Beatle Bones ‘n’ Smokin’ Stones

Written by: Don Van Vliet

Radio Session

  • Words Of Expectation – BBC Sessions recorded 30 June 1996, broadcast 18 August 1996
  •  The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004 (as above)

This was a John Peel session-only version of a song originally recorded by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band for the album Strictly Personal (Blue Thumb Records, 1966). Daryl Easlea, in his notes accompanying The Complete Peel Sessions (details above) writes: “The standout of the session is undoubtedly Smith’s reworking of Captain Beefhearts’ Beatle Bones ‘n’ Smokin’ Stones. The warped blues ‘n’ poetry…are strictly personalised by Smith. It’s still quite a pleasure to hear Smith intone ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.”

MES changes a few of Beefheart’s lyrics. “Salt man” becomes “Junk man” (perhaps recalling The Fall’s cover version of the Groundhogs’ song. “Caterpillar” becomes “cratenkiller”. The following verse, among other lines, are completely excluded:

“Salt Man has just made his mark – and crumbled
The dark – the light – the dark – the day
Porcelain children see through white lights
Soft-cracker bats, Cheshire cats named
The Dark – the Light – the Dark – the Day”