The Blues Roots of Captain Beefheart
This excellent piece was written by Steve Froy, detailing just some of the tunes covered by the Magic Band, or exerting a clear influence upon their music.
Many thanks to Steve for sending it along.
These notes were intended to accompany the Beefheart Blues Roots broadcast. I am probably telling most of you something you already know but I think there are some tracks here which need an explanation and I did promise I'd do this...
But, firstly, some words from the man himself:
"I haven't listened to that much blues" (Don Van Vliet, 1983)
This list isn't intended as some definitive collection of songs that influenced the Captain and the Magic Band. There is no way to know what songs influenced them or which version of what song may have been the main influence. Some are obvious, others are not. What I've tried to do is put together the well known versions of some of the songs that the band played, recorded, or may have borrowed from the lyric or the tune. Some are included because they have been mentioned as influences or they are quoted from on one of the circulating live or out-take tapes.
I offer no apology for the inclusion of so many Howlin' Wolf songs, but it's the obvious place to start as Don's voice seems to have developed as a copy of the Wolf's. I reluctantly had to leave out a couple of Wolf tracks that could have been included as well as a number of songs by other artists that I couldn't fit in or was unable to find a version in time - such as the original of 'Old Folks Boogie' - (maybe they'll appear in subsequent editions... if there's a demand !).
Howlin' Wolf
1) Down In The Bottom (1961):
this is one of the many songs that draw on the same riff as 'Rollin & Tumblin' and is an inspiration for 'Sure Nuff 'n' Yes I Do'. Don does sing snatches of the song on one of the 1971/72 out-take tapes. There are a number of songs that draw on this tune. A few years back I came across the book ("From Blues to Rock" by David Hatch & Stephen Millward ) which attempted to trace the development of this tune . In the process it mentioned 'Sure Nuff...' and the Grateful Dead's 'New, New Minglewood Blues' as well as 'Rollin & Tumblin' and 'Down In The Bottom' (The original version of 'Minglewood Blues' was recorded by Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1928 and the earliest recorded version of 'Roll & Tumble Blues' was that of Hambone Willie Newbern in 1929). But, ultimately, it is one of the many blues tunes whose origins are lost in the mists of those pre-recording days.
2) Spoonful (1960) :
the riff from this is used as the basis for 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy'
3) Smokestack Lightnin' (1956) :
some have suggested this is the inspiration for 'Plastic Factory'. Maybe. It's a great song anyway and gave the Wolf his first commercial hit. I've always heard 'Moonchild' as a speeded up version of this ... anyone else ?
4) Evil (is going on) (1954) :
played live by the Magic Band in the early days. Appears on the Avalon 1966 tape.
5) The Natchez Burnin' (1956) :
played live regularly during the 1975 European tour as part of a blues jam. John Lee Hooker did a song about the same incident but the lyrics are different.
6) No Place To Go (1954) :
the riff (not the lyrics) was used by the Magic Band to sometimes accompany Don's blues outings on the 1973 tour
7) Somebody Walkin' In My House (1957) :
another song that was played live by the early Magic Band. A studio version also exists, although I've not been able to find out when it was recorded.
8) My Country Sugar Mama (1964) :
this is the source of lyrics for blues jams on the 1972 and 1973 tours. Often mixed in with 'King Bee' and improvised lyrics this would be sung acapella on occasions, or with a full band backing.
9) 300 Pounds Of Joy (1963) :
the male soul mate of Big Joan. Look out for the 'hoy, hoy' lyric.
Slim Harpo
10) Baby Scratch My Back (1965) :
what an great song. Don quotes the lyrics of this briefly during a jam with Bill H on a 1971/72 out-take tape and then asks if Bill can play it, which he does. Unfortunately they don't develop it.
11) I'm A King Bee (1957)
what a killer bass line. The lyrics are used along with the Wolf's 'Sugar Mama' during the 1972 and 1973 tours. Muddy Waters does a song called 'Sugar Bee' but that doesn't seem to have any connection to these apart from the title.
Bo Diddley
12) Diddy Wah Diddy (1955) :
the original of Don's first hit single. It is me but does this sound a bit lame when compared to the Magic Band version ?
Ligntnin' Slim
13) Mighty Crazy (1957) :
the 'keep on rubbing' lyrics were used as part of a blues workout with the Tragic Band. It's on the Cowtown 1974 tape but I haven't heard it on any others. Don often mentions Lightnin' Slim as a favourite especially the song 'Bed Bug Blues'.
Chuck Berry
14) Almost Grown (1959) :
a very fast studio version exists. So fast, in fact, that Don seems to be having great difficulty keeping up with the Magic Band and he garbles the lyrics. This probably explains why the song is often incorrectly labelled on bootlegs as 'Leave me alone' or 'Don't Bother Me'. A bit of an oddity.
Muddy Waters
15) Hoochie Coochie Man (1954) :
played live in 1976
16) Rollin' 'n' Tumblin' (1950)
also played live in 1976 as well as in 1968 (and possibly before). This version of the song is probably the main inspiration for 'Sure Nuff...'. Muddy Waters version is not very different from Hambone Willie Newbern's 1929 song.
17) Louisiana Blues (1950) :
another variation on the 'Sure Nuff ...' theme
John Lee Hooker
18) Black Snake (1959) :
sung acapella and with band backing by Don on the 1972 and 1973 tours.
19) Tupelo Blues (1959) :
played live by the early Magic Band. On the Avalon 1966 tape.
Big Bill Broonzy
20) Key To The Highway (1941) :
the song makes a very brief appearance during Don and Bill H's jam on the 1971/72 out-takes tape.
Robert Johnson
21) Terraplane Blues (1936) :
the origin of the 'Tarotplane' pun. The original Terraplane was a car.
22) If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day (1936) :
another 'Sure Nuff...' source. See what can done with the same tune ! Check out much of Robert Johnson's work and then listen to the guitar work on 'Strictly Personal'...
Son House
23) My Black Mama pt. 2 (1930) :
original source of 'Death Letter Blues'. Part 1 has the same tune but doesn't have the lyric content.
24) Grinnin' In Your Face (1965) :
lyrics combined with those from 'You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond' and used as the basis for 'Tarotplane'
25) Death Letter Blues (1965):
the inspiration for 'Ah Feel Like Ahcid'. There are a number of versions of these last two Son House songs, I have just chosen the ones I like.
Blind Willie Johnson
26) You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond (1930):
lyrics use for 'Tarotplane'. There are two versions of this song but this is the better one and is actually the last song ever recorded by Blind Willie.
Sam Butler
27) Some Scream High Yellow (1926) :
bit of a tenuous link here but I thought it was worth including. It was the only example available, although I have heard others, of the term 'high yellow' (see 'Ellaguru'). In this context it refers to a lighter skinned black woman - other terms were used for other shades of brown and black. But Don, of course, took the colour theme to another level.
Robert Wilkins
28) Old Time Religion (?) :
give me that 'Moonlight on Vermont'... it's good enough for me
Robert Pete Williams
29) I've Grown So Ugly (1960) :
this earlier version is the main source both lyrically and musically for the song on 'Safe As Milk'
30) Ugly (1966) :
Henry Kaiser told me that Ry Cooder used this version as well as the older one as a source. It's interesting to see how Robert Pete has allowed the sing to develop over the years...or can't remember how he used to play it.
Mississippi John Hurt
31) Candy Man (1971) :
a brief appearance on the TMR rehearsals tape. Played by Doug Moon before 'China Pig'. Don sings it in a over exaggerated vocal style. The original version dates from the 1920s, but I did not have that version available. I have since acquired one and it is, in fact, not very different from this later live version.
