About the Artist:  This group was progressive rock in the truest sense of the word.  It was really a superstar group, formed in Los Angeles, 1972, and composed of members of some of rock's most popular groups.  The brainchild of the group, Bobby Caldwell, was the drummer in Johnny Winter's band.  Lead singer Rod Evans, formerly of Deep Purple, was the co-leader with Bobby.  In fact, he and Bobby wrote all the songs on their debut album.  Also in the group was Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (lead guitar) and Lee Dorman (bass guitar), both from Iron Butterfly.  Contrary to popular belief, Rhino was not from the group Rhinoceros.  Funny thing, though, two other members from Iron Butterfly DID form Rhinoceros.

Polar Blair's Thoughts on the Artist:   I like the group because it's interesting.  But it's not a group I can listen to all the time.  You have to be in a certain, edgy mood to listen to Captain Beyond.  Their songs are all wild and abrasive and not very coherent.  You can't hardly tell where one song ends and the other begins.  But they've got some super standouts and if you're a person that can "love something for its parts" you will really enjoy trying out Captain Beyond.

Personnel:

Bobby Caldwell- drums.
Lee Dorman- bass.
Rod Evans- lead vocals.
Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt- lead guitar.

Discography: Album:

Captain Beyond (1972)- The band was aptly-named.  This is weird, wild stuff.  It literally takes your mind into the beyond!  It was dedicated to the memory of Duane Allman.  So when I picked this up for the first time, not knowing what Captain Beyond was, I thought it was going to be like Allman Brothers.  Wrong-O!  But it's good despite that fact.  There is another misleading thing about this album.  The group and the record company would like to have you believe that there are 13 songs.  There are actually only 5 separate songs.  It's one of those progressive rock albums where you can barely tell where one song ends and the other begins.  A song will change tempos several times before the finish.  But there are very definite "chapters" to this concept album.  In the song list below, I refer to these "chapters" as "Big Songs".  By the way, the band produced their own album.

Songs:

• Big Song 1 (Dancing Madly Backwards) (9:10)

    This song is supposed to be three separate tracks:  Dancing Madly Backwards (on a Sea of Air), Armworth, and Myopic Void.  But it's like a medley.  Of these three parts, "Dancing Madly Backwards (on a Sea of Air)" is the best.

• Big Song 2 (Mesmerization Eclipse) (3:43)

    I call this Big Song 2 because it's easier to list that way.  Really, this is one of only two songs on the album that are truly individual songs.  The other being "Raging River of Fear".

• Big Song 3 (Raging River of Fear) (3:42)

    It's the last song on Side 1.

• Big Song 4 (Thousand Days of Yesterdays) (8:38)

    Another medley of allegedly separate tracks:  Thousand Days of Yesterdays (Intro.), Frozen Over, and Thousand Days of Yesterdays (Time Since Come and Gone).  Of all these, "Frozen Over" is the best.  The "Intro." part is forgettable.

• Big Song 5 (I Can't Feel Nothin') (9:04)

    Of all the big songs on this album, this one has the most twists and turns.  Its comparable to the big finale of a fireworks show.   The parts are:   I Can't Feel Nothin' (Part I), As the Moon Speaks (to the Waves of the Sea), Astral Lady, As the Moon Speaks (Return), I Can't Feel Nothin' (Part II).   The best part of all this is "I Can't Feel Nothin' (Part I)".


Discography: EP:

Discography: Single:

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