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Photo: www.paphotos.com

A 'lost' album by cult experimental musician Captain Beefheart will be released on January 15, 2012.

The album, 'Bat Chain Puller', dates from 1976 and was shelved after producer Frank Zappa - pictured below - sued his former manager Herb Cohen for skimming money from DiscReet Records, the record label they started together.

'Bat Chain Puller' will now be released on what would have been Beefheart's – real name Don Van Vliet – 71st birthday. Vliet died in 2010 at the age of 69, due to complications from multiple sclerosis.

The follow up to 1974's 'Bluejeans & Moonbeams' was never officially released but became a popular bootleg, reports The Guardian.

Frank Zappa's estate has announced the official release of the album, 36 years after it was recorded. It will be made up of the 12 original album tracks as well as three bonus songs. Many of the songs were re-recorded and featured on later Beefheart releases. The album was mixed by Denny Walley and John French of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band.

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