Customer Reviews

We've Got a Live One Here

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The old Commander went over to England in 1976, and came back with this Double Live album (originally on vinyl) on one CD. This was the last record that most of the original lineup played on together, along with the great harp player Norton Buffalo. Although this record doesn't quite have the electricity of their classic live album "Live From Deep In The Heart Of Texas", it comes pretty close. What I like about this one is you get a generous amount of songs here from their first 2 albums, which are certified classics that have long been deleted. You also get 2 great cover songs. "San Antonio Rose", and Milkcow Blues", which are not on any of their past albums. Two of my favorites on here are the Norton Buffalo song "18 Wheels", which fits right in with the Commander Cody truck drivin' theme. And also features some tasty harp playing by Buffalo. And "Hot Rod Lincoln", which you haven't heard unless you've heard it live. Old Commander adds a couple minutes on to this hot rod story we haven't heard, and Pappy's not a happy camper here with his juvenile delinquent son. The album fittingly ends with "Lost In The Ozone Again", which if you've ever been to a Cody concert you know the ozone is in serious danger from all that smoke left in the air from all them thar funny cigarettes that have been passed around. I've been to 3 of the Commander's wild shindigs in 3 different decades, and I can tell ya they're "too much fun". The Commander somehow lives on after all these years, although he now tours with a different squadron of Airmen. I highly recommend getting their 2 live albums first. That's where their best material is, and that's when the boys from Berkeley were at their best, when they were on stage. The Commander will thank you for it.

I have seen the Commander with and without the Lost Planet Airmen over many years... I own most of the titles listed here in Amazon, but this is by far the most bang for the buck. I have introduced many friends to the Commander by gifting this CD. After more than 25 years of listening to the band ... this is one of my all time favorite alblums in my music collection. This CD captures the band at the zenith of it's artistic arc. For a group that has a reputation for great live performances, this is the place to start.

Man, hearing this again brings back some great memories of live performances I caught back in the early 70's. The Commander and his band could rock like nobody's business and that comes across on this CD. For pure American road music , rockabilly and truck driving tunes you can't beat this band. Every show I can remember was foot-tappin' good. These guys could do Texas swing like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys but with a hippie sense of humor thrown in. I'm very glad I stumbled on this and was able to hear this fine music again.

That's about how you sum up Commander Cody. You can't ever have too much fun. I first heard them in high school, early 70's, if you must know. A friend had a 45 (remember them?) One side had Hot Rod Lincoln, the other, Beat Me Daddy 8 to the Bar. That was it. I was hooked. I still am. They rocked hard, mixed country, with rock, played to college crowds who wouldn't have listened to the Grand Ole Opry, but they could easily have gone there and played Mama Hated Diesels, and gotten a great ovation. Of course, their long hair wouldn't have gone over with the Opry crowd in the 70's, but the music would have. We've Got A Live One Here is very typical of Cody, rockin', raucous, reelin', rantin and ravin'. They put heart and soul into their music, and it shows. I don't think "Seeds and Stems" would have gone over with a traditional crowd, but the West Coast scene in the early 70's was totally into it. I had almost forgotten about Cody until I started listening to Asleep at the Wheel in the late 70's, and figured out real quick the link between Bob Wills, Wheel and Cody. What a rush! Commander Cody doesn't get near the credit it should for bringing this type of music to the public. If it weren't for them, there might not be Asleep at the Wheel, nor a George Strait, or later a Tim McGraw. They all do Cody type songs, and Bob Wills type songs. While giving credit to Hank Sr. and George Jones, the new artists should pay tribute to the band who made it all possible for them to play country-rock, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. I even learned to like Boogie Woogie thanks to them. Is there anything that rocks like Beat Me Daddy 8 To The Bar? I think not! Rock on Cody!

I first listen to this music when I was about 15 on a little ranch in Wyoming, and I'm still loving it. This album made me the hippie cowboy I am today. Still listenin to it in Wyoming 25 years later.

I have bought many of the Commander's recordings over the years and finally had to break down and re-purchase this CD. My vinyl album was destroyed and I lost the cassettes that I had recorded over the years, so I had to have this CD. I just recently saw the commander and his new Airmen this past fall in Hartford and he's still rocking as ever. This album though is the commander at his best and in his prime with the best group of Airmen ever.
This is one of the best live albums that I have ever heard. Commander Cody is much more that just that guy who recorded Hot Rod Lincoln, he is a gem of a classic s--t kickin rocker.

Commander Cody and the Airmen take country, R & B, rock & roll, Texas swing, and Cajun music on a wild ride. Their virtuoso musicianship and zany humor make for an astounding experience. From the opening "One of Those Nights" (a sizzling, swinging Charlie Daniels type rocker) into the amphetamine driven "Semi Truck", the Airmen never let off the throttle, as they effortlessly segue from one genre of American music to the next without missing a beat. Irreverent humor abounds throughout--note the stage patter into "Seeds and Stems": "..this is a frightfully sad song..." as they begin a tale of Saturday night boredom, wine, herb, and lost love, and the closing words following "Mama Hated Deisels" reassuring the audience that the story about a son's coming of age and losing his trucker-abandoned mother is "just a song somebody made up, don't worry about it..". Even though Cody and the Airmen leave no doubt they're having fun with the stereotype country music themes, it's just as obvious these guys love the music and have the musicianship to make it all work. Whether tackling such rock & roll oldies as the Lieber/Stoller "Riot in Cell Block #9", the Bob Wills swing of "San Antonio Rose", or their own original smokin' brand of honky tonk revved-up boogie ( "Back to Tennessee","Too Much Fun", "Lost in the Ozone", etc.) their enthusiasm never fails. The piano-pounding Commander, hot-picking lead guitarist Bill Kirchen, harmonica- blowing Norton Buffalo, and singer Billy C. Farlow all take their turns at lead and harmony vocals. Bobby Black's pedal steel and Andy Stein"s fiddle trade off licks in a dazzling display while bassist "Buffalo" Bruce Barlow and drummer Lance Dickerson keep it all together with a solid bottom line. If you like rocking country/roots music played with flair and a little tongue-in-cheek humor mixed with a little swing and Cajun to spice it up, then forget about the drivel served up on FM as "country" (Garth Brooks, etc.), GET THIS CD AND ENJOY!!!!

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Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen are a tremendously entertaining band, so it follows that the live version of one of their shows is going to be a lot of fun. This album does not disappoint in any way; the ad-libs in their stage show are funny, the country and western swing music is excellent and the narration between the songs is very entertaining. Although the show took place more than thirty years ago, the songs still sound fresh, and the CD is still well worth the price.

This is truly the commander at his best. A very diverse recording, lots of "truck drivin'" music, and of course, Bobby Black on the pedal steel guitar. And with the commander on piano and vocals, it's just a party waiting to happen!

I've owned a copy of this album in one shape (LP) or another (cassette dubbed from that LP) for at least 15 years! It contains an irreverent live version of "Hot Rod Lincoln". "My Window Faces the South" is a toe tappin swing fave. There are lots of songs dedicated to "Truckers"...like "Semi-Truck" and "Momma Hated Diesels". Check out the swingin' version of "Smoke that Cigarette". I guarantee you'll be singin' along soon! Scuse me...I gotta go buy this rascal!