I was doing my 'let's try something different' stint on the internet and ended up listening to Captain Beefheart's Clear Spot album and was amazed how close to the Southern soul sound this was. OK, he was a big R&B fan, as was Frank Zappa, but this really surprised me.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6RPnt9ZN20

I like that, sounds just like something Eddie Hinton would do. Definitely soulful.

Looking on the credits for the LP, there's no obvious names on there (to me) - other than The Blackberries who backed quite a few more well known Soul artists.

It certainly has a Memphis / Southern sound about it, that's for sure!

i can't stand zappa, doing fake versions of other genres, proving how musicially "smart" he is, for an audience that would never listen to the real thing. beefheart is listenable when doing original sounds like on trout mast replica.

 

that said, this track is decent.

i can't stand zappa, doing fake versions of other genres, proving how musicially "smart" he is, for an audience that would never listen to the real thing. beefheart is listenable when doing original sounds like on trout mast replica.

 

that said, this track is decent.

 

I can't believe I'm defending him, but Zappa had a real background in doo wop / R&B - later on in his career he did it more tongue-in-cheek, but the appreciation was always there

 

not sure about his fans though

I can't believe I'm defending him, but Zappa had a real background in doo wop / R&B - later on in his career he did it more tongue-in-cheek, but the appreciation was always there

 

not sure about his fans though

 

maybe he really appreciated it but all that matters is the end product and the reception.

 

i see i wrote "mast" instead of "mask", that was a typo before anyone makes fun of me for that

This track came out on 45, b-side is nice too 'My head is my only house unless it rains'. Clear Spot is one of his more accessible albums. Always liked 'Observatory Crest' too and a few other ones. 

beefheart is listenable when doing original sounds like on trout mast replica.

 

 

 

I found that to be one of the most unlistenable LP's I've ever had the misfortune to attempt to listen to.  Nearly as bad as Dark Side Of The Moon.

I found that to be one of the most unlistenable LP's I've ever had the misfortune to attempt to listen to.  Nearly as bad as Dark Side Of The Moon.

 

i respect your opinion, it's not for everybody. but at least it's original and not some rock guy doing fake doowop tracks. terrible is better than mediocre and bad.

Deep Soul all day day long for me.......

 

 

this one is much better than the first one. is that the cabinet of dr. caligari? bizarre.

Deep Soul all day day long for me.......

 

 

Dito for me Mike, love it  

 

Kev

 Nearly as bad as Dark Side Of The Moon.

 

you are a cruel man

 

If you wanna hear a white man (Glaswegian) sing soul, listen to Frankie Miller

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQN2GxPHWpE

Dito for me Mike, love it  

 

Kev

Great track from a classic album.

Had the LP 'safe as Milk' with this track on since i was about 15 years old. On a cheap label costing about 0.99p. Curiously named 'safe as milk' because as soon as my teenage daughter started to discover music, it's the first one she nicked out the box... Ade

the budget version of Safe As Milk I have came out on Marble Arch and like a lot of those releases had two tracks missing - one of which was this track - 'I'm Glad '  !!! It was sometime before I realised what I was missing!

the budget version of Safe As Milk I have came out on Marble Arch and like a lot of those releases had two tracks missing - one of which was this track - 'I'm Glad '  !!! It was sometime before I realised what I was missing!

 

Mike, your mention of the Marble Arch reminds me of the "This Is Jimmy James & the Vagabonds" album.

 

Jimmy also cut "I'm Glad" and as far as I know was unissued 

 

Edited June 4, 201411 yr by Dave Turner

Mike, your mention of the Marble Arch reminds me of the "This Is Jimmy James & the Vagabonds" album.

 

Jimmy also cut "I'm Glad" and as far as I know was unissued 

 

I'll set 'em up Dave - you hit 'em!    I'd forgot about that - nice version - wonder how it came about and why unissued?

I'll set 'em up Dave - you hit 'em!    I'd forgot about that - nice version - wonder how it came about and why unissued?

 

Not sure what the connection was Mike. In fact looking around the net I'm actually wondering if this really is Jimmy James & the Vagabonds".

 

A tenuous link I know but Beefheart was playing Andy Warhol's New York Ondine discotheque around 1966 where "Jimmy James & the Blue Flames (aka Jimmy Hendrix) were resident band.

 

So I wonder if this was Hendrix's band, although and not for the first time I may be way off base here as I would have thought Hendrix cutting it would be well documented.

 

...............

 

EDITED

 

Forget the above Mike, it's a load of bollox. Trying to be a Sunday Sport jounalist with a scoop

 

The link is I'm sure Peter Meaden who managed Jimmy James & the Vagabonds and he also had connections with Beefheart

Edited June 4, 201411 yr by Dave Turner