His Magic Band*Safe As Milk

Genre:

Blues

Style:

Blues Rock

Year:

Tracklist

Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do 2:15
Zig Zag Wanderer 2:40
Call On Me 2:37
Dropout Boogie 2:32
I'm Glad 3:31
Electricity 3:07
Yellow Brick Road 2:28
Abba Zaba 2:44
Plastic Factory 3:08
Where There's Woman 2:09
Grown So Ugly 2:27
Autumn's Child 4:02

Credits (9)

Notes

The making of Safe As Milk, the debut album of Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band, is a long and convoluted story, revealed at length elsewhere upon the Web and in written s. However, some rudimentary details are worth having here for those wishing to submit.

Early US issues had red labels, followed by 'kaleidoscope' labels, then later black labels (under Arista). For some stereo issues a foil 'stereo' sticker was applied to mono sleeves. First inner liners had a photo-montage & loose sticker.

The band recorded in the Spring of 1967 at Sunset Sound Studios, later for the finished work at RCA Studios, Hollywood, C.A., USA.
The band were:
Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, publishing in his real name and performing by his alias. (Vocals, Harmonica & Bass Marimba).
Alex Snouffer, aka Alex St. Clair, also known as Alexis St. Clare Snouffer. (Guitar).
Jerry Handley (Bass Guitar).
John French, aka John 'Drumbo' French or simply Drumbo. (Drums & Percussion).
Ry Cooder (Guitar, Slide Guitar & Bass Guitar) [A subsequently disaffected member & not appearing in photos].
Session or Guest Musicians [that are known. Others were present]:
Taj Mahal (Percussion), Russ Titelman (Guitar), Milt Holland (Log Drums & Percussion), Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman aka Sam Hoffman (Theremin).

Vliet wrote all of the songs, with the exception of Grown So Ugly, by Robert Pete Williams. Herb Bermann (Lancaster resident & soul-mate at the time) co-wrote the lyrics with Vliet on all songs - with the exception of the aforesaid and; Call On Me, I'm Glad and Abba Zaba. Jerry Handley co-wrote Plastic Factory with Vliet & Bermann. Cooder arranged Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do & Ugly, Vliet arranged the remainder.

At this time, in 1967, 'Kama Sutra' records had a distribution deal with MGM. Meanwhile a Verve 3000 series catalog was allocated for Beefheart (FTS 3054), but not used because Vliet had signed with Kama Sutra after failing to be picked up by A&M. To extricate from MGM, Kama Sutra had created Buddah Records late in 1967, headed by Neil Bogart. Thus, Vliet & the band were recording for Buddah, although signed to Kama Sutra and Kama Sutra is shown on international releases. Bob Krasnow and Richard Perry produced the sessions. Some engineering was done by future TMR bassist Gary Marker*, then Hank Cicalo at RCA. This is the first mono & stereo album on the Buddah label, later celebrated by the reissue on BMG's new-look & retitled Buddha in 1999.

After "Safe As Milk" the band line-up was in flux. When they re-entered a recording studio in October 1967, for what was to be a double album "It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper", the project met various problems. Tracks from sessions surfaced on Beefheart's 2nd "Strictly Personal" & 5th "Mirror Man" albums, among other releases. Consequently, some of the recordings from these sessions appear later, issued as 'bonus' tracks on "Safe As Milk" releases**.

The album's working title was "Abba Zaba", after the American candy bar of Cardinet Candy Co., in a yellow/black checkered wrapper (hence the back cover design). See; Abba Zaba. However, the company vetoed use of the name and a title that was as 'safe as milk' was used. (A track titled "Safe As Milk" can be found on "Strictly Personal").

*Marker engineered at Sunset Sound, as he describes in the 'Grow Fins' set.
**These are technically 'Compilation' releases, as indicated thereon by reissue distributors BMG [for example]. Being compiled by 3rd parties from 2 different recording sources and significantly remastered without control by the artists.

Versions

Filter by
    118 versions
    Image , In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory
    Version Details Data Quality
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967-08-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono, Red Label
    Buddah Records – BDM 1001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono, Promo
    Buddah Records – BDM 1001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Test Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Promo, Stereo, White Labels
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967-08-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo, Red Label
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967-08-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo, Red Label
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967-08-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono, Red Label
    Buddah Records – BDM 1001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967-08-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo, Santa Maria Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, 4-Track Cartridge Safe As Milk
    4-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – F-1-5001 US 1967 US1967
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, 8-Track Cartridge Safe As Milk
    8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – L-1-5001 US 1967 US1967
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono, Promo
    Buddah Records – BDM 1001 US 1967 US1967
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Acetate Safe As Milk
    Acetate, LP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Mono
    Kama Sutra – BDL-1001 US 1967 US1967
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1967, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 US 1967 US1967
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono
    Astor – PLP 1249 Australia 1968 Australia1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo
    Astor – SPLP 1249 Australia 1968 Australia1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono
    Pye International – NPL.28110 UK 1968 UK1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album
    Buddah Records – HBDS 5001 Netherlands 1968 Netherlands1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – 203 009 1968 1968
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Promo, Stereo
    Buddah Records – 203 009 1968 1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo, Mono
    Astor – SPLP 1249 Australia 1968 Australia1968
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – 203 009 1968 1968
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo
    Astor – SPLP 1249 Australia 1968 Australia1968
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1968-02-02, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Test Pressing, White Label
    Pye Records – NPL 28110 UK 1968 UK1968
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1969-03-00, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Mono
    Pye International – MAL 1117 UK 1969 UK1969
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1969, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album
    Buddah Records – BDS 5001 1969 1969
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dropout Boogie, 1970, Vinyl Dropout Boogie
    LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue
    Buddah Records – 2349 002 UK 1970 UK1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Plastic Factory, 1970, Vinyl Plastic Factory
    LP, Album, Reissue
    Buddah Records – 2318 014 1970 1970
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, Kaleidoscope Label
    Buddah Records – 60017 1970 1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Dropout Boogie, 1970, Vinyl Dropout Boogie
    LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Mispress
    Buddah Records – 2349 002 UK 1970 UK1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, Promo
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, ARP Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
    Buddah Records – 2318 056 New Zealand 1970 New Zealand1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, Sonic Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, ARP Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Vinyl Safe As Milk
    LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Monarch Pressing
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, 8-Track Cartridge Safe As Milk
    8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – BDS 5063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, Cassette Safe As Milk
    Cassette, Album, Reissue
    Buddah Records – M 55063 US 1970 US1970
    New Submission
    Cover of Safe As Milk, 1970, 8-Track Cartridge Safe As Milk
    8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo
    Buddah Records – Y8BDS 4014 UK 1970 UK1970
    New Submission

    Recommendations

    • Hot Rats
      1969 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • Harvest
      1972 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • Déjà Vu
      1970 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
      1972 UK
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • Talking Heads: 77
      1977 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album
      Shop
    • Forever Changes
      1967 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • We're Only In It For The Money
      1968 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
      1967 UK
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Mono
      Shop
    • Bitches Brew
      1970 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop
    • White Light/White Heat
      1968 US
      Vinyl —
      LP, Album, Stereo
      Shop

    Reviews

    • lapole's avatar
      lapole
      This record features the usual stereo mix. They just boosted the treble and midrange during mastering (especially the guitars on the left channel). It's a bit surprising at first listen, but it gives a nice aggressiveness. The pressing is very good. I don't regret my purchase. Another peculiarity: the spoken introduction of "Yellow Brick Road" is completely gone?
      • philblack888's avatar
        philblack888
        This UK issue is a genuine mono mix. I’ve just picked up an original USA stereo Buddah issue and the instrument levels and fade outs are totally different.

        This is a real mono album.
        • pedestriansturnleft's avatar
          This reissue is fantastic, much better than the 70s Buddah reissues. PRT also reissued a lot of The Kinks stuff around this time - including a Mono version of Village Green Preservation Society put out in which I have that sounds amazing, so there's definitely a lot of effort put into this copy if you're looking for a cheap stereo version.

          .
          • glauco.salvo's avatar
            glauco.salvo
            Format description is mono but in the notes someone wrote that this pressing is identical to the "blues in vinile" series, which is stereo. There should be an error somewhere, or I am missing something... Can anyone confirm that this pressing is mono and maybe add matrix numbers?
            • dg_7z's avatar
              dg_7z
              Is this the one Al Johnson was after ? .
              • SmokeMSJ's avatar
                SmokeMSJ
                I’m going to marry this promo, if my wife ever leave’s me…
                Can’t believe I actually own this record
                • servalan's avatar
                  servalan
                  Seriously, how was it possible to lose the Captains vocal track in the mix?? Sometimes he’s there, but at others he just drifts away and gets buried..
                  didn’t realise it was a Scorpio until I had to catalogue it..
                  • GuyMontag21's avatar
                    GuyMontag21
                    nice to see that there is a recent stereo pressing of this without all of the CD bonus tracks. bonus tracks are a plague. we hates them
                    • spruik's avatar
                      spruik
                      how does this pressing compare to the other early ones?
                      • SunDemon's avatar
                        SunDemon
                        I have a recent stereo CD issue of this album (with extra tracks) and yeah, the stereo mix is quite erratic with the good captain being bounced around from the left channel in one track to the right channel in the next, but I still prefer that mix to this Frankensteined so-called "Mono mix from the original tapes". The vinyl sounds a bit muddy to me. Unfortunate... just like I didn't go much on VMP's mono version of the first Doors album... but hey, that's just one fellow's opinion. By all means. check it out. It's one of Don's best.

                        Master Release

                        Edit Master Release
                        Recently Edited

                        For sale on Discogs

                        Sell a copy

                        855 copies from €2.00

                        Statistics

                        • Avg Rating:4.42 / 5
                        • Ratings:3085

                        Videos (1)

                        Edit