Crazy Backwards Alphabet
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Crazy Backwards Alphabet
OR:
Crazy Backwards Alphabet on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

''Crazy Backwards Alphabet'' is an album conceived by cartoonist
Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is the creator of the comic strip ''Life in Hell'' (1977–2012) and the television series ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), ''Fut ...
and recorded by
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
. The core group features Kaiser on guitar along with drummer John "Drumbo" French (ex
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Don Van Vliet (; born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as Th ...
), bassist
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
(of
Dixie Dregs The Dixie Dregs is an American rock band from Augusta, Georgia. Formed in 1970, the band's performance consists entirely of instrumentals that fuse elements of diverse genres such as rock, classical music, country, jazz and bluegrass into an ec ...
), and Swedish avant-rock drummer Michael Maksymenko. American rock critic
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
said of the album: "Concept is Beefheart as Dixie Dregs, kind of, with intermittent lyrics, not always in English." It was released in 1987 (see
1987 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987. Specific locations *1987 in British music * 1987 in Norwegian music Specific genres *1987 in country music * 1987 in heavy metal music * 1987 in hip hop music * 1987 ...
). Further recordings were made for a follow-up album, however it wasn't released until 2007 as ''Crazy Backwards Alphabet II''.


Track listing


LP version


Side one

#"The Blood and the Ink" (Bob Adams & John French) – 5:02 #"Det Enda Raka?" (Michael Maksymenko) – 1:58 #"Get To You" ( John French) – 4:30 #"The Welfare Elite" ( John French &
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
) – 3:52 #"Ghosts" (
Albert Ayler Albert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer. After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during the free jazz era of the 1960s. Howev ...
) – 4:18 #"Lobster on the Rocks #2" ( John French,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
, Michael Maksymenko,
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
& Stuart Wold) – 3:15


Side two

#" Sarayushka (La Grange)" (Original Composition:
Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American musician who is the guitarist and lead singer of the rock band ZZ Top. He began his career in the band the Moving Sidewalks, which recorded a full-length album entitled, ''Flas ...
,
Dusty Hill Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years. He also sang lead and backing vocals and played keyboards. Hill was born in Dallas, Texas, an ...
& Frank Beard•Russian Translation: Michael Maksymenko) – 2:26 #"Dropped D" (Bob Adams,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
, Michael Maksymenko &
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
) – 7:53 #"The Book of Joel" (Bob Adams,
Everett Shock Everett L. Shock is an American geochemist and former experimental rock singer and songwriter. He is currently a professor with joint appointments in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State Univ ...
) – 2:04 #"Bottoms Up!" (Michael Maksymenko) – 3:40 #"We Are In Control?" ( John French) – 5:25 #"Maran II" (Michael Maksymenko) – 0:24


CD version

#"The Blood and the Ink" (Bob Adams & John French) – 5:02 #"Det Enda Raka?" (Michael Maksymenko) – 1:58 #"Get To You" ( John French) – 4:30 #"The Welfare Elite" ( John French &
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
) – 3:52 #"Ghosts" (
Albert Ayler Albert Ayler (; July 13, 1936 – November 25, 1970) was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer. After early experience playing R&B and bebop, Ayler began recording music during the free jazz era of the 1960s. Howev ...
) – 4:18 #"Lobster on the Rocks" ( John French,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
, Michael Maksymenko,
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
& Stuart Wold) – 3:15 #"Sarayushka (La Grange)" (Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill & Frank Beard•Russian Translation: Michael Maksymenko) – 2:26 #"Dropped D" (Bob Adams,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
, Michael Maksymenko &
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
) – 7:53 #"The Book of Joel" (Bob Adams,
Everett Shock Everett L. Shock is an American geochemist and former experimental rock singer and songwriter. He is currently a professor with joint appointments in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State Univ ...
) – 2:04 #"Bottoms Up!" (Michael Maksymenko) – 3:40 #"We Are In Control?" ( John French) – 5:25 #"Maran II" (Michael Maksymenko) – 0:24 #"No Doubt About It, I Gotta Get a New Hat" (
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
) – 4:32* #"Secret of the Telegian" (Greg Goodman,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
& Michael Maksymenko) – 6:17* #""Lite" Blue Mousse" (Bob Adams,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
, Michael Maksymenko & Ralf Nygard) – 7:11* #"The Same Thing" (Willie Dixon) – 5:59* #"Herr Magazine" (Bob Adams,
Everett Shock Everett L. Shock is an American geochemist and former experimental rock singer and songwriter. He is currently a professor with joint appointments in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State Univ ...
,
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
& Michael Maksymenko) – 3:04* *bonus tracks on CD only


Personnel


Crazy Backwards Alphabet are

*
Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
– guitar (tracks 1-10, 12), slide guitar (tracks 1, 5, 10, 11), banjo (tracks 4, 12), backing vocals (tracks 6, 9) * John French – drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12), lead vocals (tracks 1, 3), guitar (track 3), harmonica (track 3), keyboards (track 11) *Michael Maksymenko – drums (tracks 2, 5, 6, 8-10), lead vocals (tracks 2, 6, 7, 10), backing vocals (track 9) *
Andy West Andy West (born February 6, 1953) is an American bass guitarist and composer who is an original founding member of the Dixie Dregs along with Steve Morse. Since the breakup of the original band in 1983, West has been on albums with Mike Keneally ...
– bass (tracks 2-12)


Special guests

Bob Adams – guitar (track 1), bass (track 1)
Scott Colby – slide guitar (track 3), lead vocals (track 9)
Darol Anger Darol Anger is an American violinist and founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Career Darol Anger entered popular music at the age of 21 as a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mando ...
– violin (track 4)
Harry Duncan – harp (track 10)
Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...
– guitar
Ralph Nygard –
midi MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and re ...
wind controller bass


Production crew

Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...
- producer/engineer
Phil Brown - engineer
Oliver DiCiccco - engineer
Mark Bryan Johnson - engineer
Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is the creator of the comic strip ''Life in Hell'' (1977–2012) and the television series ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), ''Fut ...
- artwork and album concept
Hugh Brown - photography
Recorded in 1986. Except 13 & 14 in 1987 and 15 in 1991.


References

{{Authority control 1987 albums 1991 albums Concept albums Albums produced by Henry Kaiser (musician) SST Records albums Experimental rock albums by American artists