5.0 out of 5 stars GIMME DAT BOOK, BOY
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2022
As with his excellent On Track book about Roy Harper, Opher Goodwin has immersed us in the world of a truly great, if enigmatic musician. Opher’s deep and personal knowledge of the times, the culture, man and his music create a provocative and fulfilling read.
An introduction quickly puts the reader into the background and mindset of the Captain and his intriguing, often fractious, relationship with Frank Zappa from their initial mutual love for blues, R&B, and do-wop and the unfortunate pornography bust to their creative collaborations. Willie The Pimp from Zappa’s Hot Rats album is discussed as part of a Contemporary Recording section associated with various albums. A great touch.
Opher’s insights are enhanced having witnessed the man perform on a number of occasions, comparing the live with the recorded. He takes us on a journey though each of the official albums, track by often painful track. Not all concerts or tracks are regarded as classic, Opher remains a critic throughout. What he does do is reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the Captain’s work, relationships and attitudes. He discusses not just the musicians involved and the Captain’s poetry but the background to its creation and the tensions that exist between the personnel.
There’s an almost visceral description of the track Lick My Dacals Off, Baby managing references to Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, musical structure, ‘wild animal sex’ and the joys of ‘licking everywhere that’s pink’. All in two short paragraphs. His comments about the tracks Hair Pie Bake 1 & 2, leaves little to the imagination.
But the Captain is more than lascivious tracks and Opher describes his love of nature, fear for the World and his support for feminism on such pieces as Nowadays A Woman’s Gotta Hit A Man and The Host The Ghost The Most Holy O.
Opher uses the book to explore some of the multitude of bootlegs and rarity/outtake recordings available. This is ideal for the more adventurous or devoted collector. Those musicians closely associated with the Captain, ex-Magic Band members as such, are given a rightful space where their subsequent work is discussed.
As with other On Track books, there is a generous number of images reprinted, in colour and B&W. These range from album covers and promo shots to concert photos and some of the author with band members.
I always enjoyed Beefheart and his music and have fond memories of the parties where his music was played but it was this book that gave me a greater understanding of the man, his music and why he is still such an influential character. More importantly, it headed me back for a wiser listen.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2022
This is such a brilliant book.I have been using this as a reference book to check which musician played on which album ! A lot of research has gone into it and the book is very informative ! The author loves the band,but isn’t afraid to speak out against something he doesn’t like (The Tragic band !)
It has me listening to the albums more intently now !
Nice to see some of the Captain’s lyrics about the state of our planet ! ( I wonder what he would think of mother earth in 2022!)
Highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Every track of every album reviewed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2022
This is another book in the fabulous On Track series. Opher Goodwin has a forensic knowledge of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. Beefheart was active in the years 1964 to 1982 but his influence is still felt 40 years later. Mr Goodwin knows his subject inside out and each track from each album is described in great detail. The author goes into the background to the recordings and lists the musicians on each album. I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who!s interested in music of the 60s and 70s.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Indespensible
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2022
As a lifelong Beefheart fan, this is a gold mine of information. And for a personal bio see Opher’s “In search of Captain Beefheart” for an insight into a life of a muso growing up in the 60’s/70’s
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2022
I just read this Beefheart book absolutely love it-
I agree with Opher Goodwins opinion on pretty much all of it
TMR
Decals
Doc at radar
Icfc
Are masterpieces
Beefheart is my hero
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5.0 out of 5 stars Superb companion guide for every Beefheart nerd
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2022
Firstly, reader, I’ll tell you what this book is like: You know when you go into an art gallery or museum and have an accompanying guide book explaining a little about the art or artefacts? Well, this is very much like that.
A companion piece for every track.
The author has lovingly reviewed and described every song and it is also full of little facts and interesting information.
If, like me, you are a Beefheart and The Magic Band aficionado (and I’m guessing that you are) then you’ll appreciate this book.
We’ve all read John French’s definitive horse’s-mouth and meticulous account, Bill Harkleroad’s equally valid (but not so obsessively detailed) story and we’ve also read Mike Barnes’s fantastic and accurate outsider view. There are a couple of other tomes too but those three are the glorious triumvirate of Beefheartian history.
This book isn’t trying to be that.
What it does is makes you revisit the albums. Not with a different perspective – we all have our own, as does this, but with another incentive; to listen to the most original, influential, unique music in rock history.
It’s a book for Beefheart lovers, nerds and obsessives.
If you don’t agree with some of the author’s viewpoints on the music it really doesn’t matter.
The purpose of the book is as a companion to this vast and broad decade of sheer creativity, originality and music-as-art from a genius/tyrant/eccentric and the supremely dedicated and unique musicians who helped to realise the vision, even taking a backseat to his ego for the sake of the art.
I love it and so will you.
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5.0 out of 5 stars There’s so many things to feel and see while you’re awake
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2022
There are 2 kinds of people in the world, those who ‘get’ Beefheart, and those who don’t. Us Beefheart nuts in the first category have an evangelical mission to convert the rest of the world, hence this book. Opher’s Beefheart experiences closely mirror my own, except his journey began in 1967, I didn’t get the bug till 1970. The book gives Opher’s impressions and interpretations of every Beefheart track released, including many outakes, and unreleased material, with overviews and background info of the albums. He also covers the reformed Magic Band, and band members solo work. I can’t say I agree with every interpretation, (Beefheart fans will have their own take on the songs, which by their nature are open to many different views of what is meant, and what is going on musically, and Opher alludes to this point). I found it a very enjoyable read, learning about another fanatic’s journey, sometimes thinking to myself ‘Yes! Exactly!’, and other times ‘No, that’s not it’…
Overall a very comprehensive overview, and a mostly successful attempt to put into words what it feels like to have your brain rewired by this completely unique artist.
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From other countries
Larry Graves
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have For Any Fans Of Captain Beefheart!
Reviewed in Canada on 3 October 2022
I am a fan of this series of books and was delighted to see a book on Captain Beefheart’s albums and songs at last. I was very impressed with the details on the individual songs and albums. I also love to read the author’s own opinions on individual songs, even if I don’t agree with their opinion. As soon as I bought the book I went to read up on what the author thought of my favorite Beefheart song (You Know You’re A Man) and had to chuckle when I read it wasn’t one of his favorites! This is a must have for fans of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. Highly recommended.
