Editing Captain Beefheart (section)

=== ''Bongo Fury'' and ''Bat Chain Puller'' ===
{{listen|
| filename     = Bat_Chain_Puller.ogg
| title        = "Bat Chain Puller"
| description  = "Bat Chain Puller" from the original ''Bat Chain Puller'', the album that was supposed to mark Van Vliet's return to prominence and form.
| format       = [[Ogg]]
| filename2    = Ice_Cream_For_Crow.ogg
| title2       = "Ice Cream for Crow"
| description2 = ''Ice Cream for Crow'', the title track of the final Beefheart album
| format2      = [[Ogg]]
}}
By the fall of 1975, the band had completed a European tour, and added US dates in early 1976, supporting Zappa and [[Dr. John]]. Van Vliet now found himself stuck in a web of contractual hang-ups. Zappa extended a helping hand, with Vliet performing incognito as "Rollin' Red" on ''[[One Size Fits All (Frank Zappa album)|One Size Fits All]]'' (1975) and then joining with him on the ''[[Bongo Fury]]'' album and its tour. Two Vliet-penned numbers on ''Bongo Fury'' are "Sam with the Showing Scalp Flat Top" and "Man with the Woman Head". He also sings "Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead", harmonizes on "200 Years Old" and "Muffin Man", and plays harmonica and saxophone.

[[File:Frank Zappa - Capt. Beefheart - crop.jpg|thumb|Van Vliet seated left on stage with Zappa in 1975 in their ''[[Bongo Fury]]'' tour]]
The friendship between Zappa and Van Vliet was sometimes expressed in the form of rivalry as musicians drifted back and forth between their groups.<ref>{{harvnb|Miles|2004}}</ref> Van Vliet embarked on the 1975 ''[[Bongo Fury]]'' tour with Zappa and [[The Mothers of Invention|the Mothers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Zappa-Beefheart-Mothers-Bongo-Fury/master/35842 |title=''Bongo Fury'' for Mothers link |work=Discogs.com |year=1975 |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> mainly because conflicting contractual obligations made him unable to tour or record independently. Their relationship grew acrimonious on the tour to the point that they refused to talk to one another. Zappa became irritated by Van Vliet, who drew constantly, including while on stage, filling one of his large sketch books with rapidly executed portraits and warped caricatures of Zappa. Musically, Van Vliet's primitive style contrasted sharply with Zappa's compositional discipline and abundant technique. Mothers of Invention drummer [[Jimmy Carl Black]] described the situation as "two geniuses" on "ego trips".<ref name="artist formerly known"/> Estranged for years afterwards, they reconnected at the end of Zappa's life, after his diagnosis of terminal [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{harvnb|Miles|2004|p=372}}</ref>

Their collaborative work appears on the Zappa rarity collections ''[[The Lost Episodes]]'' (1996) and ''[[Mystery Disc]]'' (1996). Particularly notable is their song "[[Muffin Man (song)|Muffin Man]]", included on ''Bongo Fury'' and Zappa's compilation album ''[[Strictly Commercial]]'' (1995). Zappa finished concerts with the song for many years afterwards. Beefheart also provided vocals for "[[Willie the Pimp]]" on Zappa's otherwise instrumental album ''[[Hot Rats]]'' (1969). Van Vliet  played the harmonica on two songs on Zappa albums: "San Ber'dino" on ''[[One Size Fits All (Frank Zappa album)|One Size Fits All]]'' (1975) and "[[Find Her Finer]]" on ''[[Zoot Allures]]'' (1976).<ref>[http://www.beefheart.com/shop/zapbeef.htm "Frank Zappa featuring Captain Beefheart"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918125350/http://beefheart.com/shop/zapbeef.htm |date=September 18, 2010 }} The Captain Beefheart Radar Station. Retrieved July 1, 2010.</ref> He is also the vocalist on "The Torture Never Stops (Original Version)" on Zappa's ''[[You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4]]''.

In early 1976, Zappa offered his studio and finances to produce the Vliet album ''[[Bat Chain Puller]]''. The band was John French (drums), John Thomas (keyboards) and guitarists [[Moris Tepper]] and [[Denny Walley]]. Much of the work on this album was finished and some demos had been circulated when, in May 1976, the long association between Zappa and his manager/business partner [[Herb Cohen]] ceased. This resulted in Zappa's finances and works becoming part of protracted legal negotiations. The ''Bat Chain Puller'' project went "on ice" and did not see an official release until 2012.<ref name="GZonBCP20110624">{{cite web
 |title='Orig BCP' release date 
 |url=http://www.zappa.com/gzsez/questions/orig-bcp-release-date/ 
 |publisher=Zappa.com 
 |first=Gail 
 |last=Zappa 
 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109025812/http://www.zappa.com/gzsez/questions/orig-bcp-release-date/ 
 |archive-date=January 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://barfkoswill.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=971_54317 |title=Barfko-Swill Bat Chain Puller CD &#124; Shop the Barfko-Swill Official Store |work=Barfkoswill.shop.musictoday.com |access-date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> 

In 1977, Beefheart appeared on [[the Tubes]]' album ''[[Now (The Tubes album)|Now]]'', playing saxophone on the song "Cathy's Clone".{{sfn|Barnes|2011|p=551}} The album also featured a cover of the ''Clear Spot'' song "My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains". In 1978 he appeared on [[Jack Nitzsche]]'s soundtrack to the film ''[[Blue Collar (film)|Blue Collar]]''.<ref name="coley"/>