Frownland is the first cut on the incredible album Trout Mask Replica. For me, the first line is one of the best lyrics ever written.
From Wikipedia:
Trout Mask Replica is the third album by Captain Beefheart (a.k.a. Don Van Vliet) 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. Combining elements of blues, avant-garde, free jazz and other genres of American music,[1] the album is regarded as an important work of experimental musicand a major influence on genres such as alternative rock and post-punk.[1][2]
Most of Trout Mask Replica was recorded in March 1969 at Whitney Studios in Los Angeles, California. The lineup of The Magic Band at this time consisted of Bill Harkleroad and Jeff Cotton on guitar, Mark Boston on bass guitar, Victor Hayden on bass clarinet, and John French on drums and percussion. Beefheart played several brass and woodwind instruments (including saxophone, musette, and hunting horn) and contributed most of the vocal parts, with Zappa and various members of the band providing occasional vocals and narration. The well-rehearsed Magic Band recorded all instrumental tracks[a 1] for Trout Mask Replica in a single six-hour recording session; Van Vliet's vocal and horn tracks were laid down over the next few days. Upon release in the US, Trout Mask Replica sold poorly and failed to chart. It was more successful in the UK, where it spent a week on the charts, at #21.[3]
A widely recognized and acclaimed composition, Trout Mask Replica was ranked #60 on Rolling Stone's 2012 list The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Allmusic's Steve Huey wrote that "its inspiring reimagining of what was possible in a rock context laid the groundwork for countless future experiments in rock surrealism, especially during the punk/new wave era."[1]
Here's the explanation of the origin and the dates.
Thanks to Microdot for the title of the Festival.
Dangerous Minds has frequent Beefheart and Zappa posts including this one: MY HUMAN GETS ME BLUES: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & HIS MAGIC BAND, LIVE ONSTAGE IN BELGIUM, 1969
Here's the explanation of the origin and the dates.
Thanks to Microdot for the title of the Festival.
First best line of a lyric? Are you kidding me?
ReplyDeleteYou think that even comes close to
"When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think at all."
Let me guess, being an idiot is an acquired imbecility.
orlin sellers
I like that one too.
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