Monday 2 February 2015

Captain Beefheart - Vancouver 73: US review



Title - 'Commodore Ballroom Vancouver 1973 Live'
Artist - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band 


Don Van Vliet was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called the Magic Band (1965–1982), with whom he recorded 13 studio albums. Noted for his powerful singing voice with its wide range, Van Vliet also played the harmonica, saxophone and numerous other wind instruments.

And so now, and much to the excitement of Captain Beefheart fans worldwide, Gonzo Multimedia has now released another rare live recording of the Captain in concert at the Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, 3rd March, in 1973.

Indeed, Gonzo seem to setting off on some sort of series of live Beefheart releases as this is the third and follows the style set by the first one, Live from Harpos, 1980 and the follow-up success of Le Nouvel Hippodrome, Paris, 1977. The artwork is almost exactly the same apart from changes for the venue and band details and even the sleeve notes are the same with only a variation in the last sentence.

But, weirdly, they have completely overlooked the fact that they clearly forgot to change the year on the spine! So as much as the show is from 1973, the spine art has it listed as "Live >From Vancouver 1977″!

Anyway, with Captain Beefheart's music a series of blended rock, blues and psychedelia combined with contemporary experimental compositions, this may well be bootleg quality - with regard the sound - but the songs are a pure, unadulterated delight to once again behold.

With what many have said was their best version of His Magic Band to take the stage, or record, some of the true highlights on this delightful flashback CD include: 'Low Yo Yo Stuff,' 'Abba Zaba,' 'I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby,' and both 'I'm A King Bee' and 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus.'

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band are firmly established as one of the most imaginative acts to have emerged from late-'60s America. The historically vital recordings preserved on this live set from the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver simply cannot be overlooked. Indeed, one of the fact / myths about Beefheart was that he was "known" for exercising an almost dictatorial control over his supporting musicians. That said, here in Vancouver on this early March night in 1973, it seems everyone is in perfect harmony.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO:





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