Unconditionally Guaranteed
Encyclopedia
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 recording of the album the entire Magic Band quit – as biographer Mike Barnes has stated, "[Beefheart] was in effect sacked by his own group." They had become increasingly disenchanted with the lack of financial success, having subsisted on food stamps and donations from their parents, and with Beefheart's tyrannical control over the group. In the words of guitarist Bill Harkleroad
"we had had enough of him treating us like punching bags."
The album's lackluster and unchallenging music was the last straw. 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."
After his contract with Mercury Records
ended at the end of 1974, Beefheart disowned the record along with its successor Bluejeans & Moonbeams
. He urged his fans to "take copies back for a refund" and called the albums "horrible and vulgar."
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. 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 recording of the album the entire Magic Band quit – as biographer Mike Barnes has stated, "[Beefheart] was in effect sacked by his own group." They had become increasingly disenchanted with the lack of financial success, having subsisted on food stamps and donations from their parents, and with Beefheart's tyrannical control over the group. In the words of guitarist 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...
"we had had enough of him treating us like punching bags."
The album's lackluster and unchallenging music was the last straw. Drummer Art Tripp
Art Tripp
Arthur Dyer Tripp III is a chiropractor and former musician best known for his work as a percussionist with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band.-Early career:Tripp grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and started playing drums in...
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."
After his contract with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
ended at the end of 1974, Beefheart disowned the record along with its successor Bluejeans & Moonbeams
Bluejeans & Moonbeams
Bluejeans & Moonbeams is the ninth LP by Captain Beefheart, originally released in 1974. Despite its uncharacteristically mainstream sound the album failed to chart...
. He urged his fans to "take copies back for a refund" and called the albums "horrible and vulgar."
Track listing
All songs written by Don Van Vliet.- "Upon the My-O-My" – 2:43
- "Sugar Bowl" – 2:13
- "New Electric Ride" – 3:02
- "Magic Be" – 2:55
- "Happy Love Song" – 3:54
- "Full Moon, Hot Sun" – 2:19
- "I Got Love on My Mind" – 3:08
- "This Is the Day" – 4:51
- "Lazy Music" – 2:49
- "Peaches" – 3:20