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)
Twist Ah Luck (Don
Vliet / Mark Gibbons / Ira Ingber) 3.17
Bluejeans & Moonbeams (Don Vliet) 5.09
Album overviews
Justin Sherill:
Leftovers from Beefheart's interim Magic Band in the mid-70's, usually referred
to as the "Tragic Band". Buy it if you need to complete your collection. Most
will agree that this is probably the worst Beefheart album, though there are a
few people who have told me they enjoyed it.
Graham Johnston:
Well, this is mostly pretty ropey stuff - the only Beefheart album that I wouldn't
recommend. It does still have a couple of very good moments however - "Observatory
Crest" and the tile track are gorgeous tunes, though it's the real clunkers
such as "Captain's Holiday" that really set the tone of the album. It
is possible that you can live without this one.
2006 UK on Virgin/EMI CDVR2023
A well remastered release with excellent new sleevenotes by Mike
Barnes. Although the sound is fuller and more upfront the music
is still fairly poor by comparison with other classic Beefheat
albums but there are people who have found some diamonds in this
mud. Pity the lyrics aren't included as a little extra.
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