Comments for Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, The Spotlight Kid-Clear Spot

I have been looking for "grow fins" for a while.

These were two LPs put out in 1972 - I have heard different stories regarding which came out first. "Clear Spot", produced by Ted Templeman(who also has produced the Doobie Bros. & Van Halen) has a strong clear rock sound to it and as such might appeal more to the average rock listener than much of Beefheart`s stuff.Tracks 11 - 22 on this disc are "Clear Spot". I think some of the material is too "hard rock" and gets annoying, but there are moments of transcendant brilliance - I site for example tracks 12, 17, & 21 as especially brilliant. I like "The Spotlight Kid" which has a very relaxed (perhaps sloppy!) feel to it a bit better. It`s a bit more bluesy and thematerial`s a bit better (and more idiosynchratically Beefheart-ish).Tracks 1-6 & 10 are the real deal in my opinion, all brilliant for one reason or another.In short, this is a more commercial side of Beefheart but is not without its charms. Both LPs are worth having on their own, and as a 2-for-1 disc it`s a great deal.

Not so far out there as Trout Mask Replica. More bluesy, like Howlin' Wolf on acid. Some great heavy stuff with excellent electric slide guitar. Glider is my favorite, rocking on, but there are many good cuts, as the earlier reviewer said, the double disk set is a great deal.