The Mirror Man Sessions [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com essential recording
There are times when a set of recordings begs not only to be remastered and reissued, but restored according to the artist's original intent. Mirror Man Sessions is an unqualified success of this sort. It's a resequenced approximation of the planned, half-live-in-the-studio/half-studio double album It Comes to You in a Plain Brown Wrapper, which Beefheart and band started on several months after the release of their debut, Safe as Milk. Most importantly, the disc includes many of the songs off the botched Strictly Personal album (the tapes of which were maliciously slathered with heavy echo and phasing effects by producer Bob Krasnow, without Beefheart's approval) in blissful clarity. The sound throughout is vibrant, with all the sparks of the dual-guitar interplay and massive slide sound that would typify the Magic Band in years to come. The album has far fewer tempo changes than Milk or the records that follow it; the band for the most part digs deep blues-based grooves and stays within their confines. But there are lengthy, monochromatic stomp-trance workouts, such as "Tarotplane" and "Gimme Dat Harp Boy," which stretch out and explore John French's jagged drumming, the guitarists' uniquely deft, pan-tonal playing, and Beefheart's harp playing, gruff vocal style, and impressionistic lyrics. Note: Seven more tracks from this session are included on the reissue of Safe as Milk. --Mike McGonigal

The Mirror Man Sessions,Captain Beefheart,Buddha,Blues-Rock,Experimental,Experimental Rock,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Proto-Punk,Rock,Rock/Pop

The Mirror Man Sessions [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating:

fandom nearing fetishism
A reconstruction of the "lost" Beefheart album...
Took me over a year...but then...
You're gonna need somebody on your bond.
Mojave Desert Blues(all sand and grit)

The Mirror Man Sessions
Captain Beefheart
Manufacturer: Buddha
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Safe as Milk
Strictly Personal
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
Doc at the Radar Station
Ice Cream for Crow

ASIN: B00000J7A4
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

Tarotplane
25th Century Quaker
Mirror Man
Kandy Korn
Trust Us (Take 6)
Safe As Milk (Take 12)
Beatle Bones N' Smokin' Stones
Moody Liz (Take 8)
Gimme Dat Harp Boy

Amazon.com essential recording

There are times when a set of recordings begs not only to be remastered and reissued, but restored according to the artist's original intent. Mirror Man Sessions is an unqualified success of this sort. It's a resequenced approximation of the planned, half-live-in-the-studio/half-studio double album It Comes to You in a Plain Brown Wrapper, which Beefheart and band started on several months after the release of their debut, Safe as Milk. Most importantly, the disc includes many of the songs off the botched Strictly Personal album (the tapes of which were maliciously slathered with heavy echo and phasing effects by producer Bob Krasnow, without Beefheart's approval) in blissful clarity. The sound throughout is vibrant, with all the sparks of the dual-guitar interplay and massive slide sound that would typify the Magic Band in years to come. The album has far fewer tempo changes than Milk or the records that follow it; the band for the most part digs deep blues-based grooves and stays within their confines. But there are lengthy, monochromatic stomp-trance workouts, such as "Tarotplane" and "Gimme Dat Harp Boy," which stretch out and explore John French's jagged drumming, the guitarists' uniquely deft, pan-tonal playing, and Beefheart's harp playing, gruff vocal style, and impressionistic lyrics. Note: Seven more tracks from this session are included on the reissue of Safe as Milk. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

fandom nearing fetishism.......2006-08-16

For lovers of Beefheart (I'm one of them) there's no comparison, the several incarnations of DVV and the magic band are beyond repproach and without peer. I find that my musician friends bond faster to the introduction of the unadorned "jams" that this album includes. I say unadorned only because the "adorned" ones appear (some of them) On strictly personal.
This record is a lot like listening to Beefheart in a garage rehearsing (at least for the first several pieces - meant as live in studio tracks.

The heavy blues based "live" jams are a bit harder to swallow for non-musicians and people who are accustomed only to meticulously produced studio music. One girlfriend said "uhg that bass line is killin' me" after Tarot Plane was going for a while.
It's not the best place to start your Beefheart interest (try Spotlight kid/ Clear spot, or Safe As Milk - or BOTH)

From my perspective the more real the guitars and drums sound - the better. I prefer my music as close to live and "realistic" as it can get (being an old punk and garage rocker). Prettying up the takes in studio is a kind of make-up that I don't think bands should indulge in too much.
and the captain is one of those folks who believes less is better... or he did, back when he was the Captain.
Famously, being upset over the post production add ons to Strictly Personal.

Enjoy!

A reconstruction of the "lost" Beefheart album..........2005-08-22

Captain Beefheart (who now only responds to Don Van Vliet) and (at the time) His Magic Band (later changed to "The Magic Band") were coming off of a very tepid success in 1967. Their first release, "Safe As Milk", didn't attract much attention, and Van Vliet very much wanted to expand his musical horizons. After Ry Cooder left the band, a new Magic Band was formed and they entered the studio to record the "Mirror Man Sessions".

The material from these sessions subsequently languished in Buddha Record's vaults from 1967 to 1971. Most likely the fledgling label found the material uncompromisingly uncommercial (especially compared to the relatively more accessible "Safe As Milk"). So they sat on it until "Captain Beefheart" began to attract a following in the early 1970s. They then chose to release a single record with four long avant-garde blues magnum opuses (the first four tracks on this CD). For some reason they also claimed that the sessions dated from 1965 (this mistake even made it onto the early CD pressings of "Mirror Man").

Van Vliet's original vision for a follow-up to "Safe As Milk" comprised a double album entitled "It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper". He also wanted to turn the experimentation up a notch. One record was the "live" record (which ended up being recorded in the studio), and made up of the four long blues numbers. In these adventurous numbers Van Vliet plays off-key on a shenai (legend claims that Ornette Coleman gave this Indian reed instrument to him), sings through guitar pickups, experiments with cutting the power to the microphone off an on while singing, and howls highly poetic and ad-libbed lyrics. The second album, the "studio" album, would have likely resembled "Strictly Personal" (the actual follow-up to "Safe As Milk", released in 1968 on Blue Thumb Records). Songs recorded for Buddha that subsequently made it onto the next album include: "Trust Us", "Beatle Bones N' Smokin' Stones", "On Tomorrow", "Safe As Milk", and "Gimmee Dat Harp Boy" (truncated versions of "Mirror Man" and "Kandy Korn" also made it). In addition, the band recorded "Moody Liz", "Korn Ring Finger", "Big Black Baby Shoes", "Flower Pot", and "Dirty Blue Gene". Truly, they had enough material for a double album. But Buddha stopped the project in its tracks and refused to release the tapes of the sessions to the band. So the band found another label and the rest remains (overly-flanged and processed) history.

This CD, and the reissue of "Safe As Milk", finally allow all of the material recorded for Buddha in 1967-1968 to see the light of day. Here are most of the unprocessed and unflanged "Strictly Personal" songs (Blue Thumb released the follow-up with a heavy layer of processing). Here they come alive. Hearing these versions will heighten the experience of listening to "Strictly Personal" (and allow fans a glimpse of just how much greater the album could've been). Plus, the remastering of the original songs from 1971's "Mirror Man" sound great. The band really moved forward with these sessions. Not only that, harbingers of "Trout Mask Replica" peek out here and there. The rhythms become more angular and unpredictable. The notes bend and disharmonize with more fury. And the Captain's voice begins to take on the tone and agressiveness that later became his trademark (in defiance of those at the time who wanted him to "just sing the blues" and make boatloads of money). These sessions highlight Van Vliet's integration of free jazz and rock and showcase the band's amazing developments and innovations that still influence popular music today. An absolute must for any Beefheart fan.

Took me over a year...but then..........2005-06-07

Firstly, to see that at the time of me writing this review that this remarkable album has only been reviewed 14 times is ridiculous. Utterlly ridiculous. I remember about a year ago buying this album on a whim through being a large Zappa fan - I was not impressed. However over the course of the year I began liking it more and more and now I think it's a masterpiece. This album is probably not the best place to start if you're new to Beefheart, I'd recommend Safe As Milk for that as it's more accessible. However if you're feeling adventurous and want to hear something completely different from literally ANYTHING you have heard before musically - check it out - it's fantastic. The opening track 'Taroplane' is a mouthful and at first seems repetative and simple. After repeated listenings it opens up for the listener, and then you'll see it as a wonderful delta blues, avant-garde, hard rock, folk, art rock diddy. I'm having a little trouble writting a review for this album, or any Beefheart album for that matter because it's so hard to describe the music. basically, my advice is that if you're reading this you already have an interest in Beefheart - so check his music out. In my opinion it's absolutely amazing and he remains one of my favorite musicians of all time.

You're gonna need somebody on your bond........2004-06-14

This album is excellent music to drive to on a long trip. The bonus tracks are outstanding.

Mojave Desert Blues(all sand and grit).......2004-05-19

If you want to tackle the repertoire of Captian Beefheart and His Magic Band I recommend starting with this CD, although "Safe As Milk" and this one in a 1-2 punch will keep you going for quite some time(It might be too much to digest).
The key here is to turn up the volume and listen to this band work and work. The whole album is full of intense down-home sass with a no-let-up approach. Get the producer out of the studio and let us play!
Don't look for screeching lead guitar or long solos. The best instrument here is the Captain's voice, but the best feeling is the great ensemble work. This band is very comfortable and kicking.
My good friend D.G. has an extensive knowledge of the last 40 years of American and British blues, but had never paid attention to the Captain. This music stunned him, and you too.

Average customer rating:

Why this rules!
unable to bore
Great but long tunes

The Mirror Man Sessions
Captain Beefheart
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00002DF8E
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Tracks:

Tarotplane
25th Century Quaker
Mirror Man
Kandy Korn
Trust Us (Take 6)
Safe as Milk (Take 12)
Beatle Bones 'N' Smokin' Stones
Moody Liz (Take 8)
Gimme Dat Harp Boy

Customer Reviews:

Why this rules!.......1999-05-07

The Captain's finest blues recording,the slick "Mirror Man" was recorded in LA,most likely in 1968,unlike the notes say (this does not sound like the band that pulled off "Diddy Wah Diddy"). I thought this was awful after hearing sound clips and the timing were drastic,the first song be 19 minutes,the second 9,3rd 10 and the last 15 and a half. I listen to it over and over and I got to like it. It's an excellent recording. The sound quality is failing,but it puts that 'blues' trademark in there. Friends,you get more than what you pay for. I could listen to Tarotplane over and over.

unable to bore.......1999-01-24

When I got a little bored with the music I knew, I got my encyclopaedia of pop music to see if there were some reviews about bands I did not know that sounded promising. Well, the review about Beefheart surely sounded promising, so I went to a record store and bought the first Beefheart title I saw (without listening to it); Mirror Man. When arrived at home the deception, it sounded awful. I put the album away and forgot about it. A couple of months later, when I read through my encyclopaedia once more I came to the Beefheart section again and was painfully remembered about my wasted money. But somehow I still could not understand why a band with such reviews did not at least do something to me. So I wiped the dust of the album and listened to it again....and again...and again. And just like an aspirin, it took some time before it started to work, but then it really did what it had to do. It really inspired me and it appeared that this was the best music I had ever laid my ears onto. Once infected, I bought everything I could obtain and apart from the zillion bootlegs there are I have every available album. Still, Mirror Man is my all time favourite, especially the song Kandy Korn, which is so hypnotic that you can listen to it for hours and hours and every time the song ends it almost hurts. It does not bore, since the music is rather complex there is something new in it any time you listen to it. It never bores. Beefheart never bores. I read a lot of reviews on the Beefheart albums on the net and opinions differ a lot on what is the most interesting album. Mirror Man is in general not seen as his best and although it's my favourite I can understand why other people think differently. Maybe it's because I started getting to know Beefheart with this album, it might have been Trout Mask Replica, although I think the aspirin would have needed some more time then. Beefheart made a lot of different sounding music throughout his musical career (although recognisable always, even if it was only because of his voice), but since the man is so extremely talented (not only when it comes to music) there is something interesting in all of his albums. It's a shame that this was recognised by so few and that he ended his musical career in the early eighties.

Great but long tunes.......1998-12-13

Not much is certain about "Mirror Man." The recording dates have been listed as anywhere between 1965 and 1968 with the latter probably being the more likely. The album only has 4 songs, but each packed with some of the unique characteristics of this landmark band. Wih production far superior to "Strictly Personal", the band's unfinished second album, and predecessor to this one, you can catch some of the greatness that would appear shortly after on "Trout Mask Replica" as well as similar instrumentation and production. If you're a fan of Captain Beefheart's growly voice or his harmonica and soprano sax playing, you'll like this album, as guitar solos are limited. This album is GREAT for driving, as the songs do tend to get somewhat monotonous. Musicians will also appreciate what appears to be large amounts of supreme improvisation from all the members. This act being a complete no-no in most of the Captain's work. But a listener with only limited interest or new fan may be better off with some of his "easier listening" albums such as "Clear Spot," or "(Shiny Beast) Bat Chain Puller." Overall, if you can tolerate the prolonged cuts or are a fan of "jamming" music, this is a good album.

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