A single-minded vision is watered down as the songwriting is shared with wife Jane Van Vliet and producer Andy DiMartino. One of two 1974 Beefheart albums produced by DiMartino, this one has a slight edge over Bluejeans and Moonbeams. The difference is that this release features four longtime Magic Band members, led by guitarists Zoot Horn Rollo and Alex St. Claire. ~ Mark Allan, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Upon the My-O-My
Don Van Vliet, Andy Dimartino
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(2:42)
Sugar Bowl
Andy Dimartino, Don Van Vliet
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(2:12)
New Electric Ride
Don Van Vliet, Andy Dimartino
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(3:01)
Magic Be
Andy Dimartino, Don Van Vliet
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(2:54)
Happy Love Song
Don Van Vliet, Andy Dimartino
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(3:55)
Full Moon, Hot Sun
Andy Dimartino, Don Van Vliet
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(2:18)
I Got Love on My Mind
Andy Dimartino, Don Van Vliet
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(3:06)
This Is the Day
Andy Dimartino, Don Van Vliet
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(4:49)
Lazy Music
Don Van Vliet, Andy Dimartino
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(2:50)
Peaches
Don Van Vliet, Andy Dimartino
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
(3:18)
Credits
Don Van Vliet (Arranger), Bill Harkleroad (Guitar), Andy Dimartino (Guitar), Del Simmons (Sax (Tenor)), Tom Wegg Prosser (Project Coordinator), Bruce Leek (Mastering), Susanne Ayers (Photography), Art Tripp (Keyboards), Rockette Morton (Bass), Mark Boston (Bass), Mark Boston (Guitar), Captain Beefheart (Harmonica), Bruce John Leek (Original Mastering), Jim Callon (Original Engineering), Zoot Horn Rollo (Guitar), Alex St. Clair (Guitar), Art Tripp (Drums), Tom Perry (Remixing), Jim Callon (Engineer), Terry Squire (Design), Del Simmons (Wind), Andy Dimartino (Arranger), Anton Corbijn (Photography), Captain Beefheart (Guitar), Darren Evans (Reissue Design), John Guess (Engineer), Don Van Vliet (Harmonica), Mike Barnes (Liner Notes), Alex St. Claire (Guitar), Andy Dimartino (Producer), Captain Beefheart (Vocals), Don Van Vliet (Group Member), Desmond Strobel (Art Direction), Don Van Vliet (Vocals), John Guess (Original Engineering), Mark Marcellino (Keyboards), Jason Day (A&R), Del Simmons (Flute), Andy Dimartino (Guitar (Acoustic)), Art Tripp (Percussion)
Unconditionally Guaranteed is the eighth LP by Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, originally released in 1974. Upon release it was criticised for being too commercial; however it failed to give Beefheart any real chart success and peaked at #192 on the Billboard Top 200.
Immediately after recording of the album the entire Magic Band quit – as biographer Mike Barnes has stated, "[Beefheart] was in effect sacked by his own group."[1] They had become increasingly disenchanted with the lack of financial success – having subsisted on food stamps and donations from their parents – and with Beefheart's tyrannical control over the group. The album's lackluster and unchallenging music was the last straw. Drummer Art Tripp recalled, "When the band finally got our album copies, we were horrified. As we listened, it was as though each song was worse than the one which preceded it."[1]
After his contract with Mercury Records ended at the end of 1974, Beefheart disowned the record along with its successor Bluejeans & Moonbeams. He urged his fans to "take copies back for a refund" and called the albums "horrible and vulgar."[2]
Track listing
All songs written by Don and Jan Van Vliet and Andy DiMartino
"Upon the My-O-My" – 2:43
"Sugar Bowl" – 2:13
"New Electric Ride" – 3:02
"Magic Be" – 2:55
"Happy Love Song" – 3:54
"Full Moon, Hot Sun" – 2:19
"I Got Love on My Mind" – 3:08
"This Is the Day" – 4:51
"Lazy Music" – 2:49
"Peaches" – 3:20
References
^ Barnes, Mike. Captain Beefheart. Quartet Books, ISBN 0704380730.
