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In: 21st Century Magic Band
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CDs Back to the Front Seventeen crackling tracks recorded live in the studio as the band rehearse for their live shows. Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 See full Back To The Front info 21st Century Mirror Men Sixteen Beefheart favourites recorded live on tour at various venues plus a live DVD as bonus Recorded: 2003/4 Released: 2005 See full 21st Century Mirror Men info Oxford, UK – June 6, 2005 Eighteen stunning performances from one of John French’s favourite shows Recorded: 2005 Released: 2011 See full Oxford, UK – June 6 2005 info DVD Live in Concert and Crow’s Milk Excellent quality dvd with footage ofRead More →

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In: Back To The Front
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Catalogue number: ATPRCD7 Label: All Tomorrows Parties Released: July 2003 Track list My Human Gets Me Blues Click Clack Abba Zaba I’m Gonna Booglarize You Baby Sun Zoom Spark Alice In Blunderland Steal Softly Thru Snow Dropout Boogie Moonlight On Vermont Circumstances On Tomorrow Floppy Boot Stomp Hair Pie Nowadays A Woman’s Gotta Hit A Man When It Blows Its Stacks I Wanna Find A Woman… (Bonus Track) Sure Nuff n Yes I Do Album overview from Steve Froy Recorded in February 2003 at Paradoxx Sound Studios in Palmdale when John French, Mark Boston, Denny Walley and Gary Lucas were rehearsing for their series ofRead More →

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In: 2005 06 06 The Zodiac Oxford
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Gary ‘Mantis’ Lucas suddenly appeared stalking across stage and to whoops and hollers, he smiled his trademark, thin as a whip smile and was quickly followed by Denny ‘Feelers Reebo’ Walley, Mark ‘Rockette Morton’ Boston and drummer Michael Traylor. Straight away plugging in, hitting a string or two they had clearly come to do the stuff and no mistake – these guys meant business – when suddenly John ‘Drumbo’ French appears and wearing the ubiquitous white trench coat and wide brimmed hat we have come to recognise, lifts the mike and they belt into the opening number – ‘Gimme Dat Harp Boy’. Simply this eveningRead More →

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In: 21st Century Magic Band, Oxford UK June 6 2005
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Catalogue number: SC11212 Label: Sundazed Released: October 2011 Track list Gimme Dat Harp Boy Dropout Boogie Diddy Wah Diddy Low Yo Yo Stuff When It Blows Its Stacks Kandy Korn Hair Pie On Tomorrow (instrumental) China Pig Steal Softly Thru Snow (instrumental) Abba Zaba (instrumental) My Human Gets Me Blues (instrumental) Alice In Blunderland Electricity Evening Bell Floppy Boot Stomp Big Eyed Beans From Venus Mirror Man Sundazed blurb Famously forged in a cauldron of intense artistic pressure, Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band emerged as a group unlike any other in popular music. For this transcendental performance in Oxford, England on June 6th, 2005, founding memberRead More →

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In: Live in Concert & Crow's Milk DVD, Reunion, Reunion multimedia
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This show was available on the Magic Band’s Crow’s Milk DVD. Released in 2006 but now hard to find – second hand copies do turn up occasionally on amazon.co.uk. The film of the show was accompanied by the tour documentary entitled Crow’s Milk. Nearly twenty classic Beefheart compositions are rejuvenated on stage by five of the finest musicians who ever performed in The Magic Band. The playlist ranges from storming versions of crowd-pleasers such as ‘Moonlight On Vermont’ and ‘Big Eyed Beans From Venus’ to the intricate guitar work of ‘Evening Bell and the melodic ‘Alice In Blunderland’. Especially interesting are the instrumental versions of songs suchRead More →

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In: Live in Concert & Crow's Milk DVD, Reunion
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Crow’s Milk is a 50 minute documentary narrated by John Peel and directed by Elaine Shepherd which covers: The Magic Band rehearsals in California in February 2003 recording of the CD ‘Back To The Front’ the feelings of the band members about the project rehearsals in London for the two 2003 UK concerts concert and backstage footage from Camber Sands and Shepherds Bush. It was released on DVD in 2006 but can be hard to find now. Second hand copies do turn up occasionally on amazon.co.uk. The documentary was accompanied by the complete film of the London Shepherds Bush Empire show on 7 April 2003.Read More →

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The 21st Century Magic Band shows were extraordinary Blasting out explosive, raw, spiky, jaw-on-the-floor renditions of some of the best tunes ever recorded by Beefheart and the Magic Band, this was no flaccid cash-in; it was the real deal and the Magic Band blew our stacks all over again. Sincerely, for anyone who has have missed Beefheart’s presence over the last three decades, this really helped make up for it. View the latest reunion news from the blog. The story so far The reformed Magic Band initially played a number of (mainly) European dates between 2003 and 2006 – see below for photos, press reviews,Read More →

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In: One Size Fits All
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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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In: Zoot Allures
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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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In: Bongo Fury
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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 →

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Track list Debra Kadabra Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead 200 Years Old Cucamonga Advance Romance Man With The Woman Head Muffin Man Live in concert at Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas 20th & 21 May 1975 Plus Selected Studio Wonderment Musicians Frank Zappa – lead guitar, vocals Captain Beefheart – harp, vocals, shopping bags George Duke – keyboards, vocals Napoleon Murphy Brock – sax, vocals Bruce Fowler – trombone, fantastic dancing Tom Fowler – bass, also dancing Denny Walley – slide guitar, vocals Terry Bozzio – drums, moisture Chester Thompson – drums (200 Years OldRead More →

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In: Hot Rats
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Track list Peaches En Regalia Willie The Pimp Son Of Mr. Green Genes Little Umbrellas The Gumbo Variations It Must Be A Camel Recording details Date – July – August 1969 One of the first albums to be recorded on 16 track. Recorded at T.T.G., Los Angeles (probably where Mirror Man was recorded), Sunset Sound, Los Angeles and Whitney Studios, Glendale. Album overview from Graham Johnston When I first bought this album I danced around my bedroom with glee while listening to it and then took it out with me that evening to force everyone else I knew to marvel at it too (a surprisingly mixed response ifRead More →

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In: Books
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There’s a new book available which has compiled over 40 written pieces about, and interviews with Don. It’s called ‘A carrot is as close as a rabbit gets to a diamond’. In this online world it’s a refreshing retro artefact. Read my short reviewRead More →

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In: Singles
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Track list Ice Cream For Crow Tropical Hot Dog Night Run Paint Run Run Light Reflected Off The Oceands Of The Moon Album overview from Graham Johnston This oddity is a Virgin Records ep from 1982 (VS 534-12). It contains four tunes, the first three of which are readily available on Beefheart’s last three albums. The last tune, Light Reflected Off The Oceands Of The Moon first appeared on this ep and is really an instrumental version of Hey Garland I Dig Your Tweed Coat but with Don’s sax splattered all over the place and a splendid new title. It is now available on The DustRead More →

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Press release from Sundazed: Upon signing with A&M Records, Captain Beefheart & his Magic Band debuted loudly, recording two singles in 1966, cementing their image as Sunset Strip “blues fiends” and paving the way for what was to become one of the most original careers in rock history. The band’s cover of Bo Diddley’s “Diddy Wah Diddy” garnered significant regional attention & considerable radio play courtesy of the Captain’s unreal howl & Jerry Handley’s deep, thundering bass sound, while the driving delta tributes “Who Do You Think You’re Fooling” & “Frying Pan” sharply displayed the Captain’s early songwriting prowess. While the Magic Band’s musical courseRead More →

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In: Buddah Years
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Track list Sure Nuff N Yes I Do Zig Zag Wanderer Dropout Boogie Electricity Yellow Brick Road Abba Zaba Plastic Factory Big Black Baby Shoes Safe As Milk Gimme Dat Harp Boy Trust Us Kandy Korn Tracks 1-9: Safe As Milk (1999 remastered) Tracks 10-12: Mirror Man (1999 remastered) Album overview from Steve Froy When I first heard about this I thought, oh no, not yet another collection of tracks from Safe As Milk and Mirror Man. However, this one has a bit of a twist to it. A short (47 minutes), sharp compilation of tracks from the remastered releases of Safe As Milk and TheRead More →

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In: Hot Head (compilation)
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Track list Safe As Milk Upon The My-O-My Son of Mirror Man – Mere Man Party Of Special Things To Do The Floppy Boot Stomp Tropical Hot Dog Night Hot Head This Is The Day You Know You’re A Man Ice Cream For Crow Pompadour Swamp Suction Prints Semi Multicolored Caucasian Gimme Dat Harp Boy Making Love To A Vampire With A Monkey on My Knee Sheriff Of Hong Kong The Witch Doctor Life Tracks 1, 3, 14: Strictly Personal (1968) Tracks 2, 8: Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) Tracks 4, 11: Blue Jeans & Moonbeams (1974) Tracks 5, 6, 9, 12: Shiny Beast (1979) Tracks 7,Read More →

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In: Best Of The Virgin and Liberty Years
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Track list Safe As Milk Gimme Dat Harp Boy Kandy Korn Upon The My-O-My New Electric Ride Party Of Special Things Twist Uh Luck Blue Jeans & Moonbeams The Floppy Boot Stomp Bat Chan Puller Run Paint Run Run Hot Head Ashtray Heart Ice Cream For Crow The Past Sure Is Tense The Witch Doctor Life Tracks 1-3: Strictly Personal (1968) Tracks 4-5: Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) Tracks 6-8: Blue Jeans & Moonbeams (1974) Tracks 9-10: Shiny Beast (1979) Tracks 11-13: Doc At The Radar Station (1980) Tracks 14-16: Ice Cream For Crow (1982) Album overview from Steve Froy The cover says ‘The Best Of Captain BeefheartRead More →

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In: Electricity
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Track list Sure ‘Nuff ‘N Yes I Do 2:16 Zig Zag Wanderer 2:39 Dropout Boogie 2:30 I’m Glad 3:29 Electricity 3:05 Yellow Brick Road 2:25 Abba Zaba 2:41 Plastic Factory 3:07 Trust Us 7:15 Beatle Bones N’ Smokin’ Stones 3:10 Moody Liz 4:31 Big Black Baby Shoes 4:49 Gimme Dat Harp Boy 3:35 Dirty Blue Gene 2:40 Tarotplane 19:04 Kandy Korn 8:02 Album overview from Graham Johnston Another compilation featuring material from the Magic Band’s early years, containing a selection of pre-Trout Mask tunes. If you already have these songs then just forget it. If you don’t already have them then you should still forget itRead More →