Lady Barber's Lost Demos: Lynn Castle's 60s Gems Surface

Lynn Castle, once known as the Lady Barber of Los Angeles, has had her late 1960s demo recordings unearthed and released fifty years after her initial single. These intimate and melancholy songs, recorded with Lee Hazlewood and Jack Nitzsche, offer a rare window into a quiet, obscure side of 1960s L.A. Castle, who defied norms by working as a barber on the Sunset Strip, catered to musicians and actors while nurturing her own musical dreams.

Her life story, detailed in the liner notes, includes a challenging childhood and early encounters with figures like Phil Spector. Despite brief moments of potential music career success, her moody ballads remained unreleased for decades. The rediscovered tracks, mostly sourced from demo tapes, feature her smoky, wise voice, evoking comparisons to Nico and early Cher, set against nature-infused lyrics.

These recordings highlight Castle's unique talent, combining her day job's practicalities with her deep passion for music. The release brings to light the creative output of a remarkable woman whose artistic journey spanned over half a century before finally reaching the public.