Style: rockabilly, classic rock
Label: Blind Pig
Year: 1986
Home: Michigan
Members: Commander Cody ~ vocals/piano
Bill Kirchen ~ guitar/harmonica/b. vocals
Bruce Barlow ~ bass/guitar/b. vocals
Bobby Black ~ pedal steel
Keith Crossan, Rob Sudduth ~ sax
Austin DeLone ~ accordion/guitar/organ/piano/b. vocals
Tony Johnson ~ drums/gong/b. vocals
Peter Siegel ~ dobro
When rock'n'roll was fun & lyrically lightweight, the guitars country-esque & fuzzy, & the rambling piano lines reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis. Nothing like the 1950's! The news went out last week that Commander Cody passed away at 77. I didn't know he was still alive, honestly. I know I've heard his music, as I remember inheriting my mother's 45's & he was in the collection as you don't forget a name like Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen, but I can't remember his music. With his death it was time to take a listen. Being I only review post-1980 albums I looked for a contemporary release on youtube & came up with this 35 minute album. There might be better later day albums out there, but this is a great moment of nostalgia that covers the range of his music. After listening to this I'd recommend everyone take a moment to honor the Commander's passing by hunting up some of his old tunes. His band here features his returning bassist & guitarist from the Lost Planet Airmen. The result is an album like the 1950's & 60's never ended, but now there's just better technology. I grew up listening to a lot of Elvis & the early rockers, or rockabilly, & loved Elvis' guitarist Scotty Moore who I would try to imitate when I first learned guitar. I love this style of music. The title track is a get up a dance song that sets the stage for what will come next. A wonderfully energized set of retro songs of a range of styles that sound like barely a day has passed & will have you wanting to listen to more. "Rockin' Over China" could have come out of the repertoire of Chuck Berry with the singing & guitar part. Nothing like Chuck, even in imitation, & I say that having seen him in concert which was nearly orgasmic! "Angel Got Married" & "Do You Mind?" goes for a sound that is more contemporary like early J. Geils or Bob Seger or some band out of Detroit. Its that talky white boy blues. The album even slows down for some blues with "Midnight On The Strand" with some jump blues backing vocals, a non-stop rolling bass line like is not heard enough, & a classic blues guitar popping in for some under-played moments, some piano & a hard blowing sax solo. A pure delight. There's also some Waylon-esque country with the comical "Truck Stop At The End Of The World", cliched backing vocals included, & some straight acoustic country with "One More Ride," plus some great storyteller songs like nobody writes anymore. Listening to this album I almost cried, not for the death of Commander Cody, but for the death of this music. We'll never see a world of just straight ahead simplicity again. I wish I'd known he was still alive & keeping it alive!
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