Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band – Clear Spot

Clear Spot was first released as a 12-track vinyl in the UK between Aug & Sept 1972 as K 54007 (MS 2115). As MS 2115 in the USA. (DJ single USA promo pack for the album: Clear Spot).

The vinyl was either 'loose' or contained in a white poly-lined wallet, at the outlet's discretion. This was contained in a specially-produced clear plastic wallet with a 'Clear Spot' logo embossed on the flap. Within this was a 2-sided white card insert with black & white print - photo on front, credits on reverse. No 'Clear Spot' logo appeared on this insert. The release package in this form, with minor variations (such as insert being 2 pieces, glued back-to-back as one) and with respective catalog IDs, was issued in Australia, Canada, France (one-sided insert), Germany & the USA.

By the close of 1972 the 'limited quantity' of embossed wallets had expired. The 2nd issue did not have embossing and the 'Clear Spot' logo was printed on a white reissue cover (Grey, Black or Pale Blue; Depending upon country or reissue dates throughout vinyl's history). The 2nd issue labels in the UK ('mustard' rather than light brown) also had the addition of the small Warner logo & a new text layout (containing literals). "8-track" editions, with re-ordered titles, appeared in the UK, USA & Canada in 1972. Cassettes also exist, together with a 1972 issue 7" reel recording. Since 2000 'specialist' vinyl has been produced of this release. It has also been 'paired' as a 'double release' with other Beefheart recordings over the years, most notably with "The Spotlight Kid".

"Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles" is in the soundtrack of the 1998 film 'The Big Lebowski'.
The title track "Clear Spot" features in the 2007 film "Things We Lost In The Fire"
Engineer Donn Landee was nicknamed "Mit" during recording because, in Vliet's words,"...he caught everything we threw at him"*.
*[ZigZag interview April '73].
The insert photo was taken in the control center of the Planetarium of Griffith Park Observatory, Los Angeles, California. The last line of "Golden Birdies", in typical Vliet spontaneity, references the Webcor.