Captain Beefheart - Flavor Bud Living

[englanderm1969]

Just love this tune. For anyone interested in trying this out on guitar a guy wrote a transcription for it that (to me) sounds bang on. You can find it on the beefheart website the radar station. John French played the original version of this song on the unreleased batchain puller album. People should check it out. Its much slower and as a result the character of the song is quite different and beautiful in its own way.

[jejesus]

Makes me think in Thelonious Monk's music. Totally different to any another music.

[smevans81]

Incredible. 

[MROUQUART]

every day I master a few notes from this sng, getting closer to learning the whole song day by day; and then finally everybody will be saying: what the fuck are you playing?

But I'll be proud

[godfreyhowatchin]

if you don't get this piece I really don't think you can physically communicate emotion

not even worried about how long you've been playing guitar but if you really, honestly don't understand this song maybe you're autistic or something, that's not a bad thing but maybe g-spot tornado or black napkins is more accessible stuff for you. maybe some people just miss greatness.

I mean, nobody who thinks they know classical music talks about Alexander Scriabin but he was still there influencing

[notahemi]

Beefhart band was the Pablo Picaso of music.

Modern art, I guess.

Is the picture upside down?

I can't tell.

[vollsticks]

And he's not using picks. Just his fingernails/tips.

[vollsticks]

Jesus, this is the first time I've seen Mr.Lucas play this live...ridiculous! Lester Bangs thought he was only playing one half of the recorded version, the "top half" or the "bottom half"...he was astounded to learn that, no, it was all Gary Lucas, played ALL LIVE. That's some fucking talent/dedication.

[bazonics]

It's played using Beefhearts 'exploding note theory'. Check out gary lucas interview for explanation.

[CmnDmn]

the whole thing about the way it sounds or whatever u guys are talking about is that he wanted it to sound exactly that way...and thats what makes him brilliant if it sounds clunky, its supposed to sound clunky

[rhythmking10]

To AlexNiedt your question proves that you are a mediocrity , I have the transcription of this piece you can read music can't you ?? its not improv, its a composition, Lucas plays it verbatim as on the Doc album

[Lithiummaxi]

@rhythmking10

could you send me the transcription? I'm dying to learn some beefheart tunes but the internet does not provide them

[AlexNiedt]

I think "clunky" is the best word to describe this. Very clunky, choppy, ugly playing. The question I keep seeing...is he playing that way on purpose, or is he just a mediocre guitarist?

[CK2890]

@AlexNiedt yes hes playing that way intentionally but he it isnt that he's a mediocre guitarist, its that you are a mediocre mind. 

[vollsticks]

@CK2890 He should stick to listening to Steve Vai.

[fireblossom2u]

If it sounds good

[PUNKWALIA]

obviously all those saying "this sounds like shit" haven't played a guitar

[DaZeuhlUndazir]

very good job gary

[ROCKADULTOX]

Wow What a brilliant peace! Anybody provide more technical info as to what or how hes playing? This is what i hear when I dream-quite magical

[ROCKADULTOX]

@ROCKADULTOX OK never mind, there is no point to try to figure this out. ill just enjoy it

[TheStuF]

@ROCKADULTOX the piece was written by don, probably on the piano, and then transcribed to guitar. Technical info on how he plays it.. practice.

[keyehaw]

Lucas said that learning this gave him shooting pains in his fretting hand for weeks.

[Schpoonfish]

So soulful, so beautiful. Brilliant, and such a shame it's so short.

[hotbloodeddetectivej]

should have been longer!

[strawwoodclaw]

i once saw Gary Lucas play evening bell 2 ft in front of me my fingers hert for him & it blew my socks off - amazing stuff

[TheClugger]

doc at the radar station..on VIRRRGIN!

[hirofan]

Are we watching the same clip? This piece is GENIUS!! Oh my gosh.. I feel so inspired while hearing this.. I feel every emotion.. makes me wanna cry. A psuedo classical piece.. was the Captain influenced by traditional world music?

[vajrastorm]

Gary Lucas is playing according to Captain's "exploding note theory" - "ack-ack," staccato & each ensuing note is not bound to the previous note, etc. I'm lifting the explanation from a great interview he gives and you can see on utube called Gary Lucas on Captain Beefheart.

[SockbatReplica]

I love exploding not theory.. And this peice is amazing Gary is a fucking brilliant guitar player. Those who lack the ability to appreciate it, well that's your loss.

[worriedaboutlife]

yeah exactly - exploded not theory...

[SockbatReplica]

Note*.. Yeah typos happen. I love exploding note theory.

[worriedaboutlife]

I love expanding appreciation theory - now I listen to internet dial up noise - dig the meters

[vollsticks]

yes i agree-he enabled beefheart musically and we probably would'nt have Trout Mask if it was'nt for him-or it'd be a lot different to the album we all know and love.I don't think John French gets enough credit, like he says he probably deserves an arranging credit on t.m.r at the least.And he's a shit-hot guitarist!

[sprechstimme]

I read that John French actually transcribed and notated Beefheart's parts for the band, but that Beefheart confiscated them after the recording was finished.

[999manman]

I see where Henry Kaiser got a lot of his influence.

[vollsticks]

yeah he actually did a couple of albums with one of beefheart's drummers, John French...he was on all Beefhearts best stuff!...(I mean John French not Henry Kaiser)

[SockbatReplica]

John French is equally as genius as Beefheart was.

[strawwoodclaw]

sockbatreplica - John French might be equally the Genius that Beefheart is but he definietly does not Have what makes Beefheart so special..

also i thought John frenches new album was ok but it was hardly Safe as Milk - Strictly Personal - Trout Mask - Decals - shiny Beast - Ice cream for crow or Doc at the radar staition

theres lots of really talanted people about but certain artist stick out like saw thumbs

[elaterium]

WTF is a saw thumb? sounds dangerous

[strawwoodclaw]

It is dagerous . You dont wanna know - honest. Its nearly as bad as upside down brick bat on fire

[strawwoodclaw]

i think its like a sore thumb only spelt wrong

[Brock2097]

could be a thumb that can pick guitar strings like a saw

[godfreyhowatchin]

@SockbatReplica How many fake accounts is he going to make across the internet trying to mythologize himself? he's already got 16 reviews on Amazon for his stream of consciousness narrative of whine that praise him up and down.

oh john french, we always KNEW you were a genius! you just had to spend 30 years begging us to listen to you and talking shit about your dying boss and being derivative instead of writing good new music

[EdwinBedwetter]

I don't know. I could be wrong. But I think ... I have just witnessed musical perfection.

[jaybzjaybz]

incredible

[Ramentastic]

strangely beautiful

[jellyfishsquid]

You just don't get it, and you never will!

[GreatGreen]

What the hell is wrong with you people? This is garbage. He handles the guitar like a retard handles a flower.

[Damphear]

i'd really truly like to see you play this song

[zenlib]

Playing doesn't have to be melodious to be interesting and artistic, in the same way that not all painting are pretty or congruent.

[joelomax]

its meant to be 'off rhythm' thats the style of beefhearts music in general, it's the same as saying jackson pollock is shit because he emptied paint cans on his work, maybe you're missing the point. you're perfectly entitled to your opinion though.

[650monza]

"Like a retard handles a flower" - that's a beautiful simile, man! Maybe that's EXACTLY the feeling he was trying to convey.

[hughtarpaulin]

i think there's a piano demo version of this song on the grow fins compilation. or was it evening bell? anyway, these are awesome.

[bestijarules]

FUCKIN' SHIT!! What a masterpeace! You don't hear ideas like that often.

[funtcaseninemillion]

For what it's worth, I prefer this to the album version as well.

[Brock2097]

I think this one's a nicer rendition than on the album; Lucas plucks 'em out a little slower, letting the notes ring. Perfect example of Vliet's "exploding note" theory, to me.

I just got DATRS for Christmas and the new liner notes say John French played it much slower for the '76 unreleased Bat Chain Puller album, but Vliet thought it was "mired in 'heavy syrup'", so he shelved it for the '80 album.

[mojavej]

Fairly powerful tonal tweek ---more Lucas than DVV methinx . Couragio!

[strawwoodclaw]

I bet that shit really hurts your fingers.

truly Amazing - I saw Gary Lucas play this at the Leeds Irish Center. I was right in front of him, In awe

[strawwoodclaw]

I was thinking of Evening Bell i best get some sleep

[slloyd1452]

How good was Don eh? He could be a terrible taskmaster, but if he wasn't, none of these guitarists would have done these things.Imagine Zoot and Rockette Morton doing Peon.

[SkopTeocratico]

This song remember me peon. Wonderful Gary!

[vliet2]

gary lucas on guitar

[arsfidelis]

idn't that Jeff Tepper?