Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band were a revolutionary and innovative rock and roll group, founded in the Mojave Desert-area by Captain Beefheart (b. Don Vliet in 1941), a good friend of Frank Zappa. Beefheart had previously worked with local groups such as The Omens[?] and The Blackouts[?] and formed the Magic Band with Alex St. Clair[?] (guitarist), Doug Moon[?] (guitarist), Jerry Handley[?] (bassist) and Paul Blakely[?] (drummer) in 1964.

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band signed to A&M Records and released a successful single, "Diddy Wah Diddy". Their first LP, however, was rejected by the label as being too negative and uncommercial. Moon and Blakely were replaced by Antennae Jimmy Semens[?] and John Dumbo French[?] respectively, as well as adding Ry Cooder (guitarist) and released their remixed album, Safe as Milk[?]. Meanwhile, Beefheart's childhood friend, Frank Zappa, formed Straight Records[?] and signed Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, which had added Zoot Horn Rollo[?] (guitarist), Rockette Morton[?] (bassist) and Mascara Snake[?] (bass clarinetist[?]), resulting in the landmark 1969 album Trout Mask Replica[?]. After Lick My Decals Off, Baby[?] (1970) and the more commercial 1972 albums, The Spotlight Kid[?] and Clear Spot[?], the Magic Band left Beefheart and formed Mallard. Beefheart formed a new Magic Band and released Unconditionally Guaranteed[?] and Bluejeans & Moonbeams[?]. Shiny Beast[?] (1978) brought group back to the innovative and eccentric style of the earlier albums. After Ice Cream for Crow[?] (1982), Beefheart retired from music and became a critically acclaimed painter.

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Discography

Year	Title	Label
1967	Dropout Boogie[?]	Buddah[?]
1967	Safe as Milk[?]	Buddah
1968	Strictly Personal[?]	Blue Thumb[?]
1969	Trout Mask Replica[?]	Reprise Records
1970	Lick My Decals Off, Baby[?]	Bizarre/Straig[?]
1970	Mirror Man[?]	Castle Records[?]
1972	Clear Spot[?]	Reprise Records
1972	The Spotlight Kid[?]	Reprise
1974	Bluejeans & Moonbeams[?]	Blue Plate[?]
1974	Unconditionally Guaranteed[?]	Blue Plate