Blue Jeans & Moonbeams [Import]

Captain Beefheart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 29, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B000024ZSW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,516 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Party Of Special Things To Do

2. Same Old Blues

3. Observatory Crest

4. Pompadour Swamp

5. Captain's Holiday

6. Rock 'N' Roll's Evil Doll

7. Further Than We've Gone

8. Twist Ah Luck

9. Blue Jeans And Moonbeams

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of the experimental rock icon's 1974 album. Nine tracks including 'Party Of Special Things To Do'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluebeams and Moonjeans, November 30, 2001

By 

D. Blair - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Jeans & Moonbeams (Audio CD)

I am a fan of Captain Beefheart and most Beefheart fans rate this album and the one before it, "Unconditionally Guaranteed," as his two mid-70's duds. And this one, Moonblue and Jeanbeams, gets the dubious honor of being dubbed "The Worst."

I couldn't DISagree more. I don't understand the disdain for this set, and frankly find such disdainment pure insanement. I'd agree that "Unconditionally Guaranteed" is a dud... I think there's two or three good songs there... one being "New Electric Ride."

Now this is for sure not his bread and butter material which is usually found on, for example; Trout Mask Replica, and Lick My Decals Off Baby (...) But this is probably his most commercial, beautiful, and emotional album.

I assume these fans only want from him the intense, humorous, caotic, jazzesque explorations that made him the strange, unexplainable being that he is. But as all artist do, they tend to move around and explore new things. The truly "commercial" artists find their pot of gold and don't stray, in fact they bleed dry the singular stream that gave them their first big gig.

Natuarally the Captain began straying from one idea and onto the next. "The Spot" albums then followed. These two records were hybrids of the old Beef and the Beef to come. With the release of "Unconditionally Guaranteed" the Captain was once again out on a limb, taking a chance on a new sound. It was now devoid of the old bizarre Beef entirely and was basically a "normal" album.

Well, normal ain't easy and I think he managed a moment or two on that record. Not bad. But it's his second attempt at normal pop song structure, the album Bluemoon and Beamjeans, that he landed it spot-on. Most artist never do.

This is a fantastic mid-70's rock album. Sadly it ain't never got no love. It's sad that this much love and that this much new revealing stuff was unwanted. And tragic since, it's lack of approval probably cost us one of the most powerful and creative minds in music. This is probably a little bit of the Captain's fault too. He just shouldn't have been so good and original on the first few records.

Now I listen to tons of music from all points on the musical spectrum and I can't think of a more beautiful tune than "further than we've gone." It knocks me out. Incredible guitar solo. Incredible piece of music.

And Beefheart fans shouldn't be so surprised by this. I guess they're just so surprised it's not "freaky."

But... then, isn't it???

I think the Captain said it best on the opening track...
"I'm far from screwed."

Rock on.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an underrated album, July 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Jeans & Moonbeams (Audio CD)

I'm glad to see positive comments about this album. It's been undeservedly dismissed for years. I have all of his discs and this is a personal favorite. As the other reviews stated - it's not 'Trout Mask' or 'Doc at the Radar Station' - it's different. It's pretty, melodic, more "normal", but still weird at the same time. The Captain was a genius. If you don't know his music at all and you want to find out about the deep thick crazy stuff this might not be the place to start (try Doc at the Radar Station) - but if you already know about him, or if you want to hear a more melodic side (as first shown by Beefheart on the fantastic 'Clear Spot' album) this is a rewarding choice.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical, pretty music -- how DARE he!, February 15, 2001

By 

Stephen Foster (Seattle, WA United States, via Scotland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Jeans & Moonbeams (Audio CD)

I love the weird, discordant early Beefheart as well as anyone, but this might be my favourite album of his. Purists sneer at this band, lacking as it does Z. H. Rollo, W. E. Fingerling et al, but they handle these songs really well. "Further Than We've Gone" has a long, genius guitar solo, and the title track is one of the sweetest, happiest rock songs ever.

(I must be brave, using words like "sweet" and "happy" in a Beefheart review. I can't wait to see the comments by REAL Beefheart fans :-)

I spent 25 years looking for a fresh copy of this album and its stylistic twin: "Unconditionally Guaranteed," and I'm delighted.