If You Like Frank Zappa, Check Out Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" LP

shecky · June 28

Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart (born Don Glen Vliet, changed to Don Van Vliet, and then to Captain Beefheart) were high school chums in Lancaster, California in the late 1950s. They shared a love of doo wop music and spent much time together collecting and listening to records.
They also recorded music together over the years (my favorite song being "Willie The Pimp"), though Zappa enjoyed the most notoriety and success of the two.
However, Beefheart's 1969 album called "Trout Mask Replica" is regarded as pure musical genius by many. If you are open-minded, give it a try!

tempo_n_groove · June 30

This is an album that you either get it or u don't. Thirdman did this as a vault release recently.

shecky · June 30

tempo_n_groove said:

This is an album that you either get it or u don't. Thirdman did this as a vault release recently.

Right you are, on both counts. I've played "Trout Mask" for friends who quickly exclaim: "Wow - this would sound so great stoned!" and they couldn't be more wrong. You need all of your faculties intact to appreciate Beefheart! And, like Zappa, Beehheart eschewed drugs of any kind (Zappa was known to fire musicians that he caught using drugs on tour). And yes, the 2018 Third Man Records re-issue is amazeballs! Besides being re-mastered and pressed on two "Fruitcake Fish-Scale" Color 180 gram vinyl LPs, there are also many cool goodies included in the set. I'll attach a few pix.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/vg/o2hsbp9v7z12.jpg

Loujoe · June 30

Never listened to him. So little music, so much time.
Saybe momeday!

Tempted to pick up that zappa release cheaper than cheap. Amazing show. Watched most of it.

79 bucks. Have to pass for now. I have too many records I don't pay enough attention to.

Sick vault find!

Gern Blansten · June 30

tempo_n_groove said:

This is an album that you either get it or u don't. Thirdman did this as a vault release recently.

I'm going to estimate that 99.999999% don't...

shecky · June 30

Loujoe said:

Never listened to him. So little music, so much time.
Saybe momeday!

Tempted to pick up that zappa release cheaper than cheap. Amazing show. Watched most of it.

79 bucks. Have to pass for now. I have too many records I don't pay enough attention to.

Sick vault find!

I hear ya'. And that's the beauty of YouTube - so much incredible content of all kinds for ABSOLUTELY FREE!
One of the greatest days of my life was when I figured out how to rig up YouTube to my TV!
And, I used to subscribe to Third Man Records' Vault series and "Trout Mask Replica" is one of the best they did!

Loujoe · July 1

I'll give it a go at some point. Thx for the suggestion.

shecky · July 1

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021252/uploads/editor/r2/7i6hs9qf6dyf.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHiclrHm-ig

Actually, the more I think about it, it's kind of silly to introduce people to Captain Beefheart through his most complex work -
the "Trout Mask Replica" album.

May be best to start with what I think is his best collaboration with Frank Zappa - the song "Willie The Pimp" from Zappa's "Hot Rats" LP.
This song features not only Captain Beefheart's amazing vocals, but also Zappa's searing lead guitar work, the electric fiddle of Sugarcane Harris, along with other equally astounding musicians that Zappa surrounded himself with. Play it loud!

If You Like Frank Zappa, Check Out Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" LP

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