Unconditionally Guaranteed

1974 studio album by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Unconditionally Guaranteed

Studio album by

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Released| April 1974
Recorded| 1974
Studio| Hollywood Sound
Length| 31:14
Label| Mercury (US), Virgin (UK)
Producer| Andy DiMartino
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band chronology
| Clear Spot
(1972)  | Unconditionally Guaranteed
(1974)  | Bluejeans & Moonbeams
(1974)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| B−[2]
Rolling Stone Album Guide (1992)| [3]
Sounds| (mixed)[4]

Unconditionally Guaranteed is the eighth LP by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, originally released in 1974. It was recorded at Hollywood Sound, Los Angeles.

Upon release it was criticised for being too commercial; even so, it failed to give Beefheart any real chart success, peaking at #192 on the Billboard Top 200.

## Aftermath[edit]

Immediately after recording of the album the entire Magic Band quit – as biographer Mike Barnes has stated, "[Beefheart] was in effect sacked by his own group."[5] They had become increasingly disenchanted with the lack of financial success, having subsisted on food stamps and donations from their parents, and with Beefheart's tyrannical control over the group. In the words of guitarist Bill Harkleroad "we had had enough of him treating us like punching bags."[6]

The album's lackluster and unchallenging music was the last straw. Drummer Art Tripp recalled, "When the band finally got our album copies, we were horrified. As we listened, it was as though each song was worse than the one which preceded it."[7]

After his contract with Mercury Records ended at the end of 1974, Beefheart disowned the record along with its successor Bluejeans & Moonbeams. He urged his fans to "take copies back for a refund" and called the albums "horrible and vulgar".[8]

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Don and Jan Van Vliet and Andy DiMartino

Side ANo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Upon the My-O-My"| 2:43
2.| "Sugar Bowl"| 2:13
3.| "New Electric Ride"| 3:02
4.| "Magic Be"| 2:55
5.| "Happy Love Song"| 3:54

Side BNo.| Title| Length

|
|

6.| "Full Moon, Hot Sun"| 2:19
7.| "I Got Love on My Mind"| 3:08
8.| "This Is the Day"| 4:51
9.| "Lazy Music"| 2:49
10.| "Peaches"| 3:20

## Personnel[edit]

* Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) – vocals, harmonica
* Alex St. Clair – guitar
* Zoot Horn Rollo (Bill Harkleroad) – guitar, glass finger guitar
* Rockette Morton (Mark Boston) – bass
* Art Tripp – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

* Mark Marcellino – keyboards
* Andy DiMartino – acoustic guitar
* Del Simmons – tenor saxophone, flute

## References[edit]

1. ^ Mason, S. (2011). "Unconditionally Guaranteed - Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
3. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (1992). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
4. ^ S.P. (2011). "Giant Step For The Captain – Unconditionally Guaranteed review". Captain Beefheart Radar Station. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
5. ^ Barnes, Mike (2000). Captain Beefheart. London: Quartet Books. ISBN 0-7043-8073-0.
6. ^ Harkelroad, Bill (1998). Lunar Notes. Wembley, Middx: SAF Publications. ISBN 0-946719-21-7.
7. ^ Froy, Steve (2006). "Art Tripp is Ed Marimba is Ted Cactus". Captain Beefheart Radar Station. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
8. ^ Weitzman, Steve (1975). "Zappa and the Captain Cook". Captain Beefheart Radar Station. Retrieved October 31, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band (1964–1982)

* Captain Beefheart
* Alex St. Clair
* Jerry Handley
* Paul G Blakey
* Gary Jaye
* Cliff Martinez
* Doug Moon
* Gary 'Magic' Marker
* Vic Mortenson
* Ry Cooder
* Drumbo
* Rockette Morton
* Zoot Horn Rollo
* Winged Eel Fingerling
* The Mascara Snake
* Antennae Jimmy Semens
* Ed Marimba
* Moris Tepper
* Oréjon
* Feelers Rebo
* Indian Ink
* Black Jew Kitabu
* Gary Lucas
* Wait For Me

The Magic Band (2003–2017)

* Drumbo
* Rockette Morton
* Feelers Rebo
* Eric Klerks
* Andrew Niven

* Wait For Me
* Gary Lucas
* Michael Traylor
* Craig Bunch

Studio albums|

* Safe as Milk
* Strictly Personal
* Trout Mask Replica
* Lick My Decals Off, Baby
* Mirror Man
* The Spotlight Kid
* Clear Spot
* Unconditionally Guaranteed
* Bluejeans & Moonbeams
* Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
* Doc at the Radar Station
* Ice Cream for Crow
* Bat Chain Puller

EPs|

* The Legendary A&M Sessions

Live albums|

* Bongo Fury
* I'm Going to Do What I Wanna Do: Live at My Father's Place 1978

Compilations|

* Grow Fins: Rarities 1965–1982

Singles|

* "Diddy Wah Diddy"
* "Electricity"
* "Ice Cream for Crow"

Other songs|

* "Advance Romance"
* "Muffin Man"
* "Moonlight on Vermont"
* "Party of Special Things to Do"
* "Willie the Pimp"

Related articles|

* Discography
* The Magic Band
* Frank Zappa
* Fast 'n' Bulbous – A Tribute to Captain Beefheart
* Mallard

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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