Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band signed to A&M Records and released a successful single, "Diddy Wah Diddy". Their first LP, however, was rejected by the label as being too negative and uncommercial. Moon and Blakely were replaced by Antennae Jimmy Semens and John 'Drumbo' French respectively, as well as adding Ry Cooder (guitarist) and released their remixed album, Safe as Milk. Meanwhile, Beefheart's childhood friend, Frank Zappa, formed Straight Records and signed Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, which had added Zoot Horn Rollo (guitarist), Rockette Morton (bassist) and Mascara Snake (bass clarinetist), resulting in the landmark 1969 album Trout Mask Replica, which mixed avant garde almost freeform sounding (though actually highly rehearsed) elements with Beefheart's bluesy roots music.

Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) continued in a similar experimental vien, although the two 1972 follow ups, The Spotlight Kid and Clear Spot, were much more commercial. The Magic Band left Beefheart and formed Mallard. Beefheart formed a new Magic Band and released Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans & Moonbeams, neither album was critically well recieved. However Shiny Beast (1978) was largely regarded as bringing group back to form, featuring once again the innovative and eccentric style of the earlier albums. After Ice Cream for Crow (1982), Beefheart retired from music and became a critically acclaimed painter.

Discography