Captain Beefheart - Transmission Impossible (3CD Box Set) (2015)

Noted for his powerful singing voice with its wide range, Van Vliet also played the harmonica, saxophone and numerous other wind instruments. The group drew attention with their cover of Bo Diddley's "Diddy Wah Diddy", which became a regional hit. It was followed by their acclaimed debut album Safe as Milk, released in 1967 on Buddah Records. The first disc in this set concentrates on this period of Beefheart s career, featuring a radio broadcast of a live performance at The Avalon Ballroom in 1966, and a number of other tracks from various radio sessions from 1967 and 1968. By 1974, six albums in and frustrated by a lack of commercial success, Beefheart released two records of more conventional rock music that at the time were critically panned. This move, combined with not having been paid for a European tour and enduring Beefheart's less than benevolent behavior towards them, led the entire band to quit. Beefheart eventually formed a new Magic Band with a group of younger musicians. The second disc of this collection comes from this era and features a solid performance by a group who have at times been unfairly dubbed The Tragic Band ; but as this broadcast attests, they were actually a solid unit of master musicians playing some quite extraordinary rock music - albeit music less challenging than Beefheart s previous fare. Fast forward to 1980 and Beefheart has his original fan-base back intact, following his critically acclaimed Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) and Doc at the Radar Station albums - and is out on the road promoting the latter. Stopping off in January 81 at Vancouver s Commodore Ballroom, for a performance that again is the subject of an FM radio broadcast, this show from his late resurgence forms the basis of the third disc in this collection. Beefheart would completely retire from music a year later to concentrate on his work in the areas of art and sculpture - ironically a venture which proved to be his most financially secure. His expressionist paintings and drawings command high prices, and have been exhibited in art galleries and museums across the world. Captain Beefheart died in 2010, having suffered from multiple sclerosis for many years.

TRACKLIST

CD1:

01. Down In The Bottom (C.A. 1966)
02. Don't Start Me Talkin' (C.A. 1966)
03. The Sun Is Shining (C.A. 1966)
04. Tupelo (C.A. 1966)
05. Somebody In My Home (C.A. 1966)
06. Old Folks' Boogie (C.A. 1966)
07. St. James Infirmery (C.A. 1966)
08. Evil (Is Going On) (C.A. 1966)
09. Harp Instrumental (C.A. 1966)
10. Somebody In My Home (Radio Sessions)
11. Sure 'nuff N' Yes I Do (Radio Sessions 67)
12. Call On Me (Radio Sessions)
13. Yellow Brick Road (Radio Sessions 67)
14. Plastic Factory (Radio Sessions)
15. Sure 'nuff N' Yes I Do (Radio Sessions 68)
16. Yellow Brick Road (Radio Sessions 68)
17. Abba Zaba (Radio Sessions)
18. Kandy Korn (Radio Sessions)

CD2:

01. Mirror Man (M.O. 1974)
02. Upon The My-O-My (M.O. 1974)
03. Crazy Little Things (M.O. 1974)
04. Full Moon Hot Sun (M.O. 1974)
05. Sugar Bowl (M.O. 1974)
06. This Is The Day (M.O. 1974)
07. Keep On Rubbing (M.O. 1974)
08. Be Your Dog (M.O. 1974)
09. Sweet Georgia Brown (M.O. 1974)
10. Abba Zaba (M.O. 1974)
11. Peaches (M.O. 1974)
12. Peaches (Encore) (M.O. 1974)

CD3:

01. Nowadays A Woman's Gotta Hit A Man (1981)
02. Abba Zaba (1981)
03. Hot Head (1981)
04. Ashtray Heart (1981)
05. Dirty Blue Jean (1981)
06. Best Batch Yet (1981)
07. A Carrot Is As Close As A Rabbit (1981)
08. Doctor Dark (1981)
09. Bat Chain Puller (1981)
10. Sheriff Of Hong Kong (1981)
11. Kandy Korn (1981)
12. Big Eyed Beans From Venus (1981)
13. When Big Joan Sets Up (M.I. 1971)
14. Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop (M.I. 1971)
15. Bellerin' Plain (M.I. 1971)
16. Orange Claw Hammer (1975)
17. Hot Head (Saturday Night Live)
18. Ashtray Heart (Saturday Night Live)