This is really the final hurrah for the band inspite of the fact that
there were more recordings to follow. This is a two-record set from their
1976 tour of Europe with most of the original members still on board.
After this tour, George Frayne, aka Commander Cody, broke up the band
which now included Norton Buffalo. While this live recording is just as
powerful as the preceding, Live Deep in the Heart of Texas, it is obvious
that some of their fire is burning mighty low. Still, this bunch always
did their best work on stage and they never failed to satisfy. Full of
old standards, some new favorites and plenty of wattage to make it all
work just right, the stand out tunes here are the Commander Cody classics
like "Seeds and Stems," "Too Much Fun" and "Lost
in the Ozone." Other numbers that bring back the good old days include
the Airmen's version of "Milkcow Blues" and "San Antonio
Rose." Trucker songs, big with the Continental crowd, are "Semi
Truck," "Lookin' at the World Through a Windshield" and
"18 Wheels." Other numbers of note are "One of Those Nights,"
written by Farlow, Frayne and Kirchen, as well as the Commander's send
ups of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!," "Riot in Cell Block #9"
and "Hot Rod Lincoln." Always extraordinary, the era of Commander
Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen was a special moment in time that created
a place for hipsters, cosmic cowboys, rednecks and the working class to
all come together and enjoy some real American music. Never will there
be another band like this one or recordings like the ones they made between
1971 and 1976. They ended this project with "Lost in the Ozone,"
bringing the band and its audience full circle.
(by Jana Pendragon, All
Music Guide)
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