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An album many people consider to be their best, and with good reason: "Vitamin C" and "Spoon" are two of the most well regarded (and accessible) Can tracks recorded. It's a very dark record, however: in August of the year this was released (1972,) Michael Karoli was hospitalized with a perforated ulcer, and the band was having to deal with continued harassment from their former manager.
"Soup," the track which most obviously follows the thread left off by the previous LP "Tago Mago," was seemingly done in a pinch. Apparently, the deadline was looming, with a mere half hour or so of material completed. The band jammed for several minutes, and with a few edits, "Soup" was born. This makes perfect sense: Can was always a band which thrived on spontaneity. Their live shows were legendary for moments which were unique to the time of creation, and "Soup" is an example of what could happen in those times.
This is also possibly Can's most recognized cover, which can not only be attributed to the esteem with which this record is held. If ever anything begged to be made into an album cover, it was this can of Okra that a band member found in a Turkish restaurant.
No word on whether or not anyone actually ate its contents...
(Mute 9506-2)