Clear Spot

2003 US CDEP Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities) on Beggars Banquet Records

Ex-Screaming Trees and Queens Of The Stone Age frontman, Mark Lanegan has put his own band together. Originally intended as a single from the album this release has grown into an 8 track EP of session out-takes that includes a version of 'Clear Spot'.

Thanks to Dave Crunelle for telling me about this one.

Plastic Factory

1998 UK CD Bozos / Don't You Grieve / Plastic Factory on China Records WOKCD2096
1998 UK 7" Bozos / Plastic Factory on China Records WOK2096

A very nice picture disc for the vinyl release. Apart from the wailing violin instead of wailing harmonica, and a heavy bass hum, this is a pretty straight cover although it does have folk-rock undertones. Bit of a change from the usual stuff the Levellers attempt.

Be careful if looking for a copy of this as there is another 'Bozos' CD single release which does NOT include 'Plastic Factory' - it has a cover of The BeeGees 'New York Mining Disaster' instead.

Thanks to Simon Wall for letting me know about this one.

Electricity
Hot Head
Ice Rose
I'm Glad
Kandy Korn
Lick My Decals Off Baby
Little Scratch
My Human Gets Me Blues
Obeah Man
Tarotplane
Tropical Hot Dog Night
25th Century Quaker
Upon The My Oh My
Who Do You Think You're Fooling?

2000 US CD/Tape Privately Released & Circulated

A young semi-pro musician and Beefheart fan Matthew Lewis has produced some stunning cover versions. Not only has he got the music right but he's also managed to get the production 'sound' of many of the songs spot on. Some of these covers could easily fool people into thinking they're out-takes or alternate versions from the original sessions.

He has also done versions of the Howling Wolf songs 'Evil' and 'Somebody Walking In My Home' that the Magic Band covered.

Bluejeans & Moonbeams (in Swedish)

1975 Sweden vinyl Fritt Fram on Metronome MLP15.555
1975 Sweden vinyl Tillbakablick on Metronome MLP15.656

Blajeans och Stjarnljus! A straightforward cover of this song but it has been translated into Swedish. The only foreign language cover?

The Tillbakablick album is a 'best of' collection.

Plastic Factory

Great name! A revved up rocking rendering of Plastic Factory with distorted vocals breaking in for the chorus. Led by Lisa Cohen, the 'jewess with the mostest', this band have been described as 'Motorhead with tits'!

This track is included on the Genus Records' Mama Kangaroos tribute album

Zig Zag

19?? US CD Bad Karma on Lost Records LOST007

The title has been shortened but this is Zig Zag Wanderer. Sorry, but I have no info about this band

Oat Hate

2000 US CD Improve The Shining Hour. Rare Lumiere 1980-2000 on Knitting Factory Records KFW-265

A previously unissued Beefheart instrumental that appeared on this fascinating retrospective of Lucas' career along with a live Magic Band track.

A carrot is as close... (live)
Evening Bell (live)
Suction Prints (live)

1988 tape - unknown venue - not officially released

Sure Nuff 'n' Yes I Do (live)

2000 webcast live at Dingwall's, London for BBC radio 'Mixing It'

Lucas started to play this but, unfortunately, decided to abort it. He has played it live (allthe way through) at other shows though.

I Love You You Big Dummy

1978 UK 7" Give Me Everything / I Love You You Big Dummy on Virgin Records VS237

1982 UK CD After The Fact on Virgin Records VM1
1982 US CD After The Fact on IRS CD70030
1990 UK CD Scree : rarities 1978-81 on Virgin Records CDOVD312
2000 UK CD Maybe It's Right To Be Nervous Now on Virgin Records MAGBOX1

The 3CD retrospective, Maybe It's Right To Be Nervous Now, includes two versions of 'Dummy'; one is the original single, the other is from a John Peel radio session recorded in July 1978.

Howard Devoto takes some liberties with the lyrics but it must have been a favourite of his because he had also covered it when still with The Buzzcocks.

Big Eyed Beans From Venus

2000 BBC Radio Session for John Peel Show

Peon

1975 UK vinyl Mallard on Virgin V2045
199? UK CD Mallard / In A Different Climate on Caroline Blue Plate CAROL 1897

A gentle and atmospheric version of this classic Beefheart instrumental although Don would probably not approve. See the Mallard page for more info.

I Love You You Big Dummy

1998 Australian CD Friends in Low Places on Swerve Records SWE009

A fine rollicking r'n'b style version of 'Dummy'.

Thanks to Derek Laskie for digging this one up

Cardboard Cutout Sundown

2005 Canadian CD There Will Always Be a Salesman

Apparently this is the second solo self-made album from a guitarist based in Victoria, Canada - "Made for about 18 bucks on all kinds of noisy machines". The first cover (that I know of) of this poem from Ice Cream For Crow, has been given a woozy organ and insistent bass accompaniment.

Orange Claw Hammer

see C Cat Trance

Ice Cream For Crow

see Fast 'n' Bulbous Tribute Album

Apparently Men & Volts started out as a Beefheart covers band in 1979/80 before deciding to write and record their own material. I have no information about what songs they covered (and I don't believe what's listed on the Covers Project website!). Can anyone help out?

Observatory Crest

2002 UK CDS Little Rhymes on V2 Records VVR5019788

Originally recorded at BBC's Maida Vale Studio in 1999 for a John Peel session

A Carrot Is As Close...
Apes Ma
Dropout Boogie
Ice Rose
When I See A Mommy...

See the Meridian Arts Ensemble page for more info.

Big Eyed Beans From Venus

see Fast 'n' Bulbous Tribute Album

The Mock Turtles originated from Manchester, England. The band's lynch-pin was singer/guitarist/songwriter Martin Coogan. They had reasonable success between 1987 and 1991 which included a UK hit single, 'Can You Dig It?' (resurrected in 2003 for a mobile phone ad). They have also appeared on several of the Imaginary label's popular tribute compilations (covering Syd Barrett's No Good Trying, the Kinks' Big Sky, the Byrds' Why and the Velvet Underground's Pale Blue Eyes).

It seems they knew of Beefheart but didn't particularly know his songs - which, maybe, explains why Mr Zoot Horn Rollo is still asked to play that long lunar note on this cover!

The Party Of Special Things To Do

This track is included on the Genus Records' Mama Kangaroos tribute album

Grow Fins

1980 UK 7" Drive Friendly / Fast 'n' Bulbous/Grow Fins on Silent Records SSH4

This cover starts off with the 'squid eating dough' quote and then kicks into a cool, almost reggae-like, version of 'Fins'. They've added some of their own lyrics at the beginning too.

Apparently their album showed Beefheart influences. The band metamorphosed into the Screaming Blue Messiahs.

Plastic Factory (live)

2002 CD Live @ The Cavern May 2002 on Muffin Records

Dropout Boogie (live)
Sure Nuff 'n' Yes I Do (live)
Willie The Pimp (live)

1999 CD God Shave The Queen on Muffin Records

Plastic Factory (studio)

1998(?) CD Muffinz on Muffin Records CD-056

Willie The Pimp

1993 CD Say Cheese and Thank You on Muffin Records

Dropout Boogie (live)
Plastic Factory (live)
Sure Nuff 'n' Yes I Do (live)
Willie The Pimp (live)

1999/2000 tape - various venues - not released

The Muffin Men are an excellent Zappa tribute band who have recently had Jimmy Carl Black join them on vocals in the studio and on tour. A feature of their live set is a Beefheart segment which usually includes the above tracks and 'Evil' (the Howlin Wolf song played by the early Magic Band).

The 'Muffinz' CD also includes a cover of 'Poofters Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead' (written by Frank Zappa) which Don sang with the Mothers on the Bongo Fury tour and with the Magic Band on the autumn/winter 1975 tour.