Lost in the Ozone

COMMANDER CODY AND THE LOST PLANET AIRMEN WERE AN ANACHRONISM EVEN WHEN THIS ALBUM CAME OUT IN THE EARLY 70'S. NOBODY WAS PLAYING THIS KIND OF MUSIC ANYMORE, AND YET, THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY HIT THE AIRWAVES. A NICE BLEND OF ROCKABILLY, COUNTRY, BOOGIE-WOOGIE, AND JUMP BLUES, MY FAVORITE SONG IS STILL HOT ROD LINCOLN, ONE OF THE COOLEST SONGS EVER.

I remember looking through the bins in my favorite record store in Tucson AZ in the early 70's when this one caught my eye - Cool band name, great title and comic cover art - it had it all! I bought it without knowing anything about the band based solely on the cover. I'm so glad I did!! I've had the album (recently updated to a CD) for 35 years and still tap my toes to it and sing along. My favs: Back to Tennesee, Wine Do Yer Stuff, Seeds and Stems. Sure do miss "Hot Licks, Cold Steel & Other Truckers' Favorites" - Please bring that back!!

I had to go to a wedding rehearsal one Friday night in 10BC but opted to go see CC&TLPA opeining for BYRDS at the Armory. (With my sneaky little girlfriend in a Monkeyfur coat)
After the set, I saw Billy C hiking toward the concession stand.
"Nice set man!" I said
"Uh Huh" was all he said back.
Lost in the Ozone was a sleeper then, known to many Florida musicians but not the run-of-the-mill Country crowd.
My, how time has grown and flown. These guys are an INSTITUTION like The Outlaws, Asleep at the Wheel, Greazy Wheels or Moby Grape....And "Ozone" put them out there in fine fashion with a good mix of old and new material. Eventually older folks were humming along to Family Bible as if it was always done that way.

A hippie era relative introduced Commander Cody to me some years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. The truck stop music is unmistakably American and quite catchy (unless you find all things American to be gauche), the songs occaionally in turns counter-cultural (e.g., about dope smoking) or traditional (e.g., about the family Bible). Though I have most of the Commander's discs, this one is my favorite.

I'd love to see the Commander live, not only to hear them play but to soak in the ambience of the venue and crowd.

"Lost in the Ozone" by Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airman is one of the classic underground records of the late 60's and early 70's that while not enjoying "Top 10" status, has remained a sense of notoriety. The irreverence of Commander Cody hides true musicianship as is heard on this album. "Hot Rod Lincoln" is probably the most famous track, but one of my favorites is also "Stems and Seeds Again." The situation of the sinder of this song is that all of the most terrible things in the world have fallen down onto him: he's lost his job, lost his girlfriend, his house has been repossessed and his dog has died. But to add insult to injury, he's "Down to seeds and stems again, too." What more can I say? I loved this album 35 years ago and it still is as fresh today as it was then.