Safe As Milk  by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band

Safe As Milk is the debut album of Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, which was released in June 1967 by Buddah Records. It is considered one of Beefheart's most "digestible" works, combining the raw energy of blues with the early signs of experimentation that would characterize his later career.

Recordings for the Safe As Milk album began at Sunset Sound but were completed at RCA Studios in Los Angeles in the spring of 1967. The album is deeply influenced by Delta blues. Its sound is a mix of blues rock & garage rock with strong R&B elements and references to artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, while the album incorporates "acid rock" elements and surrealistic lyrics in its songs, such as in the track Electricity. The then 20-year-old Ry Cooder played a decisive role on the guitar and in the orchestrations, giving the album a distinctive sound.

Safe As Milk failed to chart both in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom at the time of its release. The failure is partly attributed to the cancellation of their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival, after Ry Cooder abruptly left the band. John Lennon was an avid admirer, having stickers of the album at his home, while radio producer John Peel helped establish it as a cult classic in Europe.