Bluejeans & Moonbeams
Encyclopedia
Bluejeans & Moonbeams is the ninth LP by Captain Beefheart
, originally released in 1974. Despite its uncharacteristically mainstream sound the album failed to chart. Most observers consider the album
to be one of the Captain's weakest works, leading fans to christen
the line-up of the period the 'Tragic Band'.
The album does, however, have its influence: an early White Stripes
EP
entitled Party of Special Things to Do
(2001) contains three Beefheart covers, including this album's opening track.
Having no musical training or instrumental experience, throughout his career Van Vliet had relied on a musical director within the band who could translate his often unorthodox ideas into a form that was musically playable. This role had been successively filled by Alex St. Clair
, John French
, and Bill Harkleroad
on his previous albums. With the entire Magic Band having quit after the recording of his previous album he no longer had such an intermediary. As a result the album is generally considered the nadir of Van Vliet's musical career. One of the musicians, Micheal Smotherman, said "Don was just as confused as he could be throughout the whole process... I would push his face up to the microphone and he would start singing. And when it was time to stop I would pull him back gently."
The album cover is a painting by Van Vliet's friend and cousin, Victor Hayden, who featured on Trout Mask Replica
with the nickname Beefheart bestowed upon him, The Mascara Snake
.
and earlier albums had left to form Mallard
.
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
, originally released in 1974. Despite its uncharacteristically mainstream sound the album failed to chart. Most observers consider the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
to be one of the Captain's weakest works, leading fans to christen
Christen
-People:* Adolf Christen , court actor, theater director and theater manager* Brian Christen , Canadian cricketer* Fritz Christen , German Waffen-SS soldier of WWII era* Georges Christen , Luxembourgian strongman...
the line-up of the period the 'Tragic Band'.
The album does, however, have its influence: an early White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Party of Special Things to Do
Party of Special Things to Do
"Party of Special Things to Do" is a song by Captain Beefheart from the album Bluejeans & Moonbeams which was covered and released as a 7" single by Detroit, Michigan garage rock band The White Stripes...
(2001) contains three Beefheart covers, including this album's opening track.
Having no musical training or instrumental experience, throughout his career Van Vliet had relied on a musical director within the band who could translate his often unorthodox ideas into a form that was musically playable. This role had been successively filled by Alex St. Clair
Alex St. Clair
Alex St. Clair , was an American musician.Twice guitarist for Captain Beefheart, St. Clair was a contemporary of Frank Zappa at Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California, where St. Clair played trumpet and Zappa played drums. They bought their first guitars within days of each other.St...
, John French
John French (musician)
John "Drumbo" French is an American drummer and musician. He played on Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica and on various other Beefheart recordings: Beefheart dubbed him "Drumbo"...
, and Bill Harkleroad
Bill Harkleroad
Bill Harkleroad, known professionally as Zoot Horn Rollo , is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band...
on his previous albums. With the entire Magic Band having quit after the recording of his previous album he no longer had such an intermediary. As a result the album is generally considered the nadir of Van Vliet's musical career. One of the musicians, Micheal Smotherman, said "Don was just as confused as he could be throughout the whole process... I would push his face up to the microphone and he would start singing. And when it was time to stop I would pull him back gently."
The album cover is a painting by Van Vliet's friend and cousin, Victor Hayden, who featured on Trout Mask Replica
Trout Mask Replica
Trout Mask Replica is the third album by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, released in June 1969. Produced by Beefheart's friend and former schoolmate Frank Zappa, it was originally released as a double album on Zappa's Straight Records label...
with the nickname Beefheart bestowed upon him, The Mascara Snake
The Mascara Snake
The Mascara Snake, real name Victor Hayden, was a cousin and friend of Captain Beefheart . He joined The Magic Band in 1969, and is credited playing bass clarinet on Trout Mask Replica...
.
Side one
- "Party of Special Things to Do" (Don Van VlietCaptain BeefheartDon Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
, Elliot IngberElliot IngberElliot Ingber is an American guitarist. In 1966, he was a founding member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and was featured on their debut album Freak Out! After being fired from the band by Frank Zappa, Ingber helped form Fraternity of Man, which released two albums...
) – 2:48 - "Same Old Blues" (J. J. Cale) – 4:00
- "Observatory Crest" (Van Vliet, E. Ingber) – 3:32
- "Pompadour Swamp" (Van Vliet) – 3:32
- "Captain's Holiday" (R. Feldman, W. Richmond, S. Hickerson, C. Blackwell) – 5:43
Side two
- "Rock 'n Roll's Evil Doll" (Van Vliet, Mark Gibbons, Ira Ingber) – 3:20
- "Further Than We've Gone" (Van Vliet) – 5:31
- "Twist ah Luck" (Van Vliet, Gibbons, I. Ingber) – 3:22
- "Bluejeans & Moonbeams" (Van Vliet) – 5:02
Personnel
The musicians in this version of the Magic Band appear on no other Beefheart album. Several of those who had played on Unconditionally GuaranteedUnconditionally Guaranteed
Unconditionally Guaranteed is the eighth LP by Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, originally released in 1974. Upon release it was criticised for being too commercial; in any case, it failed to give Beefheart any real chart success, peaking at #192 on the Billboard Top 200.Immediately after...
and earlier albums had left to form Mallard
Mallard (band)
Mallard was the name of a band featuring ex-members of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.In early 1974, after the recording of the uncharacteristically mainstream Unconditionally Guaranteed album, the tensions between Captain Beefheart and bandmembers Bill Harkleroad , Mark Boston and Art Tripp III ...
.
- Captain Beefheart - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Dean Smith - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bottleneck guitar - Ira Ingber - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Bob West - bass
- Micheal Smotherman - keyboards, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Mark Gibbons - keyboards
- Gene Pello - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Jimmy Caravan - keyboard, star machine
- Ty Grimes - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...