Coming from their fucking fantastic debut 1967 LP Safe as Milk, the album opener "Sure 'Nuff 'n Yes I Do" takes the blues and puts the throttle down in one triumphantly brash blast. With then-20-year-old Ry Cooder getting an "arrangement by" credit for the tune and being a full-fledged member of The Magic Band at the time, this isn't just the debut for Don Van Vliet's sprawling, raucous brainchild.
Some of you whippersnappers may also recognize the song from having been covered twice on the Lawless soundtrack, once by Ralph Stanley and once by Mark Lanegan with Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, and Co. providing the backing band in the form of The Bootleggers. It's so good, Nick Cave decided it needed to be in the film twice. If ever you needed a stamp of approval, there you have it.
Here's a clip of Don Van Vliet from an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. Van Vliet is interviewed, and there is a portion of the "Ice Cream for Crow" video.
And since I can, here is the full video that is shown in part on Late Night.
