The second part of Matador’s reissues of the essential early records by Texas’s Butthole Surfers continues with three of their most insane slabs -- 1985’s ‘Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis,’ 1987’s ‘Locust Abortion Technician’ and 1988’s ‘Hairway to Steven.’

The period during which these records were first issued parallels the Buttholes’ transition from being weirdo Texas outcasts to becoming internationally recognized smut-kings of the American underground. In 1985 they were still the sole province of hallucinogen-soaked punk rock freaks. By 1988 they had toured Europe, had records licensed internationally, and bought a house in Driftwood Texas to serve as their home base.

‘Cream Corn’ plucked two tunes from ‘Rembrandt’ and added a couple new ones that had been recorded on their home studio 8 track in Winterville Georgia. “Moving to Florida” (the best example ever of what Beefheart probably sounded like when he’s tripping) and the other three tracks blew peoples’ minds by being so precise and fully-messed-up at the same time. ‘Cream Corn’ was a perfect bite-sized taster for what would follow.

Reissued 9/20/24 through Matador Records. Available here as a vinyl 12”.