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Don would have been 80 years old today. To celebrate that milestone Gary Lucas has written a piece for the Please Kill Me website about the dysfunctional relationship between Don and Frank Zappa. Gary offers his take on the rivalry between to the two old friends and also looks at the recording of the last Beefheart album Ice Cream For Crow. Read the article – Don Van Vliet and Frank Zappa: Two Peas In A Misshapen Pod   Another album that gets mentioned in the article is Doc At The Radar Station which last year reached its 40th anniversary. Gary devoted three of his FacebookRead More →

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The Radar Station is pleased to present this fascinating article by Art Tripp, aka Ed Marimba, aka Ted Cactus, drummer and percussionist for both Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and Beefheart’s Magic Band. Here he gives his take on what it was like to work for both these very different musical geniuses. Thanks to Kitty Marimba for helping to make this happen. ————————————————————————————— Zappa vs. Beefheart: What Were They Really Like? by Art Tripp “Hi, Art, this is Dick Kunc here. I was telling Frank about you, and we’re wondering if you could come down to Apostolic Studios on Friday?” “Sure, Dick. What should I bring:Read More →

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Frank Zappa featuring Captain Beefheart at Providence College, Rhode Island Vol. 1 Side A 1. Improvisations 2. Camarillo Brillo 3. Muffin Man 4. Stink-Foot 5. I’m Not Satisfied Side B 6. Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy 7. The Velvet Sunrise Side C 8. Pound For A Brown Side D 9. The Torture Never Stops Vol. 2 Side A 1. Montana 2. Improvisations (inc. Chariot, Moon Trek, Sam w/ The Showing Scalp Flat Top) Side B 3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top 4. Penguin In Bondage 5. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead Side C 6. Echidna’s Arf (Of You) 7. Drum Solo 8. Advance Romance Side D 9.Read More →

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Song List Side A Poofters Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead (200 Years Special) 3:10 George Duke’s Incredible Show (Improvisation) 5:50 Willie The Pimp 9:23 Side B The Torture Never Stops 14:40 Let’s Make The Water Turn Black 4:03 Overview Recorded live on the Bongo Fury Tour at the Boston Music Hall, Massachusetts on 27 April 1975 (Late Show). Only 5 of the 13 songs performed that evening are included on this single disc pressed on purple vinyl. At least Beefheart’s contribution is represented on here. Releases 2008 Germany Vinyl on Hedgehog Records  HDG 0020 Help us If anyone is able to complete or update any of the information above, then pleaseRead More →

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Song List Disc 1 Improvisations Camarillo Brillo Muffin Man Let’s Make The Water Turn Black Penguin In Bondage Improvisation (Beefheart Instrumental Style) Debra Kadabra Band Introductions Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead Echidna’s Arf George Duke Improvisation Disc 2 The Torture Never Stops Marty’s Dance Song Montana Florentine Pogen Encore Break Willie The Pimp Overview Recorded on the Bongo Fury tour at the Music Hall, Boston, MA on 27th April 1975 – Late Show. Releases 2011 US 2CD on Guitar Master  GM-025/026 Help us If anyone is able to complete or update any of the information above, then please do get in touch.Read More →

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Radar Station Overview Recorded during the Bongo Fury Tour at Boston Music Hall on 27th April 1975, except for tracks 11, 12 and 13 on the vinyl release which are from a different Mothers show. The vinyl version was released as a double but is usually found in separate deluxe covers. Volume 1 has a brown and white cover while Volume 2 has a red and white one. As can be seen the track listing on the CD version is slightly different (confusion over song titles aside) but it’s a pity ‘Willie The Pimp’ has been missed off. Song List Vinyl CD Intro – Varese Special A Token Of My ExtremeRead More →

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Song List Side One Montana Florentine Pogen Side Two Debra Kadabra Intros Poofter’s Froth Wyoming George Duke Spotlight (Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?) Radar Station Overview From the Bongo Fury tour in 1975 this includes a few songs performed at the Boston Music Hall show. A single European (probably German) vinyl that has been re-pressed at least once with different covers. The label reads: “P.T. Schneider presents MUFFIN “LIVE” BAND” Can anyone explain the title of this release? Whose stupid idea was that? Definitely not one of the best! Thanks to Wol Stor for the cover scan Releases 1985 AL 01A/B clear vinyl with plain white sleeve withRead More →

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Song list Disc 1 County Coliseum, El Paso, 23 May 1975 Introduction Improvisation Apostrophe Stinkfoot I`m Not Satisfied Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy Velvet Sunrise Pound for a Brown You`re So Fine/Lonely Lonely Nights Debra Kadabra Montana/Improvisations Disc 2 1. Advance Romance 2. Florentine Pogen Daigaku Seibu Kodo, Kyoto, Japan, 4th February 1976 Introduction Stinkfoot Dirty Love Filthy Habits How Could I Be Such A Fool? Ain’t Got No Heart I’m Not Satisfied Black Napkins Overview Another boot of the good quality El Paso Bongo Fury show, similar to the Bongo In Fury in El Paso release. Even less Beefheart involvement here. This time the filler isRead More →

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Song list Disc 1 County Coliseum, El Paso, 23 May 1975 Presentation Bongo Fury Initial Apostrophe band introduction Stinkfoot I`m Not Satisfied Carolina Hard-core Ecstasy Velvet Sunrise A pound for a brown on the bus the medley Frank introduces El Paso son Jimmy Carl Black You`re So Fine Lonely Lonely Nights Debra Kadabra Montana Strange Things Disc 2 1. Advance Romance 2. Florentine Pogen Studio outtakes 3. 200 Years Old (studio outtake 1975) 4. Orange Claw Hammer (FZ & CB Radio Show 1975) 5. Redunzl (studio outtake) Music Hall, Boston 27 April 1975 6. Camarillo Brillo 7. Muffin Man 8. Let`s make the water turnRead More →

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Song List Improvisations 5:46 Camarillo Brillo 4:29 Muffin Man 1:45 Stinkfoot 4:51 I’m Not Satisfied 2:06 Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy 10:38 Velvet Sunrise 7:36 A Pound For A Brown 9:59 The Torture Never Stops 8:10 Montana 12:09 Improvisations (Inc. Chariot, Moon Trek) 9:39 Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top 2:35 Penguin In Bondage 11:41 Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead 3:18 Echidna’s Arf 0:36 Drum Solo 3:05 Advance Romance 15:16 Encore Applause 0:31 Willie The Pimp 8:43 Recorded at Providence College, Rhode Island on 26th April 1975. Notes From back cover: Childhood friends and fellow rock visionaries Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart put aside their differencesRead More →

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Song List Disc 1 Improvisations Camarillo Brillo Muffin Man (Instrumental) Stinkfoot I’m Not Satisfied Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy Velvet Sunrise A Pound For A Brown Why Doesn’t Someone Give Him A Pepsi? (Aka The Torture Never Stops) Disc 2 Montana Improvisations (Incl. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top) Penguin In Bondage Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead Echidna’s Arf (Of You) Drums Advance Romance Willie The Pimp Recorded at Providence College, Rhode Island on 26th April 1975 Overview Good quality bootleg  from an original recording by Dan Lampinski from the Bongo Fury Tour. One of the better offerings from this tour with more Beefheart participation. The soundRead More →

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The back cover of this single CD says: Frank HOT Rats Zappa and Captain BEEFheart INJECT their thoughts and songs in this classic 1975 WLIR radio broadcast This is the same excellent show as the An Evening With … CD release. Although “Hot Beef” claims to released earlier I thought “An Evening with” was first Song list: Cucamonga Orange Claw Hammer Debra Kadabra/Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy Will You Drink My Water Pachuco Cadaver I Was A Teenage Maltshop Status Back Baby Ned The Mumbler Toads Of The Sort Forest Charva Speedfreak Boogie Metal Man Has Won His Wings Instrumental Louisiana Blues Instrumental Studio Rehearsal How Could I Be SuchRead More →

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An amazing collection of rarities put together as a syndicated radio show by Zappa in 1975. It was broadcast on KWST and WLIR – and possibly others. Don is in the studio too and contributes throughout – the highlight being the version of ‘Orange Claw Hammer’ with Zappa playing guitar accompaniment Song List Cucamonga (Bongo Fury 1975) Orange Claw Hammer (live in studio 1975) Debra Kadabra/Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy (Bongo Fury 1975) Will You Drink My Water (The Smegmates) Pachuco Cadaver (Trout Mask Replica) I Was A Teenage Maltshop (CBS Demo 1965) Status Back Baby (CBS Demo 1965) Ned The Mumbler (CBS Demo 1965) Toads Of The Sort ForestRead More →

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Track list Theme from Run Home Slow Original Duke of Prunes Opening Night Party at Studio Z The Village Inn Steal Away I Was A Teenage Malt Shop The Birth of Captain Beefheart Metal Man Has Won His Wings Power Trio Segment from The Saints ‘n Sinners Bossa Nova Pervertamento Exerpt from The Uncle Frankie Show Charva Speed-Freak Boogie Original Mothers at The Broadside Party Scene from Mundo Hollywood Original Mothers rehearsal How Could I Be Such A Fool Band Introductions at The Fillmore West Plastic People Original Mothers at The Filmore East Harry You’re A Beast Don Interrupts Piece One Jim / Roy PieceRead More →

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Track list The Blackouts Lost In A Whirlpool Ronnie Sings? Kenny’s Booger Story Ronnie’s Booger Story Mount St. Mary’s Concert Excerpt Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance Tiger Roach Run Home Slow Theme Fountain Of Love Run Home Cues, #2 Any Way The Wind Blows Run Home Cues, #3 Charva The Dick Kunc Story Wedding Dress Song Handsome Cabin Boy Cops & Buns The Big Squeeze I’m A Band Leader Alley Cat The Grand Wazoo Wonderful Wino Kung Fu RNDZL Basement Music #1 Inca Roads Lil’ Clanton Shuffle I Don’t wanna Get Drafted Sharleena Catalogue number: RCD 40573 Label: Rycodisc Released: 1996 Album overviewRead More →

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[alert_box type=”info”]This review was taken from the 1st March 1996 edition of The Guardian[/alert_box] Rating: **** Excellent DEAD rock star in interesting new recording shock! `This album is not available to the public,’ sneers a voice on Tiger Roach [Don Van Vliet’s voice]. `Even if it were, you wouldn’t want to listen to it.’ Unlike most of the other dead rock stars currently releasing new material, Zappa knew he was heading for his last encore and worked on this album of out-takes, studio tomfoolery and unreleased tracks in the years before he died in 1993. The result is a stimulating addition to the bulging FZRead More →

Rare Beefheart Vintage Zappa cover

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Track list Beatle Bones & Smokin Stones Pt. 1 0’35 Beatle Bones & Smokin Stones Pt. 2 2’35 Trust Us (take 9) 7’20 Gimme Dat Harp Boy 3’25 Moody Liz (take 8) 4’31 How’s Your Bird? 2’10 The World’s Greatest Sinner 2’25 Everytime I See You 2’29 Dear Jeepers 2’26 Letter From Jeepers 2’20 Cradle Rock 2’52 Tracks 1-5 licensed from Kama Sutra Music Inc. and tracks 6-11 licensed from Del-Fi Records. (p)&(c)1991 Disky Communications B.V. Marketed and distributed in the Benelux by Disky Communications B.V.Hoorn. Cover Design: Van Dijken Enschede. From Pop Almanac Records of Holland(?) Album overview from Graham Johnston This album was splitRead More →

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Track list Inca Roads Can’t Afford No Shoes Sofa N1 Po-Jama People Florentine Pogen Evelyn, A Modified Dog San Ber’dino Andy Sofa N2 Released in 1975, this Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention album featured Don on harmonica, under the pseudonym Bloodshot Rollin’ Red. Don appears on “San Ber’dino” (also available on the Zappa compilation Strickly Commercial). Released on CD in 1988. Line up George Duke – all keyboards & synthesizers, lead vocals on “Inca Roads”, “Andy” and “Sofa N2” Napoleon Murphy Brock – flute & sax, lead vocals on “Florentine Pogen” and “Andy” Chester Thompson – drums, gorilla victim Tom Fowler – bassRead More →

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Produced by Frank Zappa Sleeve design by Cal Schenke Track list Wind Up Workin’ In A Gas Station 2:29 Black Napkins 4:15 The Torture Never Stops 9:44 Ms Pinky Find Her Finer 4:07 Friendly Little Finger 4:17 Wonderful Wino 3:38 Zoot Allures 4:13 Disco Boy 5:09 Album overview from Graham Johnston This Zappa album features Don on one tune, “Find Her Finer”, on which he plays harmonica. Don does not appear on this original version of “The Torture Never Stops” despite his vocal contribution to the live version on You Can Do That On Stage Anymore Volume 4 and Cheap Thrills. Releases (to be completed!) 1976Read More →

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1975 US Original on DiscReet DS 2234       The details of the album were not printed on the front cover instead they were included on a plastic label stuck to the shrink-wrap which meant the label would be easily lost or damaged! 1975(?) US Limited Edition on RCA Music Service Record Club R114523 Issued ‘under licence’. 1975 UK on DiscReet K 59209 marketed by WEA Never released in the UK due to contractual disagreements between Herb Cohen’s DiscReet and Richard Branson’s Virgin labels. Only test pressings were made, seven of which are known to exist. 1975 Japan on DiscReet P-10093-D Made in Japan withRead More →