Not a lot is known about the di Martino brothers – Andy and Dave (aka Augie or Auggie). (Note: not to be confused with the music journalist Dave di Martino who has written a few pieces about Don and the Magic Band) They seem to have been hustlers in LA, trying to make money where they could but hung around the fringes of the music scene there. Andy was a guitarist and the more ‘musical’ of the two whereas Auggie wasn’t a musician and was probably the business ‘brains’ of the operation. I have seen one reference to Andy as ‘a guitar teacher from SanRead More →

I’ve been hoping on Monday’s Some-how’s and moon days Sundays and some days Never seen the sun days I’m trying and always And running in between Bluejeans and Moonbeams Bluejeans and Moonbeams I’ve been working I’ve been loving Under ‘neath the moon stone sky I know there’s many thing I’ve never seen Blue Jeans and Moonbeams Mondays and moonbeams Bluejeans and Moonbeams Bluejeans and Moonbeams I’ve been hoping on Monday’s Some-how’s and moon days Sundays and some days Never seen the sun days I’m trying and always And running in between Bluejeans and Moonbeams Bluejeans and Moonbeams I’ve been working I’ve been loving Under ‘neathRead More →

Further than we’ve gone The stars sing a song Together That only lovers can hear Come up close to me lover Under heavens beautiful cover We’re here at last Open up And let our love appear Further than we’ve gone The stars sing a song Together That only lovers can hear Come up close to me lover Under heavens beautiful cover Open up And let our love appear (1974) Kindly transcribed by Jory.Read More →

While the city was busy We wanted to rest She deiced to drive up to Observatory Crest We just saw the concert and heard all the best We went on a ride We got outside The sand was hot She wanted to dance We went ’round and ’round at Observatory Crest Thought we saw flying saucers and all of the rest Pawns in high Spain from Observatory crest While the city was busy We wanted to rest She deiced to drive up to Observatory Crest We just saw the concert and heard all the best So the only thing to do Was to drive upRead More →

Twist ah luck that made you mine A stitch in time, your path crossed mine You’re the reason, love’s the rhyme It’s genuine Now you’re takin’ up all my time When we’re apart you’re on my mind Thinkin’ about you all the time Thinkin’ about you all the time Got my heart and me beatin’ overtime Got my heart and me beatin’ overtime Thinkin’ about you all the time Thinkin’ about you all the time I’m glad I played the game I played And I paid this heart of mine When we met I lost the bet And I lost this heart of mine (RepeatRead More →

Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Here she comes down the hall Her eyes are flashing She’s looking big, I’m feeling small Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll The writing’s on the wall She’s coming up on me Getting bigger as she gets near to me Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Feel like running But I don’t want to fall She’s so big I’m so small I heard the door slam And I ran down rock ‘n roll’s rainbow hall (Repeat first verse) Rock ‘n Roll’s evil doll Rock ‘n Roll’s evilRead More →

There’s an avenue where the silhouettes dance There’s an avenue where the silhouettes dance And the sun there shines down Day and night Nobody looks there Everybody knows there Good times grow there Come on, baby, let’s go there Where? Pompadour Swamp Fun never waits there It starts at the gate there Pompadour Swamp Don’t you be late there Just get there Pompadour Swamp Pompadour Swamp Wafer-thin shadows dance in nostalgic meadows Ya, dance there (repeat 3rd verse) There’s an avenue where the silhouettes dance There’s a lane there where they dance And the sun shines day and night there All you got to doRead More →

The camel wore a nightie… At the party of special things to do When the stiff wind blows The flag don’t wiggle In the party of special things to do I met the Ace of Love She took me to her plantation For love without separation In the party of special things to do I could happen to me It could happen to you I met the Ace of Love She said I want you to go To a party of special things to do And when you’re through I’ll be right here waiting for you Here take these sparks So that my distant cousinsRead More →

Recording details: Date – late 1974 Studio – Stronghold Sound Recorders, Hollywood Producer – Andy DiMartino Engineer – Gregg Ladangi Musicians: Don Van Vliet – vocals, harmonica Dean Smith – guitar Ira Ingber – bass Bob West – bass (Observatory Crest only) Michael Smotherman – keyboards, backing vocals Mark Gibbons – keyboards Gene Pello – drums Jimmy Caravan – keyboards, star machine Ty Grimes – percussion This album is dedicated to Denny Rosencrantz (who is he?) The front cover is a painting by Don’s cousin Victor Hayden (aka The Mascara Snake) Track list Party Of Special Things To Do (Don Vliet / Elliot Ingber) 3.12Read More →

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART: “Bluejeans & Moonbeams” Party Of Special Things To Do; Same Old Blues; Observatory Crest; Pompadour Swamp; Captain’s Holiday; Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Evil Doll; Further Than We’ve Gone; Twist Ah Luck; Bluejeans And Moonbeams. (Virgin V2023). Producer Andy Di Mantino. Musicians; No details available. IN MANY ways Beefheart has become the victim of his own achievements. I’m thinking most specifically of “Trout Mask Replica,” of course, and the almost visionary status with which Beefheart was endowed by critics who saw that album (with no little justification) as being crucial to the development and extension of rock. It was certainly an important album, though itsRead More →

1974 UK Original on Virgin V2023 1974 US Original on Mercury SRM 1-1018 1974 French release on Virgin XBLY 840.057 Disributed by C.P.F. Barclay 1974 Dutch (and Benelux countries) release on Ariola Eurodisc Benelux B.V. / Virgin 88 473 IT 1974 New Zealand release on Mercury 6338 548 1975 Yugoslavian release on RTB Records PGP RTB ‎– LP 5534, Virgin ‎– V-2023 1982 UK Re-issue on Virgin OVED 19 1987 UK Re-issue on Virgin OVED 19 198X UK CD on Virgin CDV 2023 1990 US CD on Caroline CAR1631 – rebadged UK CDV 2023 2000 UK Re-issue on audiophile vinyl by Past & Present Records Limited edition –Read More →