"A Carrot is as close as a rabbit gets to a Diamond" goes back to the Spotlight Kid sessions where it was called Balladino. Dirty Blue Jean as a title goes back to the Brown Wrapper Strictly Personal sessions and the lyrics and music to the Clear Spot sessions (although a primitive blues version was recorded during the Spotlight Kid sessions). Lyrically Run Paint goes back to Spotlight Kid and Best Batch Yet and Sue Egypt ( Suzy Murder Wrist) had instrumental versions then as well. So a lot of recycling or perhaps better phrased re - imagining and refining of some older ideas. Don never let a riff or lyric idea he liked go - it would reappear in a different song or different form later.
I believe this was the first Beefheart album I heard, so, yes, it's in my top 2 or 3 favourite of his albums.
This album fitted so well into the post punk thing, in a way no other artist of this vintage could have managed, though Neil Young gave it a go. If you were listening the Fall, Gang of Four, Pere Ubu, PiL, the Birthday Party etc then this album was a perfect fit.
Ice Cream For Crow features a painting of his on the cover and Spotlight Kid has some paintings on the back cover. Lick My Decals Off, Baby also has a painting on the back cover.
Also Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller). Victor Hayden – the Mascara Snake – did the cover painting for Bluejeans And Moonbeams.
Enjoyed the thread, there’s a really great two part interview with Zoot Horn Rollo here The interviewer is really good, he also does a great one with Drumbo here Interview with Bill Harkleroad (Zoot Horn Rollo), Part 1 of 2 He also does an amazing dissection of Frownland here Frownland by Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band: Analysis
While the songs are great - there really isn't a song I dislike on Doc - his vocals on this album are not the best and at times distract from or diminish the song. In particular the high end of his range shouting vocal he used on Tropical Hot Dog Night reappears on Ashtray Heart, Dirty Blue Gene and Telephone, and the Run Paint vocal sounds strained as well. Don actually sings Ashtray Heart better on Saturday Night Live:
There's no doubt that a lot of the warmth and depth had gone from his voice by this stage but I think he compensates for it very well by using different voices and techniques. That strange hoarse shouty voice on "Ashtray Heart" et al is kind of ridiculous but it suits the material which has a harsh, astringent quality. By the way, that version of "Ashtray Heart" on SNL is awesome, never heard it before.
I remember seeing that broadcast when it first aired. I was so excited to see Beefheart on national TV, and wasn't disappointed. My friends thought it was noise. Philistines. They also did "Hot Head" on that show.
About...20 years ago (Jeez!) Comedy Central re-ran the early 80's SNL's and this episode was on everybody's radar. (See what I did there?)
Sorry to back track on the thread, but I find it pretty disgusting that Trout Mask Replica can not be bought on any available physical format right now.
50th anniversary next year. Hope to see something like a reissue, maybe with the rehearsal tracks as bonuses?
That would be great. Also actually possible, as Ahmet Zappa has mentioned releasing a box set of "all things Beefheart".
I really appreciate Don's dedication to weirdo poetry over all these albums (especially on his last album).