Forgotten Treasure: The Rascals “Jungle Walk” (1972)

When it comes to me and music, Pops has a lot to answer for. I got pretty excited on finding out I’d be writing for MIMS and mentioned it to him; he bounced out of the room and returned with a stack of records. Jungle Walk by the Rascals was on top.

Turns out it’s pretty perfect. The Rascals drafted in Buzz Feiten in the late 60s for their last two albums, including The Island of the Real for which he wrote Jungle Walk. He’s the one responsible for the eyebrow-searing rhythm guitar throughout. Fans of Average White Band, funkiest of all the Scots, should enjoy it.

In spite (or perhaps because) of the spectacularly kitsch album cover, The Rascals later releases were often overlooked. Shame really, this one never fails to make me walk funny. There are some good memories in the YouTube comments too:

“…we even came up with our own dance move. We would be in file and shuffle our feet back and forth with a raised right hand in the air. Then we would roll our shoulders back and forth.” Craig B, possible inventor of ‘the Jungle Walk’

Cal

Son of a walking talking music Encyclopaedia, Cal appeared many years ago in a cloud of Al Green, Imagination and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Likes hip hop, house, disco, Steely Dan and the Fender Rhodes. One half of Slow&Low.