Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band* ‎– Trout Mask Replica

Blues, Non-Music, Rock

Alternative Rock, Dialogue, Field Recording, Avantgarde, Electric Blues, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental

1969

A 'fast' means of ID, via vinyl's cover:
•UK 1st issue = all of shuttlecock visible.
•USA 1st issues = tip of shuttlecock trimmed.
•Reissues generally = shuttlecock trimmed off.

"Trout Mask Replica" was the 3rd official 'Magic Band' album and 1st double vinyl on Zappa & Cohen's independent 'Straight' label. It was released in the fall of 1969 in the US & Canada (cover logo white), with a 6-page roll-fold insert, and without insert in the UK (cover logo black) and Germany. It was also released in the US later that year on 8-Track & Cassette.

When opened out, the 2-fold insert has a photo of a school-age Vliet on the left page, sketches by Vliet's cousin Victor Hayden (aka The Mascara Snake) center page, and a 'Manta Ray' poem on right page (front, back & inner facing page respectively, when folded). Lyrics are on the 3 reverse pages. US album issues can be identified by the Straight address on label; 5455 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1700, Los Angeles 90036. It was manufactured* & distributed in the UK by CBS and in Germany by Electrola Gesellschaft m.b.H. Köln. The Canadian issue was pressed (by Herbert S. Berliner's plant, Compo Company Ltd.*) in an unusual auto-coupled sequence; AC, BD** - which, annoyingly, requires 'shuffling' on turn-over.

In January 1970 the Reprise Records catalog 2 MS 2027 appeared on label issues in the US, using the original gatefold (with catalog 1053). Some issues appeared with blue 'Bizarre' labels. In Europe this became the Reprise Records 64024 catalog, which was then prefixed by 'K' in the 'Kinney' period of Reprise history. Releases then adopted the Warner Bros. & WEA (Warner Elektra Atlantic) identities thereafter.

Events surrounding band members in the recording of this album are revealed in the "Grow Fins" box set booklet, or elsewhere on the Web. However, it is worth noting the work John 'Drumbo' French did in transcribing and helping bring Vliet's concepts to fruition. He is not credited on the album. By the time the band toured on its release (appearing with its producer Zappa at BYG's seminal 5-day "Actuel Festival" in Belgium in October 1969†) he was replaced by Jeff Bruchell (referred to by Vliet as 'Drumbo' or 'Fake Drumbo' by others). Bass-player Marker, of 'Rising Sons (2)', appears on tracks Moonlight On Vermont and Veteran's Day Poppy - recorded earlier at Sunset Sound. The remainder were recorded (using the T.T.G. 16-track) at Whitney Studios in Glendale, California, or were field-recordings at the 'Magic Band' house.

In late April 2011, America's Library of Congress added "Trout Mask Replica" into it's "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" entries in the National Recording Registry, selected by the Librarian of Congress and the National Recording Preservation Board.

*Manufacturers IDs on back covers.
**The 1972 Australian issue is in the correct AD, BC auto-coupled sequence, as is a first USA. All other issues seem to be sequential AB, CD releases.
†Understanding how the band's activities 'fitted' in the music scene of the time is worthwhile by reading 'Profile' at this Discogs link: Actuel Festival.