I Can See You - by Paddy Summerfield c. 1986

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

BLUE COLLAR - ‘Hard Working’ Man - Captain Beefheart (Ry Cooder recalls)

 Something tole me Don wasn’t singing about no workin’ class schtick down the factory!

Blue Collar, Hard Workin' Man NSFW ORIGINAL lyrics, Captain Beefheart, Ry Cooder, Jack Nitzsche

 . . . . and now you know!


the poster say?

"It also marked the first time in years that Ry Cooder (who was a band member when they recorded 'safe as milk' back in 1967 - t.t.) had worked with Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart. 

'He was living in the Mojave desert', reminisced Cooder. 'Nitzsche said: 'I need someone who can sing like Howlin' Wolf to do 'Hard Workin' Man'.' I said: 'I know just the guy!’. 
I hadn't seen him in years, I called him up, and man, it took me an age to persuade him just to come down to the studio. And when he got there, he read the lyrics and said: 'I won't do it!' It came down to me locking him in the studio and telling him I wouldn't let him out until he had sung it! I can still remember his face as he was banging on the sound control room window, screaming to be let out! 
I thought: 'I've finally got revenge on all he put me through during 'Safe As Milk’!’"


Swing that hammer . . . . 

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