London 1974 [Import, Live]

Captain Beefheart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Mpg [Movieplay Gold]
• ASIN: B00000DBH9
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,363 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mirror Man

2. Upon the Me Oh My

3. Full Moon Hot Sun

4. Sugar Bowl

5. Crazy Little Thing

6. This is the Day

7. New Electric Ride

8. Abba Zabba

9. Peaches

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A bit unfairly maligned; a good blues-rock set judged on its own terms, January 11, 2007

By 

Virgil "Virgil" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: London 1974 (Audio CD)

Weeks before Captain Beefheart's Magic Band had quit on him (or been fired). To salvage an upcoming UK tour a group of session musicians were brought together to fill in. Of course they weren't used to the complex material the Magic Band had been playing for years so Beefheart it's assumed opted for a straightforward blues-rock approach.

Judged on its own terms the resulting live album is a success. The musicians weren't slouches, they were professional session players and journeyman and delivered good upfront blues-rock with the two guitarists contributing some surprisingly good riffs throughout. Listen to Dean Smith's guitar on 'This is the Day' or to the interplay between he and Fuzzy Fuscaldo on the opening 'Mirror Man', they can certainly deliver the goods.

It's an unfairly maligned album (the Tragic Band), not up to Magic Band standards but very enjoyable nonetheless. Frankly it puts many if not most live cds by blues-rock bands who've played for years to shame. The band plays within its strenghts, Beefheart seems to be enjoying himself and so does the audience.

Listen to it without comparing it to the Magic Band and it stands up as a good listen I think. So think toe-tapping on the front porch with a shot of good bourbon and you'll enjoy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something rather touching about it, June 21, 2011

By 

Chris Jones "deadeasy" (York, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: London 1974 (Audio CD)

As a lifelong Beefheart fan (I was at this concert, as well as a number of others including Bickershaw) I was intrigued by the huge diversity of opinion on this from people who are all clearly devoted Beefheart aficionados.

My take, having just played it, is that it's important in several ways: one as a historical document from an era which is widely regarded as not one of the Captain's finest; two as one of the best quality unofficial releases I've heard; three as an album with some of Beefheart's songs which don't get much of an airing; and four as, actually, a rather good piece of music.

As you'll hear, the audience at the show are shouting for more at the end of the gig, and there are several good reasons why. The band members ARE very competent and interpret the Captain's songs rather well, have had little chance to practice before the show. The Captain is in fine voice. And the songs are good.

Yes, they could have been better - the real Magic Band at their best would blow your socks off and this band never achieves the same levels of energy and intensity. But it still compares well with most bands then or since.

And yet, there's something a little wistful about it. Perhaps because it's not full on. Perhaps because the band aren't completely familiar with either the Captain's oeuvre or each other or what is expected of them. Or perhaps it's something in Beefheart's voice.

Nevertheless it's still good enough to rate 4 stars for me, and I think it's a worth addition to the Beefheart canon.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I thought it would be, June 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: London 1974 (Audio CD)

Mirror Man is a different version of the classic and is very good. Many of the songs here sound like pop, my girlfriend even liked This is the Day before I told her who it was. She doesn't like the Captain, she likes breezy 70's music. If you are a die hard Beefheart fan you might as well get this but a newcomer should choose another.