by Alex Henderson 　　The Jimmy Castor Bunch weren't among the more consistent funk/soul bands of the '70s, but they were good for some goofy, wacky novelty items now and then. One of the goofiest and wackiest was 1974's "The Bertha Butt Boogie," which was essentially a sequel to 1972's "Troglodyte (Cave Man)" and had some laughs at the expense of people who lived in ancient times. For all its silliness, "The Bertha Butt Boogie" is quite infectious; it is also among the more successful tunes on this album. Like other Castor Bunch releases, Butt of Course is wildly uneven -- which isn't to say that this funk/soul/disco LP from 1974 doesn't have its moments. "E-Man Boogie," with its strong Kool & the Gang influence, is almost as infectious as "The Bertha Butt Boogie" (although not as wacky). Nor is the funky "Potential" anything to be ashamed of. But some of the other tracks are downright embarrassing. "Hallucinations" is a lame attempt at psychedelic pop, while the syrupy ballad "One Precious Word" is a dreadful attempt to emulate the Stylistics. And the Castor Bunch's mostly instrumental, mildly jazzy covers of the Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and Elton John's "Daniel" are nothing more than elevator muzak -- this is the sort of the fluff that Kenny G and Richard Elliott would end up playing in the '80s and '90s. Without a doubt, Butt of Course is very much a mixed bag. Those who have only a casual interest in the Castor Bunch's '70s output would do well to skip this erratic LP and look for a greatest-hits package; nonetheless, there are some die-hard Castor fans and soul collectors who will want to hear Butt of Course despite its flaws.