Customer Reviews

Legendary a&M Sessions

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The entire album is less than 12 minutes long, but these 5 songs are true classics. "Diddy Wah Diddy" and "Who Do You Think You're Fooling" were on A&M single # 794. "Moonchild" and "Frying Pan" appeared on single # 818, while the fifth track was previously unreleased, although a promo 45 is supposed to exist. These 45s came out in the mid-60s, but the album wasn't released on vinyl until 1984 (A&M 12510). The original 45s are rare collectors items, so it's great to get these tunes on CD. Buy this one, definitely.

This CD contains the first ever "official" release of "Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band" (later changed to "Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band") and Don Van Vliet's first official song release, "Who Do You Think You're Fooling". What an entrance. All of the songs, except maybe "Moonchild", showcase the skills of the early Beefheart: his amazing gravel-textured engine-roaring vocals that sound like a voice singing through fire; the skippy rock rhythms and catchy twangy guitar riffs; and the first stirrings of Van Vliet's ultimate lyrical direction.

The first four songs were released in 1966 on two separate 45 rpm singles after the band grabbed a deal with the then neophyte label A&M. The first of these, a cover of Bo Diddley's "Diddy Wah Diddy", is an unappreciated rock and blues masterpiece. The imposing fuzz bass adds a touch of psychedelia to the mix, but the song feels more like blues rock than "Incense and Peppermints". Its Van Vliet composed B-Side, "Who Do You Think You're Fooling", feels like the Beefheart to come. The same can be said for "Frying Pan", another Van Vliet composition, with its skippy and catchy melodies. Strangely, "Frying Pan" served as B-Side to the less inspired "Moonchild" written by David Gates, who produced the A&M sessions and later fronted the group Bread. The song sounds like a blatant attempt at a 1960s hit. Complete with mysterious lyrics that don't add up to much and gratuitous reverb-drenched vocals. It's by no means terrible, but it lacks the energy of the other songs on the CD. The final song "Here I Am I Always Am" was lost for decades in a vault and first released with this collection (originally on a vinyl EP in 1984). It's one of the CD's best songs. The plucky guitars presage the future, and it's hopelessly catchy and addicting. Also, listen closely to the lyrics: a few Beefheartisms lurk there.

Though the 1966 singles spawned no hits, they did vibrate the cochleas of one John Peel, then working in California. Peel managed to get "Diddy Wah Ditty" on rotation, but sales didn't follow. Not long after "Moonchild" flopped, The Magic Band and A&M split.

This is a great collection of songs, and a great start to an amazing recording career that didn't end until Van Vliet's self-imposed musical exile in 1982. As this CD proves, he came in as he went out: with a huge bang.

How anyone could call this album by the Captain horrific is beyond me. OK, so maybe it isn't Trout Mask or Doc at the Radar Station but those recordings are in a class by themselves. Here you don't hear the blues sung any better,at least not by any other white man. The Captain's voice is unbelievable. We're talking absolute power. Goosebumps. Chills, up and down your spine. You can hear the influence of the great blues singer, Son House all over the place. And how about that bass guitar. Can it get any deeper. Don't hesitate to buy the CD just because it only has five songs totally twelve minutes. You will not be disappointed.

Are you one of the fortunate few Beefheart fans? Do you find yourself wishing that you had more & more & more Beefheart, because you really really really like the stuff you already have? Well, then, you must consider this delicious morsel; not for everyone, by any means (For one thing, there is no way that only five songs for import CD prices can be considered a bargain), but a real must-have for die-hard fans of our beloved Captain (and I can't imagine that any of his fans are anything but hard-core). These five selections were buried for many years in the vaults of A&M, who were the first record company to attempt to market Beefheart. Included is the classic single "Diddy Wah Diddy," which actually got some airplay in the SoCal market. The other four tunes are just as desirable, and all of these gems would sound right at home on Beefheart's first album, the critically-acclaimed (and largely-forgotten) "Safe as Milk." So, to recap, if you're a fan -and everyone SHOULD BE- bite the bullet, spend the money, & I can pretty much guarentee that you will find happiness...

this is the best blues by the The Beefheart it is a shame that it is not longer cd more of it would be great.

I have always liked the Captain, this is a great little cd to have in your Beefheart collection, I wish it was longer.

I have never heard of Captain Beefheart before I bought this cd. I like listening to this cd all the time. I am a fan of this group. I like their music. I would suggest you check this cd out and buy it. It is a good cd to listen to. If I didn't have it already I would buy it again. Sandy McClaflin

Contains the definitive version of Diddy Wah Diddy (huge and thunderous), Frying Pan, Here I Am, etc. Moonchild hints at later work. A must-have for any fan. Sure, there's only five songs on here, but they're worth it.

THESE ARE THE EARLIEST CAPTAIN BEEFHEART RECORDINGS, IF YOU DON'T COUNT THE LATER RELEASES WITH FRANK ZAPPA ON STUFF LIKE "THE LOST EPISODES", "MYSTERY DISC", OR OTHER COMPILATIONS OF EARLY ZAPPA STUFF. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS LESS THAN FIFTEEN MINUTES LONG, BUT IF YOU LOVE THE CAPTAIN, THEN YOU NEED TO GET THIS CD TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION.