Tag Archives: Commander Cody

Link Wray: Be What You Want To

In March 1973, “Polydor” label released “Be What You Want To”, the ninth Link Wray album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francsico, and was produced by Thomas Jefferson Kaye.

Personnel:

  • Link Wray – lead vocals, electric guitar
  • Jerry Garcia – guitar, pedal steel
  • Bobby Black – steel guitar
  • David Bromberg – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Chris Michie – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Peter Kaukonen – electric guitar
  • John McFee – electric guitar
  • Greg Douglass – slide guitar
  • Commander Cody – piano, keyboards
  • Tom Salisbury – organ, piano, clavinet, backing vocals, horn and string arrangements
  • Paul Barlow – bass
  • Kip Maercklein – bass
  • Rick Shlosser – drums
  • Lance Dickerson – drums
  • Andy Stein – fiddle
  • Jules Broussard – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Jack Schroer – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Harrell – trumpet
  • Jules Rowell – valve trombone
  • Nathan Rubin – violin
  • Teresa Adams – cello
  • Bruce Steinberg – harmonica
  • David Coffin, Henry Coleman, Keith Crossan, Frank Demme, Diane Earl, Robert Frost, Zeller Hurd, Carl Johnson, Thomas Jefferson Kaye, Greg Kenney, Barbara Mauritz, Dorothy Morrison, Ralph Payne – backing vocals
  • Mallory Earl, Don Ososke – engineer
  • Mallory Earl – mixing
  • Bruce Steinberg – art direction, design, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Link Wray, except where noted.

  1. Be What You Want To
  2. All Cried Out – Mann Curtis, Michel Deborah
  3. Lawdy Miss Clawdy – Lloyd Price
  4. Tucson, Arizona
  5. Riverbend
  6. You Walked By
  7. Walk Easy, Walk Slow
  8. All the Love in My Life
  9. You Really Got a Hold on Me
  10. Shine the Light
  11. Morning

Steve Mackay

On October 10, 2015, Steve Mackay died aged 66. He was musician (saxophone), recorded and performed with Violent Femmes, Snakefinger, Commander Cody, Zu, Andre Williams, Smegma, Van Rozay, Estel, Clubfoot Orchestra, Carnal Kitchen Band, The Mojo Boogie Band and Moonlighters, but was best known for his membership in The Stooges. As leader Mackay released three albums.

Nicolette Larson

On December 16, 1997, Nicolette Larson died aged 45. She was songwriter and singer, recorded and performed with The Doobie Brothers, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Commander Cody, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, but was best known for her work with Neil Young. As a leader she released 13 albums.

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Lost in the Ozone

In November 1971, “Paramount” label released “Lost in the Ozone”, the debut  Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen album. The studio selections were recorded April – July 1971 at “Pacific High Recording Studios” in Ann Arbor, Michigan , “Long Branch Saloon” and “New Monk” in Berkeley, California, and the live selections were recorded in July 1971, at the “Long Branch Saloon” and “New Monk” in Berkeley. The album was produced by Bob Cohen and George Frayne.

Personnel:

  • George Frayne (Commander Cody) – vocals, piano
  • John Tichy– lead and harmony vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Bill Kirchen – lead and harmony vocals, lead guitar, trombone
  • Billy C. Farlow – lead vocals, harmonica
  • “Buffalo” Bruce Barlow – Fender bass, acoustic bass, harmony vocals
  • Lance Dickerson – drums
  • Andy Stein– fiddle, saxophone
  • West Virginia Creeper (Steve Davis) – pedal steel guitar
  • Jack Black- backing vocals, guitar
  • Bob Cohen – engineer
  • Phil Sawyer – mixer
  • Chris Frayne – front cover
  • Dennis Anderson – rear cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by George Frayne and Billy C. Farlow; except where noted.

  1. Back to Tennessee
  2. Wine Do Yer Stuff
  3. Seeds and Stems (Again)
  4. Daddy’s Gonna Treat You Right – Billy C. Farlow
  5. Family Bible – Walt Breeland, Paul Buskirk, Claude Gray
  6. Home in My Hand – Ronnie Self
  7. Lost in the Ozone – Billy C. Farlow
  8. Midnight Shift – Jimmie Ainsworth, Earl Bud Lee
  9. Hot Rod Lincoln – S. Stevenson, Charlie Ryan
  10. What’s the Matter Now? (live) – Billy C. Farlow
  11. Twenty Flight Rock – (live) – Eddie Cochran, Ned Fairchild
  12. Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar (live) – Hughie Prince, Don Raye, Eleanore Sheehy

New Riders of the Purple Sage: Same

In August 1971, “Columbia” label released the debut, self-titled New Riders of the Purple Sage album. It is the only band’s studio album to feature co-founder Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.It was recorded December 1970 – January 1971, at “Wally Heider Recording” in San Francisco, and was produced by John Dawson , David Nelson, Dave Torbert, Jerry Garcia and Spencer Dryden.

Personnel:

  • John Dawson– vocals, acoustic guitar
  • David Nelson– vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
  • Dave Torbert– vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
  • Jerry Garcia– pedal steel guitar, banjo
  • Spencer Dryden– drums, percussion
  • Mickey Hart– drums, percussion
  • Commander Cody– piano
  • Stephen Barncard– engineer, executive production
  • Michael Ferguson, Alton Kelly– cover art
  • Phil Lesh– executive production
  • Ellen Burke – technician

Track listing:

All tracks by John Dawson.

  1. I Don’t Know You
  2. Whatcha Gonna Do
  3. Portland Woman
  4. Henry
  5. Dirty Business
  6. Glendale Train
  7. Garden of Eden
  8. All I Ever Wanted
  9. Last Lonely Eagle
  10. Louisiana Lady

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Country Casanova

In May 1973, “Paramount” label released “Country Casanova”, the third Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Stephan Jarvis.

Personnel:

  • Commander Cody (George Frayne) – piano, lead vocal
  • Billy C. Farlow– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Bill Kirchen– lead guitar, banjo, lead vocal
  • John Tichy– rhythm guitar, lead vocal
  • Bruce Barlow– bass guitar, stand-up bass
  • Lance Dickerson– drums
  • Andy Stein– fiddle, saxophone
  • Bobby Black– pedal steel guitar, dobro
  • Jim Marshall – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Country Casanova – Billy Farlow, Michael J. Richards
  2. Shall We Meet (Beyond the River) – Billy Farlow, John Tichy, Andy Stein
  3. My Window Faces The South – Jerry Livingston, Mitchell Parish, Abner Silver
  4. One Man’s Meat (Is Another Man’s Poison) – John Tichy, Bruce Barlow, George Frayne, Billy C. Farlow
  5. Everybody’s Doin’ It – George Frayne, Bruce Barlow, Andy Stein, Billy C. Farlow, Bill Kirchen, Lance Dickerson, John Tichy, Bobby Black
  6. Rock That Boogie – George Frayne, Bruce Farlow
  7. Rave On! – Norman Petty, Bill Tilghman, Sonny West
  8. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) – Merle Travis, Tex Williams
  9. Sister Sue – John Tichy, Bruce Barlow, Andy Stein, Billy C. Farlow
  10. Honeysuckle Honey – Michael J. Richards

Delanie Bramlett

On December 27, 2008, Delaine Alvin “Delaney” Bramlett died aged 69. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter and producer, best known by the  partnership with his wife Bonnie Bramlett in a revolving troupe of professional musicians and rock stars Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.  In his five decade long career, Bramlett performed and recorded with big number of famous musicians, including: J.J. Cale, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, King Curtis, Elvin Bishop, The Crickets, Dave Mason, John Simon, John Hammond Jr, Duane Allman, Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pacific Gas & Electric, John Ussery, Commander Cody, Dann Rogers, Hank Thompson, Ian Whitcomb and T. Graham Brown.