too much?

A week ago marked 5 years since George W. Frayne IV (a.k.a. Commander Cody) ascended to the outer Ozone.  He was 77.  He’d been unable to tour for over 2 years, his last gig at Chan’s in Woonsocket Rhode Island.  I meant for this post to go out that same day, but my screen crashed and I only got my laptop back yesterday.  The NY Times had a nice obit the week he passed (1).  He’s still remembered, as in this July piece from NPR (2).

Mr. Frayne, son of two artists, entered UofM Art school in ’62 (on full scholarship!).  9 weeks of boogie-woogie piano lessons at his Long Island high school gave him enough chops to hang with several frat bands, and in the kitchen of Phi Psy, washing dishes, he met John Tichy, who taught him the wonders of old country.  CC & the Lost Planet Airmen wouldn’t get going for a few years, a momentous afternoon in the Jones Beach lifeguards’ bar including some TV watching of a Sci Fi series from the 50s featuring Commando Cody (3).

I’ll not get much into the history of that great band.  Their mix of old country, boogie-woogie, and old-time rock and roll was unlike anything going down then, when the scene featured hard rock and blues.  They call that mix “Americana” these days, and practitioners are legion.  Tho’ big in their hometown, they found their fortune in Berkeley, cranking out 5 albums and for a while considered the hottest live act in the land.  Warner Brothers used their crowd noise on other albums.  Having attended many of those concerts, I can tell you that reputation was well deserved.  They broke up in ’76, but all band members kept at it.  The living members of the band still tour as the Lost Planet Airmen and even put out a CD last year (4).

I first saw the band at Hill Auditorium on 4/17/71, last day of my freshman year classes celebrated by a campus-wide blow out.  I broke into the side door and was rapidly smitten by those 8 hippies wailing away.  I celebrate the anniversary of that momentous encounter every year (5)

Let’s take a look at the ol’ Commander over the years.

Obviously, I can dole out only so much Commander Cody, here.  This little sampler should be a good start.

“Hot Rod Lincoln”.   A remake of a 1955 record the band probably found in some used record bin.  They gave Commander talking songs, and this was one of them.  Their only “hit”, which rose to #9 on the Billboard charts and ended the year ranked #69.  Here see the Commander and the boys doing it before 17,000 at Crisler Arena in the rally for John Sinclair (6).  They stole the show from a bill that include Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, and John Lennon (yes, the Beatle).

“Beat me Daddy, 8 to the bar.”  Is, IMHO, the best boogie-woogie number.  This clip has the additona lfeature of George’s videography.  He put clips from Hollywood movies over a number of CC&hLPA songs (7)

“We used to ride”.  A good “looking back at our wild times” song.  George cut this 10 years after the breakup.  I’m not sure if he did the videography as he usually worked in black and white (8).

“Two triple cheese”.  By this time, the only LPA around was Bill Kirchen, who helped out bigly here, get down on those French fries!  The video won an Emmy and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC (9).

Thanks for reading.  Realize, there’s no status that can’t be elevated by listening to the Commander.  So, please join Mr. Ozone and me in inviting you to listen away!  Maybe you’ll have too much fun!(10).  George, we boogie on in your memory.

(Addendum: Mr. Ozone is the work of Chris Frayne, George’s brother and another very talented artist. When he died in ’91 of multiple sclerosis, George took over the illustrating and you’d have trouble telling the difference)

References

1. Risen C.  George Frayne, a.k.a. Commander Cody, Alt-Country Pioneer, Dies at 77. New York Times 9/30/21. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/arts/music/george-frayne-dead.html

2. American Routes Shortcut: Commander Cody.  American Routes July 12, 2024.  file:///Users/bobscomputer/Desktop/LITO/American%20Routes%20Shortcuts:%20Commander%20Cody%20%7C%20WWNO.html

3. Cult Cinema.  Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953) Marathon TV Series chapters 1-12.  YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1ov_bmZPJE

4. The Last Music Company.  Lost Planet Airmen: Back from the Ozone. October 31, 2o23.  https://www.lastmusic.co.uk/labelnews/lost-planet-airmen-back-from-the-ozone

5.Ike B.  Two triple cheese… WordPress April 17,2021. https://theviewfromharbal.com/2021/04/17/two-triple-cheese/

6. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Hot Rod Lincoln. (from Ten for Two, premiered 4/1/72. Produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono). Posted to YouTube by RW Ike 3/19/21. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TeHA4UL_8

7. Commander Cody.  Beat me daddy 8 to the bar.  YouTube https://youtu.be/3Csbzh2r0oU?si=X_UnOla2mTCAEWoF

8. Commander Codyish.  we used to ride version 2.0.  https://youtu.be/H6Tt_EGGrT8?si=IC8ZqMr6wEJ6zh0U

9. revionxvideo.  Two Triple Cheese Side Order of Fries – Commander Cody.  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1Cvg5VCpT4

10. Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen.  Too Much Fun (Live (1973/Austin, TX)).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEh3HBeZNHE