An album that splits even the fans that bought it. Those that bought it and at first thought "what is this sh*t", and those that bought it and were instantly blown away. I'm of the first category, bought the album on it's reputation, played it the once and left it for near 5 years before going back to it and listening with new ears, then I got it. Matt Goering, creator of the Simpsons stated that he bought the album simply because it had Frank Zappa's name on it as producer and at first he too couldn't get into it, but now considers it an avant garde masterpiece.
Beefheart claimed that the 28 songs on the double album were composed at an eight hour session at piano. He then assembled his Magic Band and instructed them how to play the music. Allegedly Beefheart made them switch instruments, accounting for the strange sounding music. He then recorded his vocal over the backing track without the aid of earphones,
which created that 'out of sync' vocal arrangement. Zappa had Beefheart record the album at his home studio but then took it to a nearby recording studio for overdubbing. One track 'Blimp' credited to Beefhart is actually an old Mothers of Invention track which Antennae Jimmy Semens was encouraged to add a vocal to sang down a telephone. It all makes for one of the most divisive records in pop and rock history.
which created that 'out of sync' vocal arrangement. Zappa had Beefheart record the album at his home studio but then took it to a nearby recording studio for overdubbing. One track 'Blimp' credited to Beefhart is actually an old Mothers of Invention track which Antennae Jimmy Semens was encouraged to add a vocal to sang down a telephone. It all makes for one of the most divisive records in pop and rock history.
