Great review. Interesting note on Ry Cooder though, I didn't realize he was so involved in the album's production. That really gives me more respect for him as an artist, I mean, to be doing that at the age of 20 is really phenomenal.

Safe as Milk is definitely the right place to get introduced to Beefheart. It's not too intimidating, it also serves as a sort of foundation for a lot of Beefheart's future stuff as well, really shows where he's coming from.

I`d agree that Safe As Milk is a good place to meet Beefheart for the first time, to gauge his development over the years.
I haven`t played the Decalsalbum for ages, but I remember it as being kind of patchy; some great tracks, some not so. One of the greats is Bellerin`Plain, with that crazy little guitar/xylophone duet and the stuff about the brakeman waving his long red underwear arm ! Thank you for reminding me of it.