This wonderful series is more about the actual artist than a particular song these days. No matter, it’s always totally listenable and well-researched. Captain Beefheart is a bit of a divisive figure, a bit like Frank Zappa, the subject of another recent lengthy podcast. (The vitriol about Zappa on the 500 Songs Facebook page was horrible, and disappointing, and undeserved for Andrew Hickey the podcast host).
Beefheart and Zappa are often lumped together, a bit like Australia and New Zealand, yet, like the two countries they are close but totally different. I’m a total Zappa fan (with misgivings about a lot of his later music) but I’ve never got in to Beefheart, even though a few of my closest friends and musical colleagues love him. This podcast hasn’t changed my attitude, but I feel a bit more informed, and at least if I feel inclined I have recommendations for the best albums to start with, a common source of puzzlement for people about Zappa – where do I start?
Also I have to disagree with Andrew about one thing – Bongo Fury may be the best Beefheart album of the 70s but it’s not Zappa’s, in my book it’s way behind One Size Fits All, Apostrophe, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, not to mention Chunga’s Revenge and Weasels Ripped My Flesh. OOA of course A.
Anyway that’s my two bob’s worth.
If you instinctively don’t like (or “get”) him on initial listenings, trying to with repeated plays isn’t likely to work. You may come to appreciate the method (there’s enough expert musical analysis of Trout Mask to convince the most skeptical that it’s far from random noise), but the chances of becoming a fan are slim. I don’t like Abba, and no amount of exposure to their flat-pack efficiency will change my mind. Doesn’t matter – we’re not programmed to accept everything, and where would we put it, anyway?
Having said that, you might get something out of approaching him as you would a book, as a narrative. Start with Safe As Milk, with the context of late ‘sixties US radio rock in your mind, and move on to Strictly Personal, which is as startling today as it ever was, ditching all the accepted forms built up on the debut. Some context here:
https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2021/07/up-close-and-personal-dept.html (OAAA)
That might prepare you for the quantum leap into strangeness that is Trout Mask Replica, about which books have been written. You can stop there, if you like. A story in three acts. But you may enjoy the respite of the “Spot” albums (Kid and Clear), if not the twilight years of calculated eccentricity.
Are you sitting comfortably?
To reply briefly, before I dive into your blog, one of my Beefheart-fan friends gave me a Safe As Milk CD a few years ago which I quite liked, possibly helped by the presence of Ry Cooder. Also, some years ago when vinyl started to become a thing I purchased a remastered Trout Mask Replica from Jack White’s Third Man records, with lyrics and all sorts of extra bits and pieces. I probably listened to it once and haven’t ventured near it since. Perhaps in the light of the podcast and your kindly enthusiasm I’ll have another crack.
I don’t like Abba or Captain Beefhart
Lodestone of Half Wrongness.
I like Abba Zaba.
Trump’s ex glamourpuss lawyer?
I would definitely add Lick My Decals Off Baby to that list. For some reason this seems to go under the radar, but it is better and more digestible that TMR, which it followed.
Any Beefheart fanboy (such as myself) will love it to bits, but it’s an extension of Trout Mask, which is why it flies under the radar, I think. His most “important”, definitive, characteristic work is really in the first three albums (plus the Spots).
Regarding the FB abuse after the Zappa episode: what were they actually complaining about (nb: I’m not on FB, so I can’t see for myself)?
Hey, don’t suppose you have a nice flac copy of the goodies that once lived at:
albumsthatneverwere.blogspot.com/2021/05/captain-beefheart-and-his-magic-band-it
The last link listed on the blogspot is at Zippyshare, which died a death 3 years ago. I’d love to hear that reconstruction.
I don’t have flac files of anything! I have everything on lo-fi mp3 though but.
Am a fan of the Spot albums. Great singer.
Trout Mask Replica is hard work to begin with but a genuine masterpiece. I don’t get Zappa though, but Hot Rats is ok, who’s the guest singer?
No Beefheart, no long, lunar note
I recommend Mirror Man/Mirror Man Sessions as gateway Beefheart listening – they sit somewhere between extended blues jams and surreal flights of fancy, but are anchored down by some mesmerising grooves.
Two very different kinds of genius whose worlds collided.
I have to admit the Zappa episode is the only one so far that I didn’t listen to from start to finish. Ah well. Won’t be long until Donovan.
Isn’t it DONOVAN here?
Some decent resolution/good sound quality live Beefheart clips from the 1972 band have appeared on my FB feed this week. Ed Marimba (Artie Tripp) on drums and Orejon (Roy Estrada) on bass, replacing Drumbo (John French) and Rockette Morton (Mark Boston) respectively from the Troutmask band.