Review Summary: Digging the Blues with Beefheart
Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart (the pseudonym of Don van Vliet) had been friends since their early days at Antelope Valley High School in 1958. They shared an interest in blues records, it being clear that musicians like Howlin' Wolf had a huge influence on both. . After Zappa formed The Mothers of Invention, Beefheart started his own band, The Magic Band, in the mid-1960s, although a few years later he felt disillusioned with the music industry.
Prior to "Bongo Fury", Frank produced the masterpiece "Trout Mask Replica", and Beefheart sang Willie The Pimp on "Hot Rats" (both albums released in 1969). Throughout the 1970s, Beefheart became a cult musician, but sales were very low, even with some attempts at more commercial music. Due to contractual obligations, he was unable to record new material in 1975, so he turned his attention to Frank Zappa, asking for help.
Through this live album, it is clear that the music has a strong blues-rock influence, as they are very raw and strong sounds (perhaps that explains the album's title), and not complex as in Zappa's style. Beefheart's raspy vocals have never sounded as good as they do now, he even contributes two songs (Sam With The Scalp Flat Top and Man With The Woman Head), and the band is fantastic with a more simplistic approach.
Zappa's style on this album can also be seen as more electric guitar focused, providing the basic riffs and ideas for the pieces before really going off tangent with his solos, along with dark humor and surrealist jokes. This album is also The Mothers' last as a band.
“Bongo Fury” starts with Debra Kadabra, a typical blues song with some jazzy passages, followed by Carolina Hard-Core Ecstacy, an anthemic type with an epic chorus and some great vocals from Beefheart, plus an excellent solo by Zappa. in the midst of madness. Advance Romance is the longest track on the album, an epic 11-minute piece with a blues-rock instrumental section plus an incredible Zappa solo on top, plus excellent rhythm work performed by drummer Terry Bozzio and bassist Tom Fowler. .
The record ends with a classic, Muffin Man, with Frank impersonating a mad scientist, followed by a catchy riff, opening the door to a smashing solo, courtesy of Zappa. Despite being a live album, there are two studio tracks, 200 Years and Cucamonga, not that they are exactly bad, but they still leave something to be desired.
All in all, the final collaboration between two longtime friends proves to be a great effort, spanning a blues and rock repertoire, and demonstrating the skills of both musicians, despite the music being more straightforward and simple. Aside from the two studio tracks, the rest is original material, well done and very fun to listen to. That said, Frank, along with Beefheart, delivers an excellent live album.
