Missus Beastly

Label: April
Country: Germany
Released: 1976
Format: Vinyl,LP,Album

Release Overview

Missus Beastly's third studio album, titled Dr. Aftershave And The Mixed Pickles, was released in 1976 under the April Records label. This German jazz-rock fusion group faced a contractual issue with Telefunken, leading to the release of the album under the pseudonym "Dr. Aftershave and the Mixed Pickles." The album was recorded in January 1976 at Tonstudio Zuckerfabrik in Stuttgart, showcasing the band's unique sound and musical direction.

Musical Composition

The album features a lineup that includes core members Jürgen Benz on alto sax and flute, Norbert Dömling on bass and percussion, Friedemann Josch on soprano sax and flute, Burkard Schmidl on keyboards, vocals, and percussion, and Butze Fischer on drums, who is known for his prior work with Guru Guru. The album also includes guest appearances from Roman Bunka on electric guitar, Maria Archer on vocals, and Christian Burchard, credited as Cristiano, on electric vibraphone. This diverse instrumentation creates a vibrant and groovy blend of jazz-rock fusion.

Musical Style and Themes

Dr. Aftershave And The Mixed Pickles delivers a mixture of tight jazz-rock fusion, ethnic percussion textures, funk-laden bass grooves, and dual-sax harmonies. The tracks also incorporate progressive Canterbury-esque improvisation, allowing for a dynamic listening experience. The album contains eight tracks, including "Miles All Along The Watchtower," "High Life," and the 10-minute centerpiece "Nothing Again." Each track contributes to the album's overall texture and complexity.

Production Details

The album was engineered by Axel Thomae, who played a crucial role in shaping the sound of the record. The production captures the energetic essence of the band while allowing each musician's talents to shine. The collaboration with guest artists from Embryo further enriches the album's sound palette, showcasing a variety of influences and styles.

Conclusion

Missus Beastly's Dr. Aftershave And The Mixed Pickles was released on April Records, catalog number April 0003.

Tracklist

A1	Miles All Along The Watchtower Written By – Dömling/BenzWritten-By – BenzWritten-By – Dömling	6:05
A2	High Life Written-By – Schmidl*	4:41
A3	Morning Sun Written By – Dömling/SchmidlWritten-By – SchmidlWritten-By – Dömling	6:45
A4	Gurus For Sale Written-By – Schmidl*	5:15
B1	La Plage De Patscha Menga Written By – Dömling/BenzWritten-By – BenzWritten-By – Dömling	5:19
B2	Nothing Again Written-By – Schmidl*	10:02
B3	Patscha Menga Underground Written-By – Benz*	3:40
B4	For Evi Written-By – Schmidl*	2:58

Credits

Alto Saxophone [Altosax], Flute – Jürgen Benz
Bass, Percussion [Perc] – Norbert Dömling
Cover – Thomae*
Cover – Klaus Strunk
Cover – Klaus Tiedemann
Drums [Sonor-Drums], Percussion [Perc] – Butze Fischer
Engineer – Axel Thomae
Flute, Soprano Saxophone [Sopranosax], Performer [Ultraspaceblahblah] – Friedemann Josch*
Guest [And], Congas – Ömmes
Guest [And], Guitar – Roman Bunka
Guest [And], Tenor Saxophone [Tenorsax] – Wolli Fümmler
Guest [And], Vibraphone [El-Vibes] – Cristiano*
Guest [And], Vocals – Maria Archer
Keyboards, Vocals, Percussion [Perc] – Burkard Schmidl
Mixed By [Remixing] – Christoph Wertz
Photography By [Photographs] – Bert Stackfleth
Producer [Produced By] – Dr. Aftershave And The Mixed-Pickles*