Virgin's Captain Beefheart Reissues

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I was browsing AMG's massive, unreliable listings (why aren't The Cure deluxe reissues listed for today?) and was surprised to find the entire Beefheart catalog on Virgin TV (what's the TV about?) was reissued today. I investigated and it's true, six remastered albums, including a live album from 1974.

I'd be curious to hear from anyone regarding how they sound. Shiny Beast was the best sounding to me, while Ice Cream For Crow sounded weak and brittle. I'm not that excited about the '74 live, because that was during his career lowpoint. Wasn't the band just a bunch of hack backup musicians?

Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974)
If this album was done by any other artist, it would be considered a lost treasure. It's odd hearing such straightforward melodies and lyrics coming from the Captain, but I like it.

Bluejeans & Moonbeams (1974)
This was supposedly scraps from the sessions of the previous album. I'm afraid to hear this.

Live In London (Drury Lane 1974)

Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978)
They really blew an excellent opportunity to include a bonus disc from the original 1976 sessions to justify the album's subtitle. As it is, I still love its relatively glossy, elastic production, even the odd "Love Lies" and "Harry Irene." "The Floppy Boot Stomp" and "Tropical Hot Dog Night" (slyly referenced by PJ Harvey in "Meet Ze Monster") are two of Beefheart's most joyous, playful songs, while "Bat Chain Puller" is sheer genius.

Doc At The Radar Station (1980)
The new Magic Band at its peak, this could compete with Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) and Clear Spot as the most focused, consistent album. Beefheart and band are on fire here, perhaps stepping up the intensity in reaction to punk -- "Hot Head," "Sue Egypt," and "Making Love to A Vampire With a Monkey On My Knee" are highlights. Definitely more prickly and less accessible than prior albums.

Ice Cream For Crow (1982)
This has a singular, autumnal tone that's appropriate as Beefheart's last album. Beefheart at his least tuneful but most melancholy. It features some great guitar playing by Gary Lucas. Too bad it didn't include the fabulous video for the title track. It does include the bonus track "Light Reflected Off The Oceans Of The Moon."

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

Live In London (Drury Lane 1974)

is this a recording with the "tragic" band?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 04:30 (nineteen years ago)

Ooh, I want these. I may even buy the "shit" albums. Now where the fuck is DECALS?

― Marmot (marmotwolof), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 04:33 (nineteen years ago)

Live In 1974: yeah, the real Magic Band refused to perform with him, I think, because of financial disagreements (various claims and counter-claims), so he got this sort of fungoid lounge-fumque-rcoke pickup band, but it kind of works, if you think of it as Hollywood happy hour Dr. John-wannabeeizms, backdrop for nefarious conversations.

― don (dow), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 05:11 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently Don doesn't think much of that recording either:

http://www.freewebs.com/teejo/disco/11london.html

― Monty Von Byonga (Monty Von Byonga), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 05:19 (nineteen years ago)

That set list looks pretty dire. I guess you wouldn't expect those guys to bust out Pachuco Cadaver or anything, though.

― Marmot (marmotwolof), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 05:42 (nineteen years ago)

It helps if you got in a trade, from somebody who couldn't find any buyers, and what you traded was something you really wanted taken off your hands (like Stryper)

― don (dow), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 05:49 (nineteen years ago)

It does include the bonus track "Light Reflected Off The Oceans Of The Moon."

You have misspelled "Oceands".

― These Robust Cookies (Robust Cookies), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 06:41 (nineteen years ago)

Bluejeans & Moonbeams (1974) - This was supposedly scraps from the sessions of the previous album. I'm afraid to hear this.

It wasn't, it was entirely new sessions with an entirely new band - altho the details of its recording, as described in Mike Barnes' biography, are depressing enough. But what can I say, I still love the title track, "Observatory Crest" and "Further Than We've Gone". A friend of mine's friend of mine had "Further Than We've Gone" played at his wedding, awwwwwwwww, sweet.

― My Mind's Not Made of Gravel (Dada), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 07:52 (nineteen years ago)

xpost

http://www.beefheart.com/datharp/albums/official/pics/oceandsfront.jpg

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 07:55 (nineteen years ago)

Another album weakened by Beefheart's inability to produce his own music ("Ice Cream For Crow" that is)

― My Mind's Not Made of Gravel (Dada), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 07:59 (nineteen years ago)

Mmmmm. ICFC may be a step below "Doc," but only a step.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 08:02 (nineteen years ago)

Having heard it blasting out in a record shop recently I'd have to say much more than a step. The music's great but it (thanks to the non-production) sounds so grey and dreary and Beefheart should never be grey! Also the Captain sounds tired to me.

I suppose this fits in with my general (oft stated) view about Beefheart that he sounds better when he is produced less as an avant garde art artefact (e.g. Decals, Spotlight, Crow) and produced more as a rock artist (TMR, Clear Spot, Doc).

― My Mind's Not Made of Gravel (Dada), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

Hrm. Decals is "avant-garde" and TMR "rock" in comparison? How do you reckon that?

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

Production not music. TMR = bass and guitars well separated, clean drum sound. Decals = papery drums, muddled and muddy separation of other instuments, voice even more foregrounded than on TMR.

― My Mind's Not Made of Gravel (Dada), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

ok so i have "lick my decals..." in mp3 form at 320kbps

however...it's all one file! is there any freeware i can use to split this up into several tracks?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

Actually if you substituted "Safe as Milk" for "Clear Spot" in that sentence, I would wholeheartedly agree with it.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 10 August 2006 02:03 (nineteen years ago)

ok wait i figured it out. so how do i upload this shiznit so you guys can have a listen?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 10 August 2006 02:33 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

The corporate EMI graffiti on this thing is downright offensive.

But mostly on the inside tray, could just put a black one on there instead to cover it.

though I'll admit I wouldn't mind 'Ice Cream For Crow' as a ringtone when I get a phone that will do realtones(c)

Really glad I got this album first actually! It's totally listenable (maybe a little Waits and even dEUS going back prepared me more than I realised! hmmm, and his greatest hits thing on tape, though I haven't had it to hand for years) and that's what I wanted, not a record that would just get the shelf treatment after some initial headfuck. TMR next though for reals.

― bad hair day house (fandango), Friday, 25 August 2006 01:28 (eighteen years ago)

So you bought "Ice Cream"? Opinions vary around here (see above), but I still call "good choice." I don't have a lotta gripes about *any* of the Beefheart I own.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 25 August 2006 05:11 (eighteen years ago)

Well, there are albums I love and albums I don't.

I Dont:
Spotlight Kid
Mirror Man (sessions)

The others I either do, or don't have yet (I have time!)

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 25 August 2006 06:34 (eighteen years ago)

I'm surprised that people don't talk about Doc at the Radar Station more. That's a great album, up there with the top few Beefheart albums.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 25 August 2006 17:09 (eighteen years ago)

It's in my Top 3 of Beefheart albums

― dud Hab 'C' dEva (Dada), Friday, 25 August 2006 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

Wellll . . . I don't own "Bluejeans" or "Guaranteed."

xpost

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 25 August 2006 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Has anyone heard the 180-gram reissue of Lick My Decals? I didn't even know it was out, but it's VERY tempting.

― Reatards Unite, Sunday, 10 February 2008 21:22 (seventeen years ago)

"I'm surprised that people don't talk about Doc at the Radar Station more. That's a great album, up there with the top few Beefheart albums."

as far as i'm concerned, that's the beefheart record to own.

― msp, Sunday, 10 February 2008 23:43 (seventeen years ago)

...along with with shiny beast

― Zeno, Sunday, 10 February 2008 23:45 (seventeen years ago)

Has anyone heard the 180-gram reissue of Lick My Decals? I didn't even know it was out, but it's VERY tempting.

-- Reatards Unite, Sunday, February 10, 2008 9:22 PM

It's great. I was lucky enough to grab it on the cheap in the used bin at a blues shop! Sound is deeeeeeep and the squocks are sqwocky.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 11 February 2008 00:35 (seventeen years ago)

Awesome. I'll definitely be picking it up then.

― Reatards Unite, Monday, 11 February 2008 03:45 (seventeen years ago)

I Dont:
Spotlight Kid
Mirror Man (sessions)

You crazy. Add Safe As Milk and Clear Spot and those are my favorites!

But then, I kinda prefer 'vanilla,' harp-playin' Beefheart to the Trout Mask / Decals / Shiny Beast tomfoolery, so don't go by me.

I've always confused Ice Cream For Crow and Doc At The Radar Station because they were dubbed on the same tape, so I stil really don't know which is which. I like 'em both though...

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Monday, 11 February 2008 04:20 (seventeen years ago)

Doc is my favorite album and "Sheriff of HK" my be my fave CB song.

― baaderonixx, Monday, 11 February 2008 11:35 (seventeen years ago)

"Sue Egypt" is pretty awesome too.

― baaderonixx, Monday, 11 February 2008 11:35 (seventeen years ago)

A beefheart thread without any Stewart Osborne?

Is like T.Rex without Marc Bolan....

― Mark G, Monday, 11 February 2008 14:49 (seventeen years ago)

"I'd never just want to do what everybody else did. I'd be contributing to the sameness of everything."

"You know, I'm not even here. I just stick around for my friends. You're not even here either. You know that. Don't kid yourself. You just stick around for your friends too."

― Stewart Osborne, Monday, 11 February 2008 15:41 (seventeen years ago)

Sound is deeeeeeep and the squocks are sqwocky.

-- BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, den 11 februari 2008 00:35 (17 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Second this. It's great and I really don't feel any need for a cd reissue.

― sonderangerbot, Monday, 11 February 2008 17:42 (seventeen years ago)

four months pass...

So, I passed by Fopp, and bought three Beefheart CDs. For a fiver each.

Troutmask, because I can't find mine.

Bluejeans and Moonbeams, and the "Live in London 1974" Virgin remasters.

Bluejeans is the one and only Trajband studio album, and yeah, I can imagine anyone who paid full price for this is going to be angry, but around 75% of this shows the man himself in possibly his best vocal performances ever, even if they are mostly 'straight'...

The Live CD is more of a good time / good night out vibe, although the trademark Beefheart yelp is way overdone at the end.

― Mark G, Monday, 23 June 2008 14:14 (seventeen years ago)

Will Lick My Decals Off Baby go Top 20 if/when it's reissued?

― Dingbod Kesterson, Monday, 23 June 2008 14:19 (seventeen years ago)

Stranger things have happened, or have they?

― Mark G, Monday, 23 June 2008 14:25 (seventeen years ago)

Peaked at #21 when first released! (As did TMR.) Those wacky English charts are a constant source of wonderment.

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 23 June 2008 15:07 (seventeen years ago)

No wonder POTP don't do the album charts any more. "Captain Beefheart - they were a strange lot, weren't they?"

― Dingbod Kesterson, Monday, 23 June 2008 15:13 (seventeen years ago)

"but we love 'im"

― Mark G, Monday, 23 June 2008 15:17 (seventeen years ago)

four months pass...

So, I passed by ~~Fopp~~ Zavve, and bought ~~three~~ two Beefheart CDs. For a fiver each.

The "Doc at the Radar Station", and "Ice cream for crow" Virgin remasters.

I think that's all of them, now. Haven't played them yet.

That 'bluejeans' one is not the worst album ever made, it does have more filler than any oyher CBeefheart album (particularly "Captain's Holiday"), and a bit short, but the good ones are good!

― Mark G, Thursday, 30 October 2008 11:21 (sixteen years ago)

haven't played the two I just bought, I mean.

I spent an evening with good old Youtube, theres a bunch of excellent live stuff, some from 1970 around the Decals time, and about 8 or more from one of the last recorded tours, France apparently.

― Mark G, Thursday, 30 October 2008 11:22 (sixteen years ago)

That 'bluejeans' one is not the worst album ever made, it does have more filler than any oyher CBeefheart album (particularly "Captain's Holiday"), and a bit short, but the good ones are good!

My thoughts entirely. "Live in London" is pretty terrible however.

― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Thursday, 30 October 2008 11:24 (sixteen years ago)

Oh, it passed the time, on a long drive.

I wouldn't play it again though.

― Mark G, Thursday, 30 October 2008 13:50 (sixteen years ago)

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