{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Camper Van Chadbourne | type = studio | artist = Eugene Chadbourne with Camper Van Beethoven | cover = Camper Van Chadbourne.jpg |border=yes | alt = | released = 1987 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Rock | length = | label = Fundamental | producer = | chronology = Eugene Chadbourne | prev_title = Corpses of Foreign War | prev_year = 1986 | next_title = LSD C&W – The History of the Chadbournes in America | next_year = 1987 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Camper Van Beethoven | type = studio | prev_title = Vampire Can Mating Oven | prev_year = 1987 | title = Camper Van Chadbourne | year = 1987 | next_title = Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart | next_year = 1988 }} }} '''''Camper Van Chadbourne''''' is an album by the American musician Eugene Chadbourne and the American band Camper Van Beethoven, released in 1987.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=108 |chapter=Camper Van Beethoven}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=Chadbourne: wild, wacky jazz star |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=June 25, 1987 |page=E1}}</ref> The musicians supported the album with North American live dates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hilburn |first1=Robert |title=Live Action in LA |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 5, 1988 |department=Calendar |page=1}}</ref> Virgin Records, which had just signed Camper Van Beethoven, was unhappy with the album title.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levesque |first1=Roger |title=Jazz eclecticism with a sense of humor |work=Edmonton Journal |date=July 18, 1990 |page=D8}}</ref> ''Camper Van Chadbourne'' was a success on North American and European college radio stations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Music, magic set for benefit at New Garden Friends school |work=News & Record |date=January 6, 1988 |department=People & Places |page=5}}</ref> It sold around 20,000 copies in its first year of release.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dollar |first1=Steve |title=Um, We've Heard of Playing a Mean Axe, but a Rake? |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=October 28, 1988 |page=4D}}</ref>
A live album, ''Revenge of Camper Van Chadbourne'', recorded by Chadbourne and Camper Van Beethoven members Jonathan Segel and Victor Krummenacher, was released in 1999, as was the collection ''Used Record Pile''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sullivan |first1=Denise |title=Rip it Up! Rock & Roll Rulebreakers |date=2001 |publisher=Backbeat Books |page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Camper Van Chadbourne Biography by Heather Phares |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/camper-van-chadbourne-mn0000644040 |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref>
==Production== The album's original songs were written by Chadbourne.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bullock |first1=Randy |title=A trio of new releases on the garage-rock lane |work=The Daily Tar Heel |date=February 18, 1988 |department=Feature |page=3}}</ref> "Reason to Believe" is a cover of the Tim Hardin song.<ref name=VS/> "Games People Play" is a version of the Joe South song.<ref name=VS>{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=Eugene Chadbourne Camper Van Chadbourne |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=January 9, 1988 |page=C12}}</ref> "Careful with That Axe, Eugene" was originally written and recorded by Pink Floyd.<ref name="TP">{{cite web |title=Eugene Chadbourne |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/eugene-chadbourne/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref> The album cover art is by Chadbourne's daughter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hinson |first1=Mark |title=Will Camper play 'Take the Skinheads Bowling'? |work=Tallahassee Democrat |date=May 27, 1988 |page=4D}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |title=Camper Van Chadbourne Review by Greg Adams |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/camper-van-chadbourne-mw0000200220 |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Alternative Rock'' |rev2score = 5/10<ref name="AR">{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title=Alternative Rock |date=2000 |publisher=Miller Freeman Books |page=238}}</ref> |rev3 = ''Chicago Tribune'' |rev3score = {{rating|2|4}}<ref name="CT">{{cite news |title='Camper Van Chadbourne', Eugene Chadbourne with Camper Van Beethoven |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 8, 1988 |department=Friday |page=1}}</ref> |rev4 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011 |publisher=Omnibus Press}}</ref> |rev5 = ''MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide'' |rev5score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1996 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=115}}</ref> |rev6 = ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' |rev6score = 6/10<ref name="SP">{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=78–79}}</ref> }} The ''Chicago Tribune'' labeled the album "screechy, crazed rock 'n' roll; mellow but demented guitar-noodling instrumentals; weird folk- and jazz-based material; and strange country ballads that are endearing in their not-quite-right way."<ref name=CT/> ''The New York Times'' said that "Camper Van Beethoven backs the verbal witticisms with self-consciously mundane music, while Mr. Chadbourne is a musical anarchist who can match Mr. Van Beethoven joke for joke."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Watrous |first1=Peter |title=Sounds Around Town |work=The New York Times |date=July 28, 1989 |page=C11}}</ref> The ''Daily Post'' called the album a "masterpiece" that encompasses "country and folknik styles as well as rock".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenwright |first1=Tony |title=Rock |work=Daily Post |date=February 4, 1988 |page=18}}</ref> ''The Boston Globe'' advised: "Envision Arlo Guthrie making punk records and you've got the idea."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dowding |first1=Michael |title=Records |work=The Boston Globe |date=May 17, 1988 |department=Calendar |page=6}}</ref>
''Trouser Press'' opined that Chadbourne "almost comes off as a father-figure on the joint ''Camper Van Chadbourne'', although he easily out-eccentrics the Santa Cruz eclecticians."<ref name=TP/> AllMusic noted, "While Chadbourne still flies off on meandering guitar tangents and noise excursions, the instrumental talents of CVB provide a better anchor so that the individual tracks don't degenerate into chaos."<ref name=AM/> The ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' said that Chadbourne "brought out the best elements of [CVB's] (sometimes scattershot) eclecticism".<ref name=SP/>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Reason to Believe | length1 = | title2 = I Talk to the Wind | length2 = | title3 = Fayettenam | length3 = | title4 = Evil Filthy Preacher | length4 = | title5 = Games People Play | length5 = | title6 = Zappa Medley | length6 = | title7 = Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-Iues Are | length7 = | title8 = Boy with the Coins | length8 = | title9 = Ballad of Easy Rider | length9 = | title10 = Psychadelic Basement | length10 = | title11 = Hum-Allah Hum-Allah | length11 = | title12 = Careful with That Axe, Eugene | length12 = | title13 = Ba-Iue Bolivar (Slight Return) | length13 = | title14 = They Can Make It Rain Bombs | length14 = }}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Camper Van Beethoven}}
Category:Eugene Chadbourne albums Category:Camper Van Beethoven albums Category:1987 albums