features in: Album Chart of 1974 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Immediately after the recording of the preceding “Unconditionally Guaranteed” early in '74, the Magic Band, to a man, deserted Captain Beefheart, disenchanted with almost every aspect of their lot, from finances to being bullied to the artistic direction. Guitarist Bill Harkleroad commented: “we had had enough of him treating us like punching bags”. Drummer Art Tripp recalled: “When the band finally got our album copies, we were horrified. As we listened, it was as though each song was worse than the one which preceded it.” Contracted for another album with Mercury, the main man had no option but to re-recruit and soldier on, and “Bluejeans and Moonbeams” was duly delivered in November, 1974. Accompanying his vocals and harminca were: Dean Smith (guitar, bottleneck guitar), Michael Smotherman (keyboards, backing vocals) and Ty Grimes (percussion). What's delivered is perfunctory and pleasant within normal pop-rock conventions, which is almost criminal by the Captain's standards. The only saving grace is that unique timbre, but surely no Beefheart fan could hide their disappointment with the lack of “edge”.
The Jukebox Rebel
11–Oct–2016
Tracklist |
A1 | [02:48] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Party Of Special Things To Do (Don Van Vliet, Elliot Ingber) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
A2 | [04:00] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Same Old Blues (J. J. Cale) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
A3 | [03:32] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Observatory Crest (Don Van Vliet, Elliot Ingber) Rock |
A4 | [03:32] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Pompadour Swamp (Don Van Vliet) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
A5 | [05:43] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Captain’s Holiday (Richard Feldman, Walter Richmond, Stephen Hickerson, Charles Blackwell) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
B1 | [03:20] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Rock ’n Roll’s Evil Doll (Don Van Vliet, Mark Gibbons, Ira Ingber) Rock |
B2 | [05:31] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Further Than We’ve Gone (Don Van Vliet) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
B3 | [03:22] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Twist Ah Luck (Don Van Vliet, Mark Gibbons, Ira Ingber) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
B4 | [05:02] Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Bluejeans And Moonbeams (Don Van Vliet) Folk Rock / Americana |