[.ca] We've Got a Live One Here

From Amazon.com:
Expert musicianship, a diverse repertoire, and an active sense of humor become an explosive mixture in the hands of the Airmen. Recorded during a 1976 tour of England, Live One shows the genre-twisting band in all its maniacal glory. Western swing standards, rockabilly romps, R & B chestnuts, and a rash of truck-driving songs all find their way into the potent blend, not to mention their offbeat, drug-addled originals. Bill Kirchen's nifty guitar work, Andy Stein's punchy fiddle, and Bobby Black's pedal-steel forays provide the meat: no matter how goofy it gets, their formidable musical chops keep it all together. --Marc Greilsamer

You can't ever have too much fun:
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!

The Greatest Bar Band Ever:
Having seen Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen live many, many times in the SF Bay Area in the 1970's, this is the ultimate collection of their music. All that's missing is John Tichy's vocals, but that doesn't stop this from being one of the greatest live recordings of all time, in my opinion. I had the vinyl version which I played so much it had more snap crackles and pops than a bowl of rice krispies! This is a great live recording of the world's greatest bar band! Jim

THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON:
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.

Like finding an old friend:
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.

"we've Got A Live One Here!:
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!

• One of Those Nights
• Semi-Truck
• Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)
• Big Mamou
• San Antonio Rose
• Eighteen Wheels
• Mama Hated Diesels
• Looking at the World Through a Windshield
• My Window Faces the South
• Milk Cow Blues
• It Should Have Been Me
• Back to Tennessee
• Seeds and Stems Again Blues
• Rock That Boogie
• Riot in Cell Block #9
• Don't Let Go
• Too Much Fun
• Hot Rod Lincoln
• Lost in the Ozone