No word on whether he was combing his auburn hair.
232. Captain Beefheart "Abba Zabba"
Frank Zappa's weirdo (and we're talking about Zappa here, so the term 'weirdo' is used advisedly, of course) high school buddy Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet on his drivers liscense) caused quite a stir with his album Trout Mask Replica. With it's cryptic lyrics and abrasive instrumentation, it was definitely an innovative classic, and it's also definitely an acquired taste.
His previous album, Safe As Milk*, is another kettle of fish altogether, being basically a collection of somewhat twisted whiteboy blues showcasing the Captain's quirky booming growl of a voice. This track here is a standout, because it points the way towards experimentalism to come, and still remains incredibly ear-tickling three decades down the line. With it's vaguely Middle Eastern percussion, hypnotic bass solo from a very young Ry Cooder, and a snake-charmer of a chorus, this record shows what wild far-out voyages music can take while still remaining 100% rock and roll.
*Released on Buddha Records, the same label as the Archies, for crying out loud. I think back in the '60's the record company guys knew they didn't have a clue, so a lot of acts got signed who today would be ignored or 'retooled' into submission. Wish they'd return to cluelessness, frankly.
Frank Zappa's weirdo (and we're talking about Zappa here, so the term 'weirdo' is used advisedly, of course) high school buddy Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet on his drivers liscense) caused quite a stir with his album Trout Mask Replica. With it's cryptic lyrics and abrasive instrumentation, it was definitely an innovative classic, and it's also definitely an acquired taste.
His previous album, Safe As Milk*, is another kettle of fish altogether, being basically a collection of somewhat twisted whiteboy blues showcasing the Captain's quirky booming growl of a voice. This track here is a standout, because it points the way towards experimentalism to come, and still remains incredibly ear-tickling three decades down the line. With it's vaguely Middle Eastern percussion, hypnotic bass solo from a very young Ry Cooder, and a snake-charmer of a chorus, this record shows what wild far-out voyages music can take while still remaining 100% rock and roll.
*Released on Buddha Records, the same label as the Archies, for crying out loud. I think back in the '60's the record company guys knew they didn't have a clue, so a lot of acts got signed who today would be ignored or 'retooled' into submission. Wish they'd return to cluelessness, frankly.
Comments