| features in: Album Chart of 1970 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Following on from “Trout Mask Replica” 18 months earlier, the mad gruff one and his crazy gang began the 1970s with “Lick My Decals Off, Baby” which was in the shops in time for Christmas ‘70. The free jazz complexity of the group is still very much “in their system” unfortunately but, generally speaking, there are more accessible concessions on-board this time around, relatively speaking. It’s the “conventional” rockers which do it best for me – “I Love You, You Big Dummy” is best from side 1 – those riffs sure slam it home. “Quit asking why, I love you big dummy”. Alpha male romance or what? “The Smithsonian Institute Blues (Or The Big Dig)” seems completely wonky, but it reaches depths which are beyond most bands. Despite threatening to fall apart at any given minute, the thing hangs together majestically. To sound this haphazard is an art in itself. His advice to the “Space-Age Couple” is clear and to the point: “Why don’t you drop your cool tom-foolery, ‘n shed your nasty jewelry?” These wild dance rhythms are post-post-punk. The real killer ingredient, as ever, is Don Van Vliet himself; his drawl and his wordplay are a sheer joy. “What this world needs is a good $2 room and a good $2 broom”. Culture-rich and cash-poor is the continuing story.
The Jukebox Rebel
10–Oct–2016
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:38]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Lick My Decals Off, Baby (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| A2 | [02:46]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Doctor Dark (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| A3 | [02:54]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - I Love You, You Big Dummy (Don Van Vliet) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| A4 | [02:24]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Peon (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| A5 | [03:35]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Bellerin’ Plain (Don Van Vliet) Avant-Garde |
| A6 | [02:06]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| A7 | [03:00]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Japan In A Dishpan (Don Van Vliet) Jazz |
| B1 | [01:53]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - I Wanna Find A Woman That’ll Hold My Big Toe Till I Have To Go (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| B2 | [01:40]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Petrified Forest (Don Van Vliet) Avant-Garde |
| B3 | [01:52]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - One Red Rose That I Mean (Don Van Vliet) Rock |
| B4 | [02:19]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - The Buggy Boogie Woogie (Don Van Vliet) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B5 | [02:11]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - The Smithsonian Institute Blues (Or The Big Dig) (Don Van Vliet) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B6 | [02:32]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Space-Age Couple (Don Van Vliet) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B7 | [02:50]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - The Clouds Are Full Of Wine (Not Whiskey Or Rye) (Don Van Vliet) Prog |
| B8 | [04:15]  Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Flash Gordon’s Ape (Don Van Vliet) Avant-Garde |
