Crazy Backwards Alphabet


Crazy Backwards Alphabet is an album conceived by cartoonist Matt Groening and recorded by Henry Kaiser. The core group features Kaiser on guitar along with drummer John "Drumbo" French, bassist Andy West, and Swedish avant-rock drummer Michael Maksymenko.
American rock critic Robert Christgau said of the album: "Concept is Beefheart as Dixie Dregs, kind of, with intermittent lyrics, not always in English." It was released in 1987.
Further recordings were made for a follow-up album; however, it was not released until 2007 as Crazy Backwards Alphabet II.

Track listing

LP version

Side one

  1. "The Blood and the Ink" – 5:02
  2. "Det Enda Raka?" – 1:58
  3. "Get To You" – 4:30
  4. "The Welfare Elite" – 3:52
  5. "Ghosts" – 4:18
  6. "Lobster on the Rocks #2" – 3:15

    Side two

  7. "Sarayushka " – 2:26
  8. "Dropped D" – 7:53
  9. "The Book of Joel" – 2:04
  10. "Bottoms Up!" – 3:40
  11. "We Are In Control?" – 5:25
  12. "Maran II" – 0:24

    CD version

  13. "The Blood and the Ink" – 5:02
  14. "Det Enda Raka?" – 1:58
  15. "Get To You" – 4:30
  16. "The Welfare Elite" – 3:52
  17. "Ghosts" – 4:18
  18. "Lobster on the Rocks" – 3:15
  19. "Sarayushka " – 2:26
  20. "Dropped D" – 7:53
  21. "The Book of Joel" – 2:04
  22. "Bottoms Up!" – 3:40
  23. "We Are In Control?" – 5:25
  24. "Maran II" – 0:24
  25. "No Doubt About It, I Gotta Get a New Hat" – 4:32*
  26. "Secret of the Telegian" – 6:17*
  27. ""Lite" Blue Mousse" – 7:11*
  28. "The Same Thing" – 5:59*
  29. "Herr Magazine" – 3:04*
*bonus tracks on CD only

Personnel

Crazy Backwards Alphabet are

  • Henry Kaiser – guitar, slide guitar, banjo, backing vocals
  • John French – drums, lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards
  • Michael Maksymenko – drums, lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Andy West – bass

    Special guests

Bob Adams – guitar, bass

Scott Colby – slide guitar, lead vocals

Darol Anger – violin

Harry Duncan – harp

Bill Frisell – guitar

Ralph Nygard – midi wind controller bass

Production crew

– producer/engineer

Phil Brown – engineer

Oliver DiCiccco – engineer

Mark Bryan Johnson – engineer

Matt Groening – artwork and album concept

Hugh Brown – photography

Recorded in 1986, except 13 & 14 in 1987 and 15 in 1991.