Owed T’ Alex (Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band cover)

On January 26, 1971, Richard Einhorn interviewed Don Van Vliet -- aka Captain Beefheart -- in a motel room in New York, for radio station WFMU. Also present for the conversation were Mark Boston ("Rockette Morton"), Art Tripp ("Ed Marimba"), and manager Grant Gibbs. Einhorn, who has since gone on to become a composer of some renown, was nineteen years old at the time. 

In 2001 Einhorn unearthed the tape while digging through his archives, and generously made CDs of the interview available to members of The Fire Party, the internet Captain Beefheart discussion list (http://www.beefheart.com/community/fire-party-discussion-list/). The discs did not circulate widely, however, so I asked him for permission to make the recording available again. He agreed, with the proviso that I "please be sure to spread it far and wide." Thanks to Soundcloud, I can honor that request.

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Since my original posting, I’ve unearthed a letter from Mr. Einhorn about his experience. Here is an excerpt:

“At the time I was a dj for WFMU—FM, a 'progressive radio station' in New Jersey that pioneered the 'free form format'. I had been a Beefheart fan for several years and when concerts were announced for early '71 in the city, the station arranged for me and another staffer (I forget whom) to interview him.

Based on info from the timeline website (my tape boxes just say 'beefheart interview'), the interview took place on January 26, 1971 in a Holiday Inn in Manhattan. The site said that the hotel was on the east side, but that may be wrong. According to my recollection, most likely it was the Holiday Inn in the west 50's on Eighth Avenue, the scene somewhat later on of the capture of the fugitive radical Angela Davis.

Perhaps the most interesting thing from my perspective (and the reason I dug it out) is than Don seems very generous, if somewhat paternalistic, towards the band's contributions and throughout the interview stresses their autonomy, their musicianship and their personal musical growth. This appears to contradict Bill Harkleroad's memoir. When I read it, I wanted to check if my recollection was right. (I suspect that Bill is accurate about the lack of formal credit and also 'eyeball to eyeball acknowledgement' but had no idea how much Beefheart praised the band during at least this interview. This is not to say that he doesn't deserve more credit. If Bill was the man doing most of the arranging/ rehearsing, he has been woefully under—appreciated and underpaid. Nevertheless, the genius behind the music is, to my ears, obviously Don).

A little bit about the New York shows. According to the timeline, they took place at 'Ungano's' in New York and there were two shows (I may be wrong but I think the club was actually called Ungaro's). My distinct recollection is that in fact there were four shows, two a night. I recall going to all four and meeting Jan and Don briefly after the last set of day 2 (which was probably after our interview on the 26th). I don't recall the lost instrument disaster, but I do remember seeing Ornette at one of the shows. More importantly, I remember that the group played so well that I was in tears. Apparently Gary Lucas was there too, I didn't know him then, but I can corroborate his perception of Harkleroad. He was simply awesome. As was Don. As were they all.”

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To learn more about Mr. Einhorn's music, visit his web site at www.richardeinhorn.com where you'll find much information about his prodigious output, including music samples. To read Einhorn's touching eulogy for Don Van Vliet, visit http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/in-memoriam-don-vliet-by-tristero.html. 

Obtain the file here: http://bit.ly/1Km08PD

Captain Beefheart Interview by Richard Einhorn for WFMU, January 26, 1971

"I'm under protest to God"
     --Isaac Bashevis Singer

solo acoustic guitar composition by Gary Lucas 
drawing by David Scher
recorded live to iPhone on my 1941 Gibson J-45 
4/19/24 NYC

"Under Protest to God"--Gary Lucas

Okie 69.  Greatest Hits Volume One.

Legendary SDNA continues its assault on the 70's by literally taking over these hits....really its an honor for them....the honored are as follows:
Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean by Waylon Jennings
Dead Flowers by the Stones
In the Ghetto by Elvis (penned by Mac Davis)
Horse with No Name by America
Long Cool Woman by The Hollies

Amos recommends head phones to better enjoy the ride......
Thank you to all our fans,

Amos

Dead Flowers honored by SDNA

Legendary SDNA covers The Passenger by Iggy Pop

The Passenger

Part one of a phone interview with Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) conducted by Gary Lucas over Yale's radio station WYBC FM on Jan. 18th 1972, prior to Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's performance at Yale University's Woolsey Hall on Jan. 21st 1972. Lucas was Music Director of WYBC at the time, and had seen Beefheart's first gig in NYC at Ungano's in NYC the year before, a show which changed his life--as after witnessing that concert Lucas vowed that if he ever did anything in music professionally, his number one priority would be to join Beefheart's Magic Band--which he eventually did in 1980. This interview was conducted while Don Van Vliet and his band were on tour in the US and had a day off in Boston, before a swing through the Northeast, which would bring them to play at Woolsey Hall. This was the very first time Gary Lucas had ever spoken with Van Vliet, who he was soon to meet and hang out with when Beefheart and the Magic Band came up to Yale to play 3 days later.

Captain Beefheart Interview with Gary Lucas on WYBC FM 1/18/72 part one

Part two of Gary Lucas's interview with Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) conducted over the phone for  Yale's radio station WYBC FM Jan. 18th 1972

Captain Beefheart Interview with Gary Lucas 1/18/72 on WYBC part two

Legendary SDNA covers Bartender Blues by George Jones.

Bartender Blues by George Jones (written by James Taylor)

Legendary SDNA covers Slip Slidin Away by Paul Simon.

Slip Slidin Away by Paul Simon

Legendary SDNA covers Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Credence Clearwater Revival.

Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Credence Clearwater Revival

Marius (not the Vampire) on drums, Joe "The Peoples Duke" Vita on Cajon, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, and videographer, Neme "The Maestro" Cava on lead rhythm guitar, Eric "Fingers" Librea on Bass, local legend Russ "The Strata-Master" Humphrey on lead guitar, and legendary front man and outlaw poet, Paul "P-Diddy" Gorman on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and harp.  Who's Amos?  Who the Frank knows?  Some say he's a 6'6" Filipino who knows karate (and I mean the real shit), others say he's got one of the sweetest turn around jumpers since Moses....who really knows...
70's tribute band, will only cover an artist once...really an honor for the artist to be chosen.....Bad Aces......

Dead Flowers honored by SDNA

Some Dude Named Amos - SDNA

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