Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Lost in the Ozone
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On this week’s episode, we take a two-steppin’ deep dive into the debut LP of a true original, 1971’s Lost in the Ozone by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. The band members came from varied musical backgrounds and interests, but they brought a love of pre-1970s American music to the table, to including boogie-woogie blues, honky tonkin’ shuffle tunes, 1940’s jumpin’ jive, 1950’s rock n’ roll, and western swing. And it is all performed so expertly and effortlessly on this LP. What made the band stand out was not only the unbelievable musicianship (by all accounts they were a live band that had to be seen to be believed), but a tongue in cheek sense of humor, coupled with a reverence for the music and, above all, a feeling that these guys truly loved doing what they were doing and having the time of their life doing it. And it shows. This album is "fun" with a capital “F"!”
Lost in the Ozone is also a bit of snapshot in time of that peculiar era where rednecks and hippies could find a common ground in music. Its a collection of both covers played with earnest emotion, and genre defying originals that on the surface appear to be about the typical country music tropes that lead to tears in your beers, until you realize they are dotted with counter culture references (See “Seeds and Stems” for a perfect example).
While Lost in the Ozone does contain the top 10 cover of “Hot Rod Lincoln,” the LP is little known today. “Cosmic American Music” is what Gram Parsons called the odd blend rock and roll attitude and country music heart found on this album, and Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen may very well be THE epitome of that concept. As such Lost in the Ozone is an album worthy of your attention and deserved of repeated listens. Trust us, you will not regret it.
Lost in the Ozone is also a bit of snapshot in time of that peculiar era where rednecks and hippies could find a common ground in music. Its a collection of both covers played with earnest emotion, and genre defying originals that on the surface appear to be about the typical country music tropes that lead to tears in your beers, until you realize they are dotted with counter culture references (See “Seeds and Stems” for a perfect example).
While Lost in the Ozone contains the top 10 hit “Hot Rod Lincoln,” the LP is little known today. “Cosmic American Music” is what Gram Parsons called this odd blend rock and roll attitude and country music heart found on this album, and Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen may very well be THE epitome of that concept. As such Lost in the Ozone is an album worthy of your attention and deserved of repeated listens.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Inspiration for a name: “Commando Cody” was the main character and hero of several 1950’s science fiction serials made by Republic Pictures. Filmed as a syndicated television series, Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe, is was actually initially released to movie theaters instead of TV. A feature film called Lost Planet Airmen was made from the King of the Rocket Men serial.
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen first real gig was for Audition Night on August 11, 1969 at Mandrake’s in Berkeley. The photo from a review of the show in the Berkley Barb.
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen performing at a free concert in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1970
The John Sinclair Freedom Rally was held at the Crisler Arena on December 10, 1971, as a show of support for John Sinclair (leader of the White Panther Party) who was serving a 10 year prison term for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes.
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen were on the bill. John Lennon headlined. Also on the bill were Steve Wonder, Bob Seger, Phil Ochs, and jazz legend Archie Schepp, Speakers included Bobby Seale, Allen Ginsberg, and Rennie Davis.
Here a live performance of “Hot Rod Lincoln” from 1974with the Commander himself “singing” the lead.
Here is a the poster advertising the final night at the legendary Austin live venue: the Armadillo World Headquarters. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airman were the chosen band to play the show.
For those of you interested in what the Commander was up post Lost Planet Airmen, here is a collection of clips from Late Night with David Letterman (circa 1982-1983)
