The Psych Ward–Safe as Milk by Captain Beefheart
The Psych Ward–Safe as Milk by Captain Beefheart
The years 1966 to 1969 are considered the golden era to many fans of psychedelic music – the era that the genre was born. The definitions of “psychedelic” music are as varied as the number of practitioners. Here at Psychedelic Scene, the “I know it when I hear it” methodology seems to be the most prevalent when it comes to these considerations.
Safe As Milk by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band on first listen is not an acid journey, references no wizards or centaurs, undertakes no space odysseys, and uses few orchestral instruments – in other words, it lacks many of the “golden era” tropes. It is however weird and mysterious and elicits some wonderful musical journeys that make this author vote “yes” on the psychedelic ballot.
Born Don Glen Vliet, it is no wonder Captain Beefheart produced such a variety of musical styles on Safe As Milk. He grew up in California, was friends with Frank Zappa when they were teenagers, and, depending on the version, either left school in kindergarten or his senior year of high school. The details matter not – the legend Vliet created drove the process.
“Sure ‘Nuff ‘n’ Yes, I Do” starts the album with slide guitar and a typical I-IV-V Delta blues progression in the style of Muddy Waters. That however is where any notion of “typical” ends. Nearly all the tracks showcase the twenty-year-old prodigy Ry Cooder and his guitar prowess. Vliet’s vocal range was a wonder – from a gravelly Wolfman Jack bass on “Electricity” to soaring falsetto on the pseudo-Philadelphia Sound “I’m Glad” and everything in between, all can be heard here.
“Electricity” probably qualifies as the most psychedelic track with its theremin, repeated fuzz bass figures, and twangy electric guitar. “Yellow Brick Road” starts with a piece of found audio discussing a reference tone – and then launches into a bouncy number with free association lyrics. “Autumn’s Child,” the album’s closing track, brings back the theremin and more hallucinatory lyrics: “Go back ten years ago/ Sunbeams fill the air” before jumping into a double time half verse. Harpsichord and guitar bring the song to a conclusion that leads one to believe it could be the inspiration for “(Listen To) the Flower People” by Spinal Tap. In a non-ironic way.
In conclusion: is it psychedelic? Maybe. Is it weird and a little self-indulgent? Absolutely. Whatever the listener chooses to think, Safe As Milk is a harbinger of (even weirder) things to come and serves as the launch pad for Ry Cooder and his own monumental career. Call it what you like – an acquired taste to be certain – for this reviewer it was an interesting listen.
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