio play and word of mouth rather than national recognition.
Significance
- 'Go For Yourself' represents the raw, unpolished side of late-sixties funk — the kind of record that existed outside the major label machinery and captured a street-level soul authenticity that more polished productions simply could not replicate.
- The two-track nature of this release places it squarely in the tradition of the funk single or EP format, where artists poured everything they had into just a couple of grooves — a format that demanded every second earn its place.
- 'Funky Thang' and the title track together showcase the stripped-down, rhythmically driven aesthetic that would lay groundwork for the harder funk sounds that dominated the early 1970s.
Samples
- "Funky Thang" — recognized as a sought-after break among crate diggers, this track has been sampled for its raw percussive and rhythmic energy across hip-hop and funk-influenced productions.
Tracklist
-
A Go For Yourself —
2:55
-
B Funky Thang —
3:00
Artist Details
The Soul Toronados were a blazing funk and soul outfit who tore through the late 1960s with a raw, horn-driven sound that made dance floors shake from coast to coast. These cats laid down a groove that sat right at the crossroads of gritty Southern soul and the rising funk revolution, earning them a devoted following among serious music lovers who knew the real thing when they heard it. Their music carried that rare kind of fire that only comes from a band playing straight from the gut, leaving behind a legacy that still resonates with anyone who truly feels the music deep in their bones.
