Commander Cody Live at Ebbett's Field, Boulder Colorado, Aug 11 1973 Review by Gary Hill
This live show from Commander Cody is a fun one for sure. His blend of old time country music, rockabilly and jazz is entertaining. The sound quality is pretty good, but there are some moments where it leaves a little bit to be desired. That said, it's never enough of an issue to really interfere with the listening pleasure. All in all, this is a solid release.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Intro
There is some cool crazed jamming behind the introduction of the act.
Good Rockin' This old school rocker gets a rockabilly rendition here.It's a smoking hot cut with some great instrumental work.
What's the Matter Now?
Down home, slow moving country music is the order of business on this cut. I dig the slide guitar on this.
Truck Drivin' Man Fast paced and fun, this is another cool old-time country jam.
4 or 5 Times
While there is still plenty of country texture here, this is more of a swing jazz tune. It's a fun one, too. I really love the jamming on this.
Down and Out
I like this one a lot. It's a bit more like something the Dead might have done. It's a rock and roller with a cool bouncy groove and some great instrumental work.
Mama Hated Diesels
Slower moving old-time country music drives this effective piece.
Sally Walker They take us into some serious jazz territory on this fast paced and fun rocker. There is a lot of old school rock and roll in the mix here, too.
Ain't Nothing Shaking Rock and roll and a country element merge here. This suffers a bit in terms of the audio quality, but not in terms of the performance.
All I Have to Offer You
I dig the fiddle on this cut. It's very much an old-school country tune. There is some great slide guitar on this, as well.
Diggy Liggy
Fast paced and rocking, this is still very much a country based sound. There is a little drop out in the recording, but overall it's pretty good, if a bit distorted.
Smoke That Cigarette
I love this up-tempo stomper. It's just so much fun. It's country meets rock and roll.
Rave On
Country rock and roll is the mode of musical interplay on this number. It's another entertaining tune.
Rock That Boogie
This is one of my favorites here. It just oozes cool. It's an up-tempo rocker with healthy helpings of country and the blues built into it.
Jailhouse Rock
Here they cover Elvis Presley. I like this versionmuch better than that more famous one, but I'm not a big fan of Elvis.
Truckin' and F***in' As you might guess from the title, this one gets a parental advisory on the lyrics. There is an extended spoken introduction on this number. The cut has some great pedal steel guitar on it. It's sort of part jazz and part country. It's all fun.
Wine, Do Yer Stuff Very much a down-home country number, this is solid. The lyrics earn this one points for sure, but so do the guitar and piano work.
Mama Tried A bouncing old school country stomper, this is fun.
Daddy's Drinkin' Up Our Christmas
A tale of a not-so Merry Christmas, this is a tasty old school country jam.
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
More old school rock and roll, this is energetic and fun. I love the saxophone on it, but the piano really gets to show off, too.
Sunset On the Sage Definitely more in line with old-time country music, this is a slower, mellower tune. It's no less effective, though.
