Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band – Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
| Genre: | Rock, Blues |
|---|---|
| Style: | Blues Rock, Avantgarde |
| Year: |
Tracklist
| The Floppy Boot Stomp | 3:51 | ||
| Tropical Hot Dog Night | 4:48 | ||
| Ice Rose | 3:27 | ||
| Harry Irene | 3:42 | ||
| You Know You're A Man | 3:13 | ||
| Bat Chain Puller | 5:26 | ||
| When I See Mommy I Feel Like A Mummy | 5:03 | ||
| Owed T'Alex | 4:04 | ||
| Candle Mambo | 3:23 | ||
| Love Lies | 5:00 | ||
| Suction Prints | 4:20 | ||
| Apes-Ma | 0:38 |
Credits (25)
Don Van VlietArranged By
John CabalkaArt Direction- Brad KanawyerDesign
Robert Arthur WilliamsDrums, Percussion
Glen KolotkinEngineer
Jeffrey NormanEngineer [Assistant]
Notes
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) was released July 1978, only in the USA & Canada. It did not appear in the retail European market until 1980. A highly anticipated album, this official release is in fact a mix of new songs and a 'remake' of material from an album that never saw official release, entitled "Bat Chain Puller", hence the sub-title.
The original (Bootleg example: Original 1976 Shiny Beast Version) was begun after Vliet's renewed association with Zappa on Bongo Fury and was funded by Zappa. However, the resultant tapes were retained by Zappa due to legal 'asset & financial wrangles' resulting from his management & business departure from Herb Cohen in 1976. The "Bat Chain Puller" tapes (which have a different band line-up) remained in the ZFT vaults, although 'quality' & 'poor' bootlegs appeared, until the original work was issued by the ZFT in 2012 as Captain Beefheart - Bat Chain Puller.
Issues of "Shiny Beast" on the Virgin label CDs have the album title below the image, which has a border rule. Text layout & color is also different on this label's remastered version. Three artworks by Vliet were used for the sleeve design. "Green Tom" painting on the cover (1976), an untitled color sketch on a bread bag (1976) on back cover, and a line illustration on the back of the inner sleeve (1976) - also used on CD disc.
The original (Bootleg example: Original 1976 Shiny Beast Version) was begun after Vliet's renewed association with Zappa on Bongo Fury and was funded by Zappa. However, the resultant tapes were retained by Zappa due to legal 'asset & financial wrangles' resulting from his management & business departure from Herb Cohen in 1976. The "Bat Chain Puller" tapes (which have a different band line-up) remained in the ZFT vaults, although 'quality' & 'poor' bootlegs appeared, until the original work was issued by the ZFT in 2012 as Captain Beefheart - Bat Chain Puller.
Issues of "Shiny Beast" on the Virgin label CDs have the album title below the image, which has a border rule. Text layout & color is also different on this label's remastered version. Three artworks by Vliet were used for the sleeve design. "Green Tom" painting on the cover (1976), an untitled color sketch on a bread bag (1976) on back cover, and a line illustration on the back of the inner sleeve (1976) - also used on CD disc.
Versions
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49 versions
| Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Version Details | Data Quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Winchester Pressing | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Los Angeles Pressing | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Test Pressing | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | Canada | 1978 | Canada — 1978 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) 8-Track Cartridge, Album | Warner Bros. Records – M8 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Jacksonville Pressing | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Cassette, Album | Warner Bros. Records – M5 3256 | US | 1978 | US — 1978 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Stereo | Virgin – 201 425-320, Virgin – 201 425 | Germany | 1980 | Germany — 1980 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Stereo | Virgin – 2473 794 | France | 1980 | France — 1980 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – V 2149 | UK | 1980 | UK — 1980 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – 201 425, Virgin – 201.425 | Netherlands | 1980 | Netherlands — 1980 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – L 37251, Virgin – V 2149 | Australia | 1980 | Australia — 1980 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – 2473794, Virgin – V 2149 | Greece | 1980 | Greece — 1980 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – V 2149 | New Zealand | 1980 | New Zealand — 1980 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Stereo | Virgin – 201 425-320, Virgin – 201 425 | Germany | 1980 | Germany — 1980 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – VIP-4105 | Japan | 1981 | Japan — 1981 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Promo | Virgin – V 2149 | Australia | 1981 | Australia — 1981 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album | Virgin – V 2149 | Australia | 1981 | Australia — 1981 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | Virgin – 201 425-320, Virgin – 201 425 | Germany | 1984 | Germany — 1984 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | Virgin – 201 425-320, Virgin – 201 425 | Germany | 1984 | Germany — 1984 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Reissue | Virgin – OVED 67 | UK | 1985 | UK — 1985 | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album | Virgin – CDV 2149 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album | Virgin – CDV 2149 | UK | 1986 | UK — 1986 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue | Enigma Retro – 7 73548-2, Straight – 7 73548-2 | US | 1990 | US — 1990 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Cassette, Album, Reissue, Remastered | Enigma Retro – 7 73548-4, Straight – 7 73548-4 | US | 1990 | US — 1990 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered | Bizarre/Straight – R2 70365, Rhino Records (2) – R2 70365 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Cassette, Album, Reissue, Remastered | Bizarre/Straight – R4 70365, Rhino Records (2) – R4 70365 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered | Bizarre/Straight – R2 70365, Rhino Records (2) – R2 70365 | US | 1991 | US — 1991 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue | Warner Bros. Records – WPCP-5741 | Japan | 1993 | Japan — 1993 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo | Warner Bros. Records – WPCP-5741 | Japan | 1993 | Japan — 1993 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Reissue, Album, 180g | Virgin – OVED 67 | UK | 1999 | UK — 1999 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release | ArsNova – AN-2115, Virgin (2) – CDV 2149, Virgin (2) – 0777 7 87 137 2 2 | Russia | 1999 | Russia — 1999 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered | Virgin – CDVR2149, EMI – 0946 365517 22, EMI – 0946 3 65517 2 2 | Europe | 2006 | Europe — 2006 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CDr, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Unofficial Release | 2000 Fruit Gum – 2149 | Russia | 2008 | Russia — 2008 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Reissue | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | 2009 | US — 2009 | Recently Edited | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) 2×LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, 45th Anniversary | Rhino Records (2) – R1 725606, Warner Records – 081227819279 | Worldwide | 2023 | Worldwide — 2023 | New Submission | |||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) CD, Album, Reissue | Virgin – CDV 2149, Virgin – 0777 7 87137 2 2 | UK & Europe | UK & Europe | Recently Edited | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, 180 Gram | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | US | |||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Reissue | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | Canada | Canada | New Submission | ||||
 | Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) LP, Album, Limited Edition, Green Marble Vinyl | Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3256 | US | US | Recently Edited |
Recommendations
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Released1972 — USVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Released1980 — USVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Released1972 — USVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Released1969 — USVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Released1982 — USVinyl —LP, Album, Stereo
Released1974 — USVinyl —LP, Album
Released1985 — USVinyl —LP, Album
Released1973 — USVinyl —LP, Album
Released1984 — USVinyl —LP, Album
Reviews
LP2 w rough mixes and instrumentals is great. Can't stop listening to it.- Edited 3 months agoRelieved that my pressing is flat and quiet. Sounds great. I was a bit nervous since my copy of the last RSD release, At My Father's Place, was badly warped.
- Insanely good album and an insanely good pressing. Vliet's last great album IMO and a great starting point for Beefhart new-starters. Beware that Apes-Ma induces psychosis
Edited 4 months agoIs it the best batch yet?!
It's equivocal. But ultimately disappointing.
First of all, I love this album. But it's always sounded strange. Like the engineer left the talk backs open and forgot to turn on the mics. From what I've gathered here, all or most versions are problematic. Low mastering volume, no real bottom end. I guess that was the original intent. No? Who knows.
I A/B'd this with my 20 + year old reissue, which is cut to a heavy piece of 180g vinyl, housed in a thick glossy sleeve and has good handfeel. Soundwise, the RSD version has more clarity on the drums and overall sound field. You still have to crank it, though. The bonus material is actually better sounding. It just has more sonic oomph. Worth hearing too, as you get demos of tunes that show up on the next 2 albums that are already fully realized performances.
But, while the vinyl is clean and flat, it's thin. The sleeve is thin and cheap feeling. The liners are paper. The release overall feels like a quickie cash-in or a boot. Shame. As much care should've been put into Shiny Beast as Third Man did for Trout Mask. High quality Beefheart reissues are a sure bet. Fans will spend the extra money. Haven't the Gods of The Music Industry figured that out?- Fortunately my copy was in pretty good shape and sounds fine...but the rather minimal packaging is a bummer: Just a flimsy paperboard gatefold with the original insert reproduced as the interior panels (not unlike the previous "Clear Spot" RSD release). Would have loved some new notes about the music, particularly exploring the circumstances behind the material on the second disc, but oh well -- it is still that rare RSD title that features actual unreleased music and not just CD bonus tracks pressed to vinyl...
- 1st listen - wtf am I listening to?
2nd listen - this is actually kinda cool
3rd listen - this is f'n genius 
CRANK IT! Sure maybe some surface noise some clicks fear not it does not matter. Crank it and the recording speaks for itself.- Edited 5 months agoMy copy came scratched with fingerprints on the edges. VInyl was noisy. Luckily I was able to return it to the store. WIll report back on the replacement.
- EDIT
Replacement copy was scratch and fingerprint free. Sounds less noisy than the original copy I received. Overall not bad. 
Edited 5 months agoThe inner sleeves are cheap paper rather than poly lined so there were little bits of paper crap over the records when I unsealed it. The records seem to have been unharmed and sound very good and clear. The music is genius.
Edited 5 months agoIt would be great to know where it's been printed, so I could avoid anything from this plant.
Both discs are flimsy and thin, warped beyond limits, arrived extra dirty, with hair, lots of scratches and fingerprints all over. I've rarely seen records that dirty, even used ones.
The sound is great... when you're not paying attention to the awful surface noise that plagues the B side mostly. It's so loud it covers the music sometimes (especially on Love Lies and Apes Ma, which sounds like they've put some extra crappy gramophone filter on an already compromised tape take).
I will try to clean the records but nothing will fix the warp and the ruined Side B. Whoever responsible for this must be fired.
UPDATE : cleaning didn't help a single bit.
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