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Strictly Personal

 
Album Review: Strictly Personal

Review

Considered by many to be a substandard effort due to the circumstances of its release (producer Bob Krasnow, the owner of Blue Thumb, the label which debuted with this album, remixed the album while Don Van Vliet and crew were off on a European tour, adding extraneous sound effects like heartbeats and excessive use of psychedelic-era clichés like out-of-phase stereo panning and flanging), 1968's Strictly Personal is actually a terrific album, every bit the equal of Safe As Milk and Trout Mask Replica. Opening with "Ah Feel Like Ahcid," an a cappella blues workout with its roots in Son House's "Death Letter," the brief (barely 35 minutes) album is at the same time simpler and weirder than Safe As Milk had been. Working without another songwriter or arranger for the first time, Captain Beefheart strips his idiosyncratic blues down to the bone, with several of the songs (especially "Son of Mirror Man/Mere Man") having little in the way of lyrics or chords beyond the most primeval stomp. Krasnow's unfortunate sound effects and phasing do detract from the album at points, but the strength of the performances, especially those of drummer John French, make his efforts little more than superfluous window dressing. Strictly Personal is a fascinating, underrated release. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Ah Feel Like Ahcid Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (3:05)
Safe As Milk Don Van Vliet, Captain Beefheart Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (5:27)
Trust Us Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (8:09)
Son of Mirror Man - Mere Man Don Van Vliet Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (5:20)
On Tomorrow Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (3:26)
Beatle Bones 'N' Smokin' Stones Don Van Vliet Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (3:17)
Gimme Dat Harp Boy Don Van Vliet, Captain Beefheart Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (5:04)
Kandy Korn Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (5:06)

Credits

Captain Beefheart (Guitar), Don Van Vliet (Vocals), Don Van Vliet (Arranger), Bob Krasnow (Producer), Gene Shiveley (Engineer), Don Van Vliet (Writer), Captain Beefheart (Harmonica), Jerry Handley (Bass), Bill Lazerus (Engineer), Mark Marcellino (Keyboards), Alex St. Clair (Guitar), Antennae Jimmy Semens (Guitar), Bob Lazerus (Producer), John French (Drums), Captain Beefheart (Vocals)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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