Shelved Captain Beefheart album to finally be released

Written for The Print (NUI Maynooth's student paper) for the 31st of January 2012 issue.

            In 1976 Captain Beefheart (known to some as Don Van Vliet, known to less as Don Vliet, and known to fewer still by his birth name Don Glen Vliet) recorded the album Bat Chain Puller with the involvement of friend and fellow psychedeliac Frank Zappa, much to the albums demise. The album unfortunately got shelved after getting wrapped up in Zappa’s legal issues with co-founder of his record label Herb Cohen. However, after 35 years, the much bootlegged LP Bat Chain Puller was announced to be released on what would be Beefheart’s 71^st birthday, the 15^th of January 2012.

            Set to be his 13^th studio album, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band recorded Bat Chain Puller with Frank Zappa’s DiscReet Records and planned to release it under Virgin Records. Enthusiastic over his latest studio effort, the Captain had sent copies of tapes to publications for it to be reviewed before issues started to surface between the DiscReet founders. Zappa discovered that partner Herb Cohen had in fact funded production on Bat Chain Puller using royalty cheques earned by Frank. The partnership was ended between the two, and demanding to be paid in advance by Virgin who were to take on the record, Zappa withheld the master tapes from the record company. This meant that Cohen could not then receive pay himself, causing him to sue Zappa. The court case that ensued forced Beefheart to ditch  Bat Chain Puller and re-record many of the tracks for 1978’s Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) instead.

            Some tracks from the original Bat Chain Puller made it on to Shiny Beast, some even got onto 1980’s Doc At the Radar Station, however Zappa refused to allow Beefheart to use the remaining tracks on 1982’s Ice Cream For Crow. After his troublesome attempts with this record, Beefheart was so disillusioned he subsequently insisted this album never see the light of day during his lifetime. The album has seen many bootleg copies, though production had not been completed until recently, when Magic Band drummer John French and guitarist Denny Walley mixed it for release. Now, just over a year after Don Van Vliet’s life ended, Bat Chain Puller shall finally be released through Zappa Records.

            Due to manufacturing issues, the record will now see its official release on the 13^th of February instead.

 

http://issuu.com/MSUVPSEC/docs/the_print_volume_3_issue_7/13