COMPILATION OF CAPTAIN BEEFHEART SONGS FROM WHEN HE WAS SIGNED WITH BUDDAH RECORDS, HIS FIRST THREE ALBUMS (SAFE AS MILK, MIRROR MAN, STRICTLY PERSONAL). THE FIRST EIGHT SONGS ARE FROM SAFE AS MILK, THE REST ARE FROM MIRROR MAN SESSIONS. THIS IS MATERIAL RECORDED AND RELEASED PRIOR TO TROUT MASK REPLICA. IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH HAVING BOTH ALBUMS ON ONE CD LESS A COUPLE OF SONGS HERE AND THERE, THEN THIS IS A GOOD CD. GREAT INDICATION OF EVEN GREATER THINGS TO COME LATER.

Beefheart, known primarily for creating long-playing masterpieces of mutant blues, jazz and psychedelia (see Trout Mask Replica)is not, by design, well served within context of a "greatest hits" format. That said, this is a prime slice of early Beef, from his years on the Buddah label and should appeal any fan of late 60s garage/psyche.