The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Import reissue of the 1968 debut by the theatrical rocksinger’s band, featuring both mono and stereo versions of five tracks, including the #2 smash ‘Fire’. 15 tracks total. Pete Townsend was associate producer of the album. Though a bit over-the-top, this album was still powerful and surprisingly melodic, and managed to be quite bluesy and soulful even as the band overhauled chestnuts by James Brown and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. ‘Spontaneous Apple Creation’ is a willfully histrionic, atonal song that gives Captain Beefheart a run for his money. Though this one-shot was not (and perhaps could not ever be) repeated, it remains an exhilaratingly reckless slice of psychedelia. Universal. 2006.