Five years ago, when I first began Rocket Remnants, music blogging was cool.Now it's really in the hands of those posting new releases.
The retro blogger, whether of shows, deleted albums or general rarities, well, they're all gone now: "blog no longer exists"; words all read up; links long dead.
I joined in thinking I had something to add; it looked like fun.
I was also about to digitize much of my own collection, the leap from ripping to sharing was short, so as long as it wasn't widely available I'd put it on here, adding a word or two.
That process has now come to an end, as does this blog.
So I'll finish with what has to be one of the greatest albums of all time, ripped from a cassette that has accompanied me for the majority of my life.
For many, Trout Mask Replica is the one; the best; the magnum opus of Beefheart's oeuvre; perhaps of alternative music!But I think Decals is better.
From the immediate attention grabbing opening gallop, you know you're in for one hell of a ride; and once that slurring, booze soaked vocal kicks in, well, you're soon convinced the driver is one hell of a crazy motherfucker, and he could be leading us anywhere! Everywhere!
And he does.
From Mississippi to Ornette Coleman, from Boogie Woogie to classical pastiche, from the heartfelt to the truly absurd.
This is one hell of a journey!
And what! Never released on CD?
Good.
Proving that Lick My Decals Off, Baby is the most anti-bourgeois album ever released.
The musicianship throughout Decals is simply phenomenal; mainly co-written with guitarist Zoot Horn Rollo, many of the snazzy syncopations absent of conventional notation leave you breathless; they just sound so hard to play.(Well worthy of becoming "The Magic Band", no longer "His".)
The mania is suitably juxtaposed with moments of calm, brief understated instrumentals, segueing into discordant beauty: Ed Marimba's marimbas, Drumbo's drums and Rockette Morton's impossible bass adding obliquely to the fabulous, unique melee.
There isn't a better album in which to bring this to an end.
BANG!
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1973)
Lick My Decals, Baby
Doctor Dark
I Love You, You Big Dummy
Peon
Bellerin' Plain
Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop
Japan in a Dishpan
I Wanna Find Me a Woman That'll Hold My Big Toe Till I Have to Go
Petrified Forest
One Rose that I Mean
The Buggy Boogie Woogie
The Smithsonian Institute Blues (or The Big Dig)
Space Age Couple
The Clouds are Full of Wine (Not Whiskey or Rye)
Flash Gordon's Ape
Excellent cassette rip @320kbs
Lick away here
Shanti
23 comments:
i'm shedding a tear. hat's off, my good man.
sorry to see you go.
you posted some great stuff over the years.
i will miss you!!
greetings from melbourne australia
:)
jk
Hello,
Many thanks for sharing your music, it's been a pleasure.You've been informative, witty and have filled my ears with new (old) sounds. I'm dismayed that it's come to an end, you'll be sorely missed. Thanks again
So long Roy.
It truly has been a blast (mostly from the past).
I have really enjoyed reading your blog & your wonderful eclectic music taste.
Hope life is good to ya!
Salaam/Shalom
G
I'll miss you when you've gone, but a rocket unfortunately cannot retract.So you must go, can it be so!The wind wanders, amongst bright moons, but at least you're leaving us on a high. Regards.
5 years,eh.... I raise a drink sir,taking comfort that you were once here...... was listening to coleman last night, ha ha..
Shame to see you go , but what an album to finish with !!
RIP Roy. Thanks for the mammaries....
danke schoen. auf wieder sehn
Sad your going, you've filled some missing gaps in my collection and opened my ears to new sounds which is always good.Remember they'll always be people looking sounds they've missed, lost or forgotten. All the best.
Cheers Roy - excellent last post and my personal Beefheart fave too.
Nik
a fuckin shame roy but it's been a blast//cheers for sharing part of your record collection with us//xx
Sorry to see ya go.
Makes me think of Gravity's Rainbow for some reason.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/current/articles/winter2008/images/rosen-kerbel.jpg
Safe landings
Goodbye Roy and to paraphrase Douglas Adams' fourth book in the 'Hitchhikers' series...
So long and thanks for all the Rips!
H K Hackenbacker.
I agree on 'Decals". One of the best albums ever recorded, and better than Trout Mask! Thanks.
Thanks roy and sorry to see you go. If it's any consolation, I try to keep unavailable recordings up there on the web and won't post new releases or anything officially available. Your site has been a treasure trove, much appreciated by myself and all those I referred on to you.
Cheers, Dave Sez.
Great album, indeed.
Sad to see you stop. Just don't go away.
Sorry to see you go. I haven't always shared your taste in music - I'm not a lover of punk for example - but I've enjoyed your writings nevertheless. The world cannot have enough people sharing their love of obscure old music.
Yeah, thanks for everything you've put up over the years. I've not always left a thank you, but there's been lots of great stuff that's been massively appreciated. Especially the Ween!
Cheers,
Jonathan
sorry to see another one go...
Decals was Don's favorite as well. I had the great fortune to see the magic band in concert just after it was released- it remains the most intense concert experience I've ever had.
They were in a class of one, led by a man who is still ahead of his time.
thanks for everything, not in the least, your companion and of course your great vinyl rips of Foetus
Thanks for all your work and dedication......
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! One of my favourite LPs!
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