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In: City Of Refuge
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Catalogue number: PRPCD024 Label: Proper Records Released: November 2008 Track list Bogeyman Bus Ticket Outta Town Blood on a Porcupine Quill City of Refuge Abandon Get so Mean Maybe That’ll Teach Ya To the Loft of Ravenscroft The Shirt off My Back Wicked Witch of War Whose Side Ya On The Withered Hand of Time Proper Records publicity Recognised among many as one of the most innovative percussionists of his generation, Drumbo now sets out to resurrect the style of music he helped make famous in Captain Beefheart’s legendary Magic Band. For his new CD, “City of Refuge,” Drumbo set out to inject new lifeRead More →

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In: John French
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John was in and out of the Magic Band a number of times between 1967 and 1978. Before the Magic Band he had drummed on occasion for The Exiles (with Jeff Cotton) and fronted his own blues band, Blues In A Bottle, on vocals and harmonica (again with Cotton, as well as Mark Boston). There is some confusion over whether he was ever recorded with The Exiles, but it is definite that Blues In A Bottle was never recorded. Another band, Rattlesnake & Eggs, he formed with John Thomas also failed to leave a recorded legacy and his stint on vocals with the original MallardRead More →

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In: Eric Drew Feldman
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As a young teenager Feldman had visited the Magic Band at the ‘Trout’ house in Woodlands Hills. In 1976 he was to join the band to play keyboards, accordion and bass after Don had sacked John Thomas for playing on the second Mallard album. After the demise of the Magic Band Feldman has been in demand as a sideman and as a producer, playing with Pere Ubu, Snakefinger, Polly Harvey to name only a few. He has been described as a “joy to work with too: so calm yet so surprising”. He has regularly toured as part of Polly Harvey’s band (playing bass and keyboards).Read More →

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In: Roy Estrada
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Roy was an original member of The Soul Giants, the band that recruited a Frank Zappa as guitarist and consequently mutated into The Mothers of Invention. He then teamed up with Lowell George and formed Little Feat, although he does appear on several albums during the 70’s playing bass on tracks here and there. He was recruited into the Magic Band to supplement Rockette Morton’s bass playing and to allow Rockette to play guitar for live shows. Roy toured the US and Europe with the Magic Band in 1972 and 1973 providing an unmoving, brooding and solid presence. He played on The Spotlight Kid andRead More →

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In: Harry Duncan
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Harry Duncan was not strictly speaking a member of the Magic Band but he was Don’s manager from 1976 to 1978 and did perform on stage with them. He played additional harmonica on “Grow Fins”, and would recite a version of “The Blimp” while wearing a mask. No information available about what he’s been doing since then, although he did host a music show on KUSF fairly recently Harry Duncan releases 1977 US Vinyl The Tubes : Now on A&M SP-3243. Don is supposed to be playing harmonica on the track “Golden Boy” but there is a strong possibility that it is actually Harry Duncan! 1987Read More →

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In: Greg Davidson
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Greg played guitar in a the short-lived version of the Magic Band that was put together for the Knebworth Festival in July 1975 supporting Pink Floyd. This band also played a couple of shows at the Roxy in Los Angeles. Greg still plays guitar and occasionally performs in his home town of Chicago. In 2008 he posted a couple of short videos on You Tube of himself playing. One of these includes some scorching slide work. He has also contributed extensive guitar parts on John French’s City of Refuge album. An interview with Greg about his time with the Magic Band was conducted by SteveRead More →

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In: Jeff Cotton
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Jeff probably has the distinction of recording with a band at an earlier age than any other Magic Band member. He began his first band The Exiles when he was only 14 and they released their debut single within a few months. When this band fell apart in 1966 he played with several unrecorded bands – The Allusions, Blues In A Bottle (with John French, Mark Boston and later Bill Harkleroad) – before joining the Magic Band in 1967. An unfortunate incident resulted in Jeff quitting the band during 1969 after the recording of Trout Mask. When he’d recovered he hooked up with former ExilesRead More →

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In: Mark Boston
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Originally from Salem, Illinois Mark’s family moved to the High Desert town of Lancaster in California in 1963. His father worked in a local grain factory and also played bass as well as steel guitar. This perhaps explains Mark’s ability on the bass – he’s one of the few rock bassists who really know how to use the instrument. By 1966 Mark was playing bass in John French’s Blues In A Bottle band alongside Jeff Cotton on guitar. He also played in B.C. & The Cavemen with Bill Harkleroad on guitar. French, Cotton and Harkleroad all got their call up to the Magic Band. FinallyRead More →

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In: Jimmy Carl Black, Pachuco Cadaver
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Engene Chadbourne & Jimmy Carl Black Pachuco Cadaver FIRE ANT FACD1007 CD Various Artists The Music Of Captain Beefheart Live ULTIMATE AUDIO ENTERTAINMENT UAE DISC3 CD In June 1993, Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy Carl Black came to England and toured from Hoxton Square to Hebden Bridge. On route they recorded a session for Radio 3’s Mixing It. Guitarist and banjo player Chadbourne is a product of No Wave, turned around by hearing Derek Bailey. Long ago he recorded three albums of subversively comic free improvisation, then teamed up with John Zorn to tour America playing deranged Country music. Drummer Jimmy Carl Black was a founderRead More →

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In: Jimmy Carl Black, Pachuco Cadaver, Related releases
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Many thanks to James Silberbauer for providing all this information Track list Buggie Boogie Woogie Willie The Pimp Drop-out Boogie Sure ’nuff ‘n’ Yes I Do Clear Spot Steal Softly Through Sunshine Steal Softly Through Snowdrop (Excerpt from “Insect And Western” by EC) The Past Sure Is Tense Veteran’s Day Poppy (Including “Ponca War Song” trad. arranged by EC and several themes by Thelonious Monk) Chasin’ The Captain Jack (by EC) Based on a Kiowa Sioux lullaby (I’m Gonna Booglarize You, Baby) Pachuco Cadaver [This is actually split into 2 tracks on the CD] (Including La Rosa by EC) The Dust Blows Forward And TheRead More →

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TRIBUTE ALBUMS mostly suck, perhaps it’s appropriate that the music world’s most unlikely and reluctant icon should be given the “treatment” by one of our most inscrutable and willing iconoclasts. Joined by ex-Mothers Of Invention drummer Black, Chadbourne gets into a free-spirited and free-form state of mind we acolytes call “Beefheartian.” The duo nails it from the git-go with a sneaky update of “Buggy Boogie Woogie,” Chadbourne picking through a mutant jazzrock extrapolation and Black thrumming happily along. A country-blues “Willie The Pimp” and a bottle-neckin’ “Sure ‘Nuff ‘N’ Yes, I Do” follow. Then it’s time for the Trout Mask Replica portion of the program,Read More →

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Born in Texas, James Inckanish Jr. recorded his first single in 1962. After he moved to California he teamed up with Roy Estrada in The Soul Giants which became the Mothers of Invention under Frank Zappa’s leadership and JCB found eternal fame as “the Indian of the group”. As Indian Ink he was a second drummer in the short-lived Magic Band Don put together for the Knebworth and Roxy shows in July 1975. He has never recorded with the Magic Band. In a June 2000 interview with Alan Clayson JCB said:- … in 1975, I did a tour with Captain Beefheart.The difference between his musicRead More →

Herb Bermann then and now

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aka Herb Masters Steve Froy’s search for the mystery co-songwriter from ‘Safe As Milk’ Of the 12 songs on the ‘Safe As Milk’ album 8 are co-credited to someone called Herb Bermann. Who was he? No-one at the time seemed to know, he wasn’t a member of the band, he didn’t co-write any songs on the following albums and he was never mentioned in interviews. Very strange. Some fans thought he may have been an anonymous staff-writer foisted on Beefheart to keep the lid on his eccentricity … or, maybe, he was a friend of the producer or an agent getting a cut of theRead More →

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In: Featuring Beefheart, Gary Lucas, Improve The Shining Hour
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Track list: Coming Clean (Gary Lucas, vocal) And The Ass Saw The Angel (Nick Cave, vocal) Spider Web (David Johansen, vocal) Dulce (Elli Medeiros, vocal) Flavor Bud Living Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles (Captain Beefheart, vocal) In A Forest (Gary Lucas, vocal) Judgement (Eric Mingus, vocal) Judgement At Midnight Theme Oat Hate Follow (Richard Barone, vocal) Astro Boy (Peter Stampfel & Gary Lucas, vocal) Indian War Whoop She Was Showing Me (Mary Margaret O’Hara, vocal) Ted’s Theme Golgotha (featuring DJ Spooky) Breath Of Bones (with Gods and Monsters) Listen, You Who Dare / Improve The Shining Hour Album overview from Graham Johnston Gary LucasRead More →

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In: Blue Collar
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Track list Hard Workin’ Man (Main Title) – Captain Beefheart Goodbye, So Long – Ike and Tina Turner Zeke, Jerry & Smokie – performer not listed Party – performer not listed Wang Dang Doodle – Howlin’ Wolf Easy Listening – performer not listed Coke Machine – performer not listed Quittin’ Time (Main Theme) – performer not listed Satin Sheets – Jeanne Pruett F.B.I. (Main Theme) – performer not listed Saturday Night Special – Lynyrd Skynyrd Blue Collar (Main Theme & End Title) – performer not listed Album overview from Graham Johnston The score was composed and conducted by Jack Nitzsche which is more than enough toRead More →

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In: Mystery Disc
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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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In: The Lost Episodes
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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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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 FZ catalogue and one of the best introductions to his music. Highlights include his 1979Read 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 →