Listening to, say, Dachau Blues, Pachuco Cadaver or Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish on Captain Beefheart's surreal 1969 masterpiece Trout Mask Replica would hardly incline you to bracket Don van Vliet with the great balladeers. Yet here, barely three years later, he came up with as achingly beautiful a song of love and longing as you could wish to hear.
It's from the Clear Spot album – superbly produced in 1972 by Ted Templeman (choirboy-soundalike lead singer of cotton-wool poppers Harpers Bizarre turned studio wiz) – which also contains the fine tracks Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles and Big Eyed Beans from Venus. But it is My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains that lingers to haunt you, long after its 2 minutes and 57 seconds have faded away.
The Magic Band (largely intact from the crazed Troutmask sessions) are in fine form, featuring the fluid lead guitar of Zoot Horn Rollo (Bill Harkleroad) in counterpoint to rhythm guitarist Rockette Morton (Mark Boston) and bass player Orejón (Roy Estrada). And that's percussionist Ed Marimba (Art Tripp) on, appropriately, the marimba.
Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..
Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..
Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..
Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work..
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