Music City Blues News Of Nashville
Written by Don Crow  
Wednesday, 29 April 2009

If you're old enough to remember Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen from their Seventies heyday, then you know that they were one of the best country-rock outfits ever assembled.  Rolling out of the Bay Area with their hybrid brand of boogie-woogie blues and Bob Wills-inspired swing, they released several highly-acclaimed albums for the Paramount and Warner Brothers labels during this era.  Time may have slowed us all a bit, but it can't stop the boogie, because the ol' Commander is back on the Blind Pig imprint with his latest release, "Dopers, Drunks, And Everryday Losers."  It's a wild ride of fourteen cuts of just what the Commander does best---a little of this and a little of that, all delivered with that same fire and swagger that we all enjoyed "back in the day!"

     Commander Cody is the alter-ego of George Frayne, who is also a noted artist, providing the cool cover art for this set.  Here, he serves up some new material along with revisiting some of his classics.  Backing the Commander and his piano are Mark Emrick on guitar, Randy Bramwell on bass, Steve Barbuto on drums, Tiny Olsen on pedal steel, and Professor Louie on organ and accordion.  These folks conjure up the spirit of the original Airmen to make this one a real rockin' good time!

     Steve Barbuto adds lead vocal to the classic drinkin' tale, "Wine Do Yer Stuff," while Mark Emrick does vocal duty on the trucker anthem, "I took three bennies, and my Semi Truck won't start!"  The Commander leads the way with that mean left hand on rockers such as the leadoff "Roll Yer Own," "Seven Eleven," and "Losers Avenue."

     We had three favorites, too.  The Commander gives a fine read of the John Hiatt tale of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde who end up making "Tennessee Plates!"  Professor Louie's organ forms the perfect backdrop for the Commander's slowed-down version of the teetotaler's tale, "The No No Song."  And, Circe Link lays down a bittersweet vocal on one of the best cry-in-your-beer songs ever conceived, "Seeds And Stems Again."

     Commander Cody's music has stood the test of time.  And, as he sings in "Last Call For Alcohol," everybody "drink up, drink up, and order again," and, with "Dopers, Drunks And Everyday Losers," by all means....ENJOY!!! 

Until next time......Sheryl and Don Crow.