For as long as I can remember, I’ve been just as big a Captain Beefheart fan as a Mothers of Invention fan. True, his is not exactly the music for your everyday, run-of-the-mill music listener who relies on a steady diet of Top 40. Still, the very same can be said about much of the Mothers music. That’s exactly what drew me to Beefheart’s music – the very same eclectic playfulness and creative adventure seldom found elsewhere. That Beefheart (as well as the many musicians who made up the various incarnations of The Magic Band) was so overlooked for so long is, indeed, criminal. As the tracks in this mixtape certain attest, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band were far, far ahead of their time.
Genius? Egoist? Madman?
Listen and decide for yourself.
Click here to listen to the mixtape, “Captain Beefheart – Hoodoo Hoedown”
Update: Belated thanks and apologies to rik walton – the fantastic photographer of the above photograph of Don Van Vliet – for not asking his permission for the use of said image and for not linking to his site. Both of which I have remedied. Fellow KUR-Meisters, go forth and check out rik’s wonderful photographic images at his website here.
so what’s the story behind the ‘alternate’ Safe as Milk?
[quote comment=”8298″]so what’s the story behind the ‘alternate’ Safe as Milk?[/quote]
It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper was intended to be the name of the second Captain Beefheart album, a double album recorded late in 1967. This album, however, never saw the light of day. Tracks from the original sessions were split over two discs, with The Mirror Man Sessions featuring the ‘finished’ outtakes with vocals, while the Safe As Milk CD contains the ‘unfinished’ or instrumental tunes and alternate takes, along with Korn Ring Finger.
for more info:
http://www.beefheart.com/blog/2008/06/it-comes-to-you-in-plain-brown-wrapper.html
So those werent alternate mixes from the Safe as Milk album?
Anyhow, thanks for posting them, some really great gems on the tracklist. Never heard the ‘obscene’ version of Hard Working Man, which was the highlight, for me.
I guess this was prompted by the John French penned bio due January?
Beefheart is a genius! It’s gonna take a long time to listen to all of this stuff, but it’ll be worth it. One of my coworkers said he thought Don had cowritten a song with P J Harvey. Anyone know if this is true?
[quote comment=”8304″]So those werent alternate mixes from the Safe as Milk album?
Anyhow, thanks for posting them, some really great gems on the tracklist. Never heard the ‘obscene’ version of Hard Working Man, which was the highlight, for me.
I guess this was prompted by the John French penned bio due January?[/quote]
Actually, no. I had always wanted to compile a mixtape of Don’s music. I think his music hardly ever gets the exposure that it so rightly deserves. I also figured there were enough Beefheart fans here at KUR to make a 120 track mixtape of outtakes, demos, and rarities worthwhile.
Great set, thanks. And to answer a couple questions from above: No, Don never collaborated with Polly Jean (as far as the fans know). They are friends though. And the ‘alternative’ Safe As Milk tracks are those produced by Gary Marker at a slightly earlier date than those produced by Richard Perry in a differtent studio. Did they use elements of the orig recordings on the final album? Maybe.
This is great! Thank you! Don’t forget about the new book about beefheart by John French. http://www.beefheart.com
Flattered tho’ I am that you have used my photo of the good captain you have failed to acknowledge me as the photographer! I would appreciate a credit and a link to my site would be nice!
[quote comment=”23502″]Flattered tho’ I am that you have used my photo of the good captain you have failed to acknowledge me as the photographer! I would appreciate a credit and a link to my site would be nice![/quote]
Sorry for failing to give you your appropriate and deserving credit, Rik. I have updated my post and remedied the situation. Ten times ten thousand pardons!
Thanks, if only everyone was so polite!
[quote comment=”23530″]Thanks, if only everyone was so polite![/quote]
Ah, yes — the radio may be ugly, but the posters’ hearts are not.
They’re a good lot, this KUR bunch.