CAPTAIN BEEFHEART レコード& CD

Review: The Spotlight Kid was Captain Beefheart's sixth studio album and one, landing a mere three years after the legendary Trout Mask Replica classic, sees him continuing his avant-garde brilliance. Initially released in 1972, it stands out as the only album credited solely to Captain Beefheart, even though it does feature much of his Magic Band prominently. The material, integral to the band's repertoire, highlights Beefheart's eclectic musical vision and experimental spirit, taking raw blues as its starting point but then twisting into it hithertoo unrecognisable shapes and psychedelic distortions. Reissued for Record Store Day 2024 as a deluxe double LP set in a gatefold jacket with milky clear vinyl, this edition revitalises the album's enigmatic charm for contemporary audiences and reminds us all of its magnificent blend of blues, rock and avant-garde elements.

Review: Captain Beefheart - AKA Don Glen Vliet - was apparently looking to right some of the wrongs that accompanied the release of his previous records with this 1972 outing. Although catapulted into the cult premier league with Trout Mask Replica three years earlier, and delivering three very good records between then and this, commercial success had continued to evade the arty blues master, something he went out to rectify here.
Failing to chart in the UK, and peaking at 191 in the Billboard 200 Albums Chart stateside, it's hard to make any big claims about him achieving that goal. Nevertheless, Clear Spot is a timeless slice of evidence in support of his legendary status, with the raw, grizzled sound we love him for defines everything here, not to mention incredible guitar riffs and genuinely innovative song craft (see the broken and surreal 'Golden Birdies' for one example.)