In a relatively short time period, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, Tommy Castro has gone from playing local venues to international fame. For at least two years, he has even been a part of the B.B. King Festival Tour, which this year played thirty-nine different domestic venues. He has also been the house band on NBC-TV’s Comedy Showcase, for three seasons. Working as the house band on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, airing after Saturday Night Live, only boosted his visibility and name value. Castro’s music has also been featured in network television programs such as “Nash Bridges” and “The Young and the Restless.” He has won regional awards and has been featured on the cover of a national blues magazine, “Blues Revue.”
Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Castro started playing guitar at the tender age of ten. Initially inspired by Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Elvin Bishop, he started the inevitable journey into the roots of his heroes and discovered and quickly became enamored of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King. His vocal styling came from constant listening to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Otis Redding.
Castro spent many years playing with bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Castro joined Warner Brothers artists The Dynatones in the late 1980s. The much-loved rocking soul band had a huge fan base and toured the U.S. constantly. He honed his chops with the band on the road for two years, performing live all across the country and backing major artists like Carla Thomas and Albert King.
Returning to San Francisco, he formed the Tommy Castro Band in 1991, which was named Club Band Of The Year for the Bay Area in 1993, and again in 1994. Regular band members have included Randy MacDonald (bass/vocals), Keith Crossan (saxophone/vocals), Billy Lee Lewis (drums/vocals), and Chris Sandoval (drums/percussion).
In 1997, he won Bammies for Outstanding Blues Musician and for Outstanding Blues Album for his debut release on Blind Pig Records, Exception to the Rule. The band continued to record with Blind Pig over several albums. Can’t Keep A Good Man Down received continuous airplay and regular fan requests on well over 400 radio stations nationwide.
Live at the Fillmore was released in early 2000, and with everyone from industry insiders to B.B. King singing his praises, Castro appeared to be headed for bigger and better things. Blind Pig closed the books on their association with Castro in 2002 by releasing the career retrospective The Essential Tommy Castro.
In 2001 the Tommy Castro Band moved over to 33rd Street Records for Guilty Of Love and then to Heart And Soul for 2003’s Gratitude, a cover album of Castro’s greatest heroes, followed by Triple Trouble (with Jimmy Hall and Lloyd Jones) later that same year from Telarc.
The eclectic flavour of 2005’s Soul Shaker, marking his return to Blind Pig, featured more original compositions from Castro, who wrote or co-wrote all the tracks. Although horns and guitars still dominated, the fusion was more varied. Notable tracks included the wistful “Anytime Soon” and “The Crossanova”, characterised by Crossan’s funky flute.
Tommy Castro and his brilliant band have captured a hold of legions of fans and critics alike around the world with their mesmerizing blend of rock, blues and Memphis soul. On the next release – Painkiller – they continued to explore the boundaries of American roots music.
On this CD, Castro teamed up with producer John Porter, renowned for his work with a Who’s Who list of artists such as Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, adn Buddy Guy. Said Castro, “When I started looking for a producer, I realized that John had produced some of my favorite records of the last ten years. After working with him in the studio, I understand now why that is. With John, everything just seems to be right; all the parts work and flow together.” With the Tommy Castro Band anchoring the sessions, Porter fashioned a most tasteful album from the many talented parts of Castro’s patented rock ‘n’ soul music. Special guests Coco Montoya, Angela Strehli, David Maxwell, and Teresa James join the fun.
In 2009, Alligator Records has set an August 11 street date for Hard Believer, the label debut from Tommy Castro.
Love Don't Care
Tommy Castro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somethin' so much bigger than you
It's got a one track mind and it don't fight fair
You're down for the count 'cause love don't care
Love don't care if it's right or wrong
Love don't care if you're weak or strong
You're down on your knees and you ain't got a prayer
Well, well, well, well
When you had enough of all that stuff
All that gettin' goin' when the goin' gets tough
You can't put another woman through that
Love don't care and that's a natural fact
Love don't care 'bout your schemes and plans
Love don't care 'bout your one night stands
It don't, don't give a damn how you live or where
When it gets in your blood, baby, love don't care
Forget about your own agenda
Best just go ahead and surrender
Got you so tight, now, in it's snare
You can wiggle all you want but love don't care
Love don't care if you weep or moan
Love don't care that you want to be alone
It don't give a damn about how you live or where
Got you by the heart and it just don't care
Love don't care if it's right or wrong
And love don't care if you're weak or strong
Got a one track mind and it don't fight fair
Got you by the heart, baby, love don't, love don't care
Tommy Castro's "Love Don't Care" is a soulful song about the power of love and how it can take over a person's life without regard for their plans or desires. From the opening lines, the song sets a tone of warning, telling the listener that love is "somethin' so much bigger than you" and that it "don't fight fair." The lyrics describe love as a force that can consume a person, leaving them helpless in its wake. The repetition of the line "love don't care" underscores the idea that love is an uncontrollable force that behaves in its own way, regardless of what individual people may want or need.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that love is a force that can overpower even the strongest of people. Love "don't care" if it's right or wrong, or if a person is weak or strong. It can bring a person to their knees and leave them without hope or prayer. The lyrics suggest that love is something to be feared as much as it is something to be desired, as it can take over a person's life completely and leave them no other choice but to surrender to its power.
The verses of the song emphasize the idea that love is a force that can disrupt a person's plans and agendas, no matter how carefully they may have been crafted. Love "don't care" about a person's schemes and plans or their past indiscretions. It can get into a person's blood and take over their life, leaving them no choice but to accept its power. The song suggests that love is a force that must be respected and feared, as it can take over a person's life in ways that they never expected.
Line by Line Meaning
You know just what you're gettin' into
You are aware of the consequences that come with loving someone.
Somethin' so much bigger than you
Love is an overwhelming force that is beyond your control.
It's got a one track mind and it don't fight fair
Love is focused and unwavering; it will not be stopped by obstacles.
You're down for the count 'cause love don't care
Love will leave you helpless and defeated because it does not consider your well-being.
Love don't care if it's right or wrong
Love does not discriminate between right and wrong; it is beyond reason.
Love don't care if you're weak or strong
Love does not consider your strength or weaknesses; it will affect you regardless.
You're down on your knees and you ain't got a prayer
Love will leave you feeling helpless and unable to escape its grasp.
It's got you by the heart and it just don't care
Love has taken control of your heart, and it will not consider your feelings or desires.
When you had enough of all that stuff
When you are tired of the difficulties that come with being in love.
All that gettin' goin' when the goin' gets tough
All the effort required to maintain a relationship when things get difficult.
You can't put another woman through that
You cannot subject another person to the struggles of loving and being loved.
Love don't care and that's a natural fact
Love is indifferent to your struggles and desires, and this is a natural part of its nature.
Love don't care 'bout your schemes and plans
Love is not influenced by your plans or schemes; it operates independently of them.
Love don't care 'bout your one night stands
Love is not influenced by your short-term or meaningless relationships.
It don't, don't give a damn how you live or where
Love does not consider your lifestyle or your environment; it will impact you regardless.
When it gets in your blood, baby, love don't care
When love takes hold of you, it will not consider your well-being or desires.
Best just go ahead and surrender
It is best to give in to love's power and accept its influence.
Got you so tight, now, in it's snare
Love has captured you completely, and you are helpless to escape its grasp.
You can wiggle all you want but love don't care
You can struggle and resist, but love will not consider your struggles or desires.
Love don't care if you weep or moan
Love is indifferent to your sadness or pain; it will affect you regardless.
Love don't care that you want to be alone
Love is not influenced by your desire for solitude; it will impact you regardless.
Got you by the heart and it just don't care
Love has taken control of your heart, and it will not consider your feelings or desires.
Got a one track mind and it don't fight fair
Love is focused and unwavering, and it will not be stopped by obstacles.
Got you by the heart, baby, love don't, love don't care
Love has taken control of your heart, and it will not consider your feelings or desires.
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.