Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (album)

1975 studio album by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

Studio album by

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

Released| 1975
Recorded| September–October 1974; by Paul Grupp at Record Plant, Sausalito, California, computer mixed at Record Plant, Los Angeles
Label| Warner Bros. 1975
Wounded Bird 2003
Producer| John Boylan
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen chronology
| Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas
(1974)  | Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
(1975)  | Tales from the Ozone
(1976)

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Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen is the fifth album by American rock band Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Released in 1975, it was their first album for Warner Bros. Records.

The album was the subject of the 1977 book Star-Making Machinery by Geoffrey Stokes, which chronicled its recording, production and marketing as an example of the behind-the-scenes operation of the U.S. music industry in the 1970s.[1]

## Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [2]
Christgau's Record Guide| C+[3]

On AllMusic, Jana Pendragon wrote, "... this is another good outing for the wild boys.... One more time, this band holds all the aces and plays every hand with a poker face that just won't quit. Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen knew exactly what they were doing."[2]

## Star-Making Machinery[edit]

The AllMusic reviewer, however, did not view the album in the context of the times, and was unaware of the struggles and conflicts that plagued the actual recording of the album. This was Cody's first album for Warner Brothers Records after leaving Paramount Records. Warners believed their twang-laden style, rooted in rockabilly, honky-tonk, vintage rhythm & blues and western swing was limiting their appeal. The label decided to move the group in a mellow, California country-rock style more akin to Poco, The Eagles and other bands rooted in folk and bluegrass.

The book Star-Making Machinery: The Odyssey of an Album by Geoffrey Stokes chronicled the actual recording sessions. Stokes embedded himself with the band and witnessed the conflicts that took place between the musicians and producer. Members of the Airman were conflicted. They preferred their original style, but were anxious greater commercial success after years of struggle. Their producer, John Boylan, a veteran deeply rooted in West Coast country-rock, was attempting to guide them toward the softer sound, which resulted in conflicts during the recording process. Other critics who reviewed the album at the time were far less enthused about it, as was the band itself. The album was far from successful.

## Track listing[edit]

Side A

1. "Southbound" (Hoyt Axton, Mark Dawson) – 2:20
2. "Don't Let Go" (Jesse Stone) – 2:40
3. "California Okie" (Kevin "Blackie" Farrell) – 2:48
4. "Willin'" (Lowell George) – 3:38
5. "The Boogie Man Boogie" (Michael J. Richards, Billy C. Farlow, George Frayne, John Tichy) – 3:35

Side B

1. "Hawaii Blues" (Richards, Farlow, Ernie Hagar, Andy Stein) – 3:05
2. "House of Blue Lights" (Don Raye, Freddie Slack) – 2:41
3. "Keep On Lovin' Her" (Farlow, Tichy) – 3:13
4. "Devil and Me" (Frayne, Tichy) – 3:11
5. "Four or Five Times" (Marco H. Hellman, Byron Gay) – 2:30
6. "That's What I Like About the South" (Phil Harris) – 2:35

## Personnel[edit]

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

* Commander Cody (a.k.a. George Frayne) – piano, vocals
* Billy C. Farlow – lead vocal, harp
* Bill Kirchen – electric guitar, vocals
* John Tichy – rhythm guitar, vocals
* Andy Stein – fiddle, saxophone
* Ernie Hagar – pedal steel
* Bruce Barlow – bass, vocals
* Lance Dickerson – drums, vocals

Additional musicians

* Tower Of Power Horn Section – horns

Production

* John Boylan – Producer
* Paul Grupp – Engineer
* Tom Anderson – Assistant Engineer,
* Bob Edwards – Assistant Engineer
* Michael Verdick – Assistant Engineer
* Wally Traugott – Mastering
* Chris Frayne – Cover Art
* John Goodchild – Layout Design

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Star-Making Machinery". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
2. ^ a b Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen at AllMusic
3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.

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Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen

* George Frayne

* Billy C. Farlow
* Bill Kirchen
* John Tichy
* Andy Stein
* Bruce Barlow
* Lance Dickerson
* Steve Davis
* Bobby Black
* Norton Buffalo

Studio albums|

* Lost in the Ozone (1971)
* Hot Licks, Cold Steel & Truckers Favorites (1972)
* Country Casanova (1973)
* Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1975)
* Tales from the Ozone (1975)

Live albums|

* Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas (1974)
* We've Got a Live One Here! (1976)
* Bear's Sonic Journals: Found in the Ozone (2020)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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