| This is really the final hurrah for the band inspite of the fact that 
        there were more recordings to follow. This is a two-record set from their 
        1976 tour of Europe with most of the original members still on board. 
        After this tour, George Frayne, aka Commander Cody, broke up the band 
        which now included Norton Buffalo. While this live recording is just as 
        powerful as the preceding, Live Deep in the Heart of Texas, it is obvious 
        that some of their fire is burning mighty low. Still, this bunch always 
        did their best work on stage and they never failed to satisfy. Full of 
        old standards, some new favorites and plenty of wattage to make it all 
        work just right, the stand out tunes here are the Commander Cody classics 
        like "Seeds and Stems," "Too Much Fun" and "Lost 
        in the Ozone." Other numbers that bring back the good old days include 
        the Airmen's version of "Milkcow Blues" and "San Antonio 
        Rose." Trucker songs, big with the Continental crowd, are "Semi 
        Truck," "Lookin' at the World Through a Windshield" and 
        "18 Wheels." Other numbers of note are "One of Those Nights," 
        written by Farlow, Frayne and Kirchen, as well as the Commander's send 
        ups of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!," "Riot in Cell Block #9" 
        and "Hot Rod Lincoln." Always extraordinary, the era of Commander 
        Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen was a special moment in time that created 
        a place for hipsters, cosmic cowboys, rednecks and the working class to 
        all come together and enjoy some real American music. Never will there 
        be another band like this one or recordings like the ones they made between 
        1971 and 1976. They ended this project with "Lost in the Ozone," 
        bringing the band and its audience full circle.  (by Jana Pendragon, All 
        Music Guide) |