TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Clear Spot" - Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band (1972)

"Clear Spot" - Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band (1972)

Captain Beefheart is an acquired taste, I get that.  His vocals recall a blender mix of Dr. John and Wolfman Jack.  His lyrics are a lot of curveballs and change-ups.  And the music walks a crooked beam of avant-garde blues rock with unexpected misdirections.  Nothing should work and yet, somehow it does. 

"Clear Spot" was the Captain's 7th album and one of his more "commercially" attuned offerings.  The album satisfies both itches, falling almost smack dab between surprisingly accessible and expectedly wtf.  The band's musicianship is top-notch and sounds as fresh and exciting as ever.  If you're new to the Beefheart scene and feeling adventurous...this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

"Clear Spot" - Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band (back)

Favorites include "Low Yo Yo Stuff" and "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" with their fun and bohemian Beefheart sound.  "My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains" and "Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles" are both sweet, soulful laments that slay, the former being one Brook Benton could've made his own.

My OG copy is missing the clear plastic sleeve with flap.  This is what would've held the 12"x11½" cardboard insert along with the vinyl record that I have.  The front insert has the band name only, no album title.  Later copies have the title printed on the actual album cover.  The seller was upfront and told me the album was a little noisy in spots, but that he had it cleaned before putting it out.  And to bring it back if I wasn't satisfied.   Ya gotta appreciate an honest seller.  I cleaned it again when I got the record home and it played just fine. 

Reprise Records

Cat #

MS 2115

SIDE A  DEADWAX

TI  MS-2115  31502-1-2  A 6

SIDE B  DEADWAX

T1  MS-2115  31503-1-1  A 3

"Big Eyed Beans From Venus" - Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band / "Clear Spot" (1972)

TRACKS:

A1  "Low Yo Yo Stuff" 3:38

A2  "Nowadays A Woman's Gotta Hit A Man" 3:45

A3  "Too Much Time" 2:46

A4  "Circumstances" 3:11

A5  "My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains" 2:57

A6  "Sun Zoom Spark" 2:11

B1  "Clear Spot" 3:35

B2  "Crazy Little Thing" 2:35

B3  "Long Neck Bottles" 3:17

B4  "Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles" 2:54

B5  "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" 4:23

B6  "Golden Birdies" 1:37

PERSONNEL:

Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) - vocals, harmonica, (B6 - wings on Singabus) 

Zoot Horn Rollo - solo guitar, steel appendage guitar, glass finger, mandolin

Rockette Morton - rhythm guitar, bass

Oréjon (Roy Estrada) - bass

Ed Marimba - drums, tattoos, percussion

ADDITIONAL:

Milt Holland - percussion

Russ Titelman - guitar (A3)

The Blackberries - b-vocals

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

Follow Me On FACEBOOK