Recording details:

Date - May/June 1982
Studio - Warner Brothers Recording Studios
Producer - Don van Vliet
Engineer - Phil Brown

Musicians:

Don van Vliet - vocals, harmonica, sax, chinese gongs
Jeff Moris Tepper - guitar
Gary Lucas - guitar
Richard Snyder - bass, marimba, viola
Eric Drew Feldman - bass, piano
Cliff Martinez - drums

1. Ice Cream For Crow
2. The Host The Ghost The Most Holy-O
3. Semi-Multicoloured Caucasian
4. Hey Garland I Dig Your Tweed Coat
5. Evening Bell
6. Cardboard Cutout Sundown
7. The Past Sure Is Tense
8. Ink Mathematics
9. The Witch Doctor Life
10. 81 Poop Hatch
11. The Thousandth and Tenth Day Of The Human Totem Pole
12. Skeleton Makes Good

Justin Sherill:

This consists mostly of leftover / revamped songs first intended for the original Bat Chain Puller and is the last complete album ever made. Doc At The Radar Station is a much better buy, though a few of the songs on this album are quite excellent.

Graham Johnston:

This was the final Magic Band album and a very bleak affair it is. However it is a superb album from an excellent-sounding band, fairly reminiscent of Decals, but without the occasional levity that made Decals the classic that it is. There is a weariness and a heaviness to many of the Crow songs which makes it a perfect close to a fascinating story.

Steve Froy:

Phil Brown who engineered ICFC contacted the Radar Station to challenge the comment about the album being made up of 'leftovers'. This is not his understanding and that there were plenty of songs. However I have not been able to get a more detailed reply from him.

He did tell me that ICFC was recorded

“... in one 6 week period. There was a budget from Epic and we stuck to it, partly because I don't like working long hours. After about eight I lose effectiveness and Don and Gary were on board with that. We worked a very sane schedule - 8 hours a night 5 days a week with only one weekend, I think.”

I was able to ask Richard 'Midnite Hatsize' Snyder whether he thought Don was scraping the barrel, to which he replied:

“Yes … and … no. I feel as though Don 'knew' (before telling any of us, of course), that this would be his last album – and that he was doing a bit of 'house cleaning' with some of his favorite unfinished business. Indeed, it was at Jan's insistence that Semi-Multicolored Caucasian be included on this album, so she was probably aware that this would be its 'last chance dance'.

“At the same time, Don was hoping to use some of the unreleased Bat Chain Puller tracks for inclusion on ICFC, but he couldn't resolve release issues with the powers-that-were at the time [namely Frank Zappa – SF], hence he re-recorded 1010th Day with Cliff. He even asked me (in the studio, during the recording of the tracks that were already prepared/rehearsed) to try to learn the whole keyboard part on marimbas – but with the time that was available, it was not a possibility.”

A thorough guide to who did what on Ice Cream For Crow, compiled by Jasper Leach.

• Ranting and Raven - Ice Cream For Crow by Edwin Pouncey, from September 1982 Sounds.
• The Pop Life - Ice Cream For Crow, by Robert Palmer, from 22nd September 1982 New York Times.
• Ice Cream For Crow by David Fricke. Taken from the October 1982 edition of Musician.
• Ice Cream For Crow by Joe Harrington. Taken from the November 1982 edition of Sweet Potato.

• 1982 UK Original on Virgin V2237 - with lyric inner.
  
  
• 1982 German (Ariola Euro Pressing) on Virgin 204 957-320 - with lyric inner.
  
  
• 1982(?) New Zealand Original on Virgin Records V2237 marketed by RTC - cover as standard issue with logo andRTC Marketed by RTC P.O. Box 3825, Auckland. Label is Virgin Red/Green but with different layout and MADE IN NEW ZEALAND. Has monochrome lyric insert with RTC logo as cover. Inner sleeve is plain paper.
  
  
• 1982 Australian Original on Virgin V2237 by CBS Records Australia Ltd. (CBS MX 201900/1) - Normal Red/Green Virgin Label Promo with This record is manufactured for the purpose of promotion only. It remains the property of CBS Records Australia Limited and is not for sale printed on centre label and stamped in gold on cover. Clear plastic inner.
  
  
• 1982 Japanese issue on Virgin VIL-6003 - back cover and label have MADE IN JAPAN BY VICTOR MUSICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. LICENSED BY VIRGIN RECORDS LTD., ENGLAND 1982. Has unfolded OBI with lyrics, in English and Japanese, and MOJAVE DESERT diagram. Price (Y 2,500) on cover. Label are standard Red on Green/Green on Red Virgin. Inner sleeve is US AudioGroome by EMPIRE.
  
  
• 1986 UK Re-issue on Virgin OVED 121.
  
  
• 198X UK CD on Virgin CDV 2237
  
  
• 1990 (April) US CD on Caroline Records CAROL 1632-2 - cover says Marketed and Distributed by Caroline Records Inc. 114 West 26th Street, New York, N.Y.10001 - CD says MASTERED BY NIMBUS
  
  
• 2000 UK Re-issue on audiophile vinyl by Past & Present Records.
  
  
• 2006 UK on Virgin/EMI CDVR2237
  A well remastered release with excellent new sleevenotes by Mike Barnes. Pity they didn't include the lyrics as well. The booklet does include additional photographs taken from the Ice Cream For Crow promo video. It also includes a bonus track - Light Reflected Off The Oceands Of The Moon

If anyone is able to complete or update any of the information above, then please do get in touch.