Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen- “Seeds and Stems (Again)” LIVE 1971 [RITY Archive]

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[@jr9762]

I ran into Bill Kirchen at Detroit airport about 5 years ago. He was there with his wife and was playing at his high school reunion the next night. He had his Tele strapped across his shoulder walking through the airport. He was pleasantly surprised when I recognized him and said hello. Nice guy, great player.

[@JohnGrimes-yi5ve]

Were you wearin' his brand new shoes?

[@nov20five]

Bill Kirchen had the voice and vocal delivery of a seasoned 60 year old at the ripe old age of 23

[@MarchDad]

He's still doing it. Dieselbilly rockin'

[@househead67]

facts.

[@jaspertyner3990]

Just saw him play tonight. Still amazing

[@jimmuck]

I saw him in Kilbarchan Scotland last year, seeing him again soon in coatbridge scotland, he still sure gets around @@jaspertyner3990

[@greybone777]

These guys picked me up hitching to chelan wa in their motor home. Glad I had my harmonica. Small but fun line in my life story. Those that didn't participate in the 70s missed something magical. It was an amazing time for me.

[@anthonymessina2834]

Apple Blossom Festival!!! Those were the days!!!!

[@eriksweet01]

You’ve gotta be shittin’ me. I grew up in Ephrata. Legendary story if true.

[@markz5505]

They were very popular in Austin, Tx. back in the 70"s. Commander Cody, The Riders of the Purple Sage, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Waylon, Willie, Emmylou, and many I can't even remember. Needless to say it was one great big party, I miss the 70"s..

[@michaelspindler8099]

WHAT !!!!! 😮

[@Alexandra_acount3]

@@markz5505 They were all popular in the SF Bay Area we spent many a weekend in Palo Alto at the Circle in the Round

[@tomsreviews238]

I listened to this song on 8-track tape in my van while I was in high school. Can't remember much, but I must have had a great time.

[@garychaney5484]

I only had a 4 track! Till they came out with the 8.

[@Kalvin5]

Riding high in the Super Van!

[@chrismadden2288]

lol

[@johnnykR9]

Saw these guys in Boston in the fall of ‘72. They opened for Hot Tuna. One of the best shows I ever attended

[@Baci302]

That's a great show. What venue did you see it at?

[@johnnykR9]

@@Baci302 it was a long time ago but I think it was the old Boston Music Hall on Tremont St

[@johnnykR9]

@@Baci302 I saw Jeff Beck, Santana and Mahavishnu at different times, in the same place, back in the 70’s. All GREAT performances!

[@jimfritz9503]

Saw them open for Billy Preston. 1973 Kinetic Playground / Chicago. Billy had " Outta Space and Space Race" on the charts. Twas a dark + foggy night.

[@michaelward9880]

Man, I bet it was!!

[@rebel-yell9453]

I saw these guys Dec 27th 1971 at The Sportatorium in Hollywood Florida, it was an outdoor show, the lineup that day and night was like a who's who of music legends, The Johnny WInter Band with Rick Derringer, The Edgar Winter Group, yes Johnny and Edgar jammed together at the end of Johnny's act, The Allman Brothers, shortly after Duane's passing, Elvin Bishop, The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin, his original band including Jerry Goodman from The Flock on violin, Earth Wind and Fire, Commander Cody of course, and Country Joe and The Fish and a Floirda band called Tin House. There was a party going on back stage because by the time Commander Cody came on, right after Elvin Bishop, they were already pretty drunk. The piono became the table top for their pitchers of Coors, everybody in the band was drinking one. Bill Kirchen was so drunk he stepped on his guitar cable, unplugging it and never even noticed, played almost the whole show with it unplugged. They had a wild time on stage, laughing, cutting jokes and making awesome music despite their stupor. It was a crazy day and night of music, Johnny, Edgar and Rick Derringer were the last ones on stage with Johnny Winter's band called Live And. When Commander Cody came on the sun was just starting to set.

[@joegangemi6829]

Dr. Hook and the medicine show. Is another American classic

[@michaelspindler8099]

There is no question in my mind , for me , this IS the GREATEST country band EVER !!!!!

[@heyoldman2003]

truck stop Rock 😎

[@joeblondiemanco8918]

Criminally underrated. My dad had their first album on vinyl and I used to beg him to play Lost In the Ozone. That was my anthem as a child

[@andrewnewman8907]

@@joeblondiemanco8918downing wine and gin musta been a fun way to grow up

[@artprince9163]

Buck Owens & Buckaroos, Merle Haggard & Strangers, Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, Desert Rose Band and a few others might need some attention!

[@joeharris3878]

That brings a tear to my eye. Not just because it's sad, it is indeed, but because I can sing along, though it's been fifty years since I've heard it. Played straight, as it should be, it's a beautiful song.

[@daveyjones2215]

Saw these guys mid seventies,what a band.No gimmicks just genuine feel and talent

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

The old boogie-woogie! I happened to be around for the 100 Years of Berkeley celebration, they gave a free concert at the campus probably 1976, or so. I think it was Kirchen who introduced the crowd to "..the old, broken down Commander." Then after i dropped out of college the first time, twenty-three or four of us showed up and paid cash to go into the Yuma Civic Center and they played for us like we were at Woodstock. They scraped a down-on-his-luck looking steel-player for the show from some obscure cellar who was fantastic! Great fun.

[@horacecrider4960]

Ditto to that Davey

[@georgeescaped6035]

yeah i remember that.. 10 dollar bag of Mexican brown 1/3 seeds and stems 1/3 leaf the rest some compacted dried out buds with small leaves oh yeah a little bit of dirt also ! great song.. great band!!

[@drewamasterpiece5268]

Don't forget the rats and lizards.

[@ricktudor402]

@@drewamasterpiece5268 We called it Mexican Mud.

[@altpotus6913]

Ah, yes. Those we're the days...

[@michaelporter8531]

@@ricktudor402 We called it Mexican Ditchweed

[@georgewarren8722]

Saddest song ever written!

[@jakespeed63]

Such an underrated band. So damn good. As for the haters out there, of modern music. You're listening to the wrong radio station. No shortage of cool Americana music out there today.

[@kurtfoulke5130]

Loved Billy's melancholic take on this early recording

[@donindri]

Haven’t heard that song in almost 50 years. Forgot how cool it was! 😎thanks for posting

[@altpotus6913]

Yup, been as long time...

[@Fuzzbucket3358]

Smoke a joint to celebrate

[@markz5505]

@Bru Rred You missed out on Freedom. If we keep fighting maybe we can get it back, I hope.....

[@johnstallings4049]

@@Fuzzbucket3358" .. everybody tells me there's other ways to get high..." 👁️💓🎵💕🍄🍬❄️🌎❄️😂✌️🍷

[@johngiraldi1150]

Played guitar on a 2007 gig in Rochester NY with Commander Cody (aka George Frayne). This tune was in the setlist.

[@monoped8437]

i think it was on the set list from inception!

[@nedgentz5740]

One of my all-time favorite bands

[@jamesbarta5452]

beautiful

[@jackjohnson7396]

50 years ago, can't be right. But it is sadly!

[@curtisconrad3668]

Where did it go so fast?

[@stereodreamer23]

Bill Kirchen looks so YOUNG in this video. I've been a huge fan of his for decades, and have seen him dozens of times. He is probably one of the most talented--and under-rated--guitarists in the history of rock-and-roll...

[@cravinbob]

Read some comments and you will find "under-rated " is the most overused phrase on youtube. STOP!

[@Formula-602]

@@cravinbob ok..as great as Bill is....ask 1,000 people on the street,who he is..How many will know?.Sounds like underrated to me!

[@waterfordrs22]

@@Formula-602 - ask a thousand good guitar players, plenty will know.

[@randy472]

Maybe we can agree on under-recognized, but not under-rated by those who know of his work? Glad you're enthusiastically promoting him. I'll join you!

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

Don't forget Andy stien

[@mrchewbacahimself7807]

Literally one of the saddest songs ever written

[@LuisRamirez-yg5cw]

Any stoner will understand 😅😭

[@ponyboygarfunkel1675]

This one sent me time tripping, and planted a smile on my dour face. The lyrics rolled right off my tongue, like it was 1976 at Slippery Rock State College, and I was a lonely teenage bronkin' buck...

[@waukivorycopse2402]

Superlative name, man!

[@jdwilder666]

I recall watching these guys at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin. That was when it was all about music and good vibes! It launched the likes of Jerry Jeff, Willie and Waylon and all the boys and girls who made music for all the right reasons!

[@mikec573]

Man the memory of smoking with my ex father in law and him playing and singing this song. Rest in peace Dennis Gajewski! Miss ya Ole man.

[@jimfritz9503]

The sax/ violin player, Andy Stein, was in the movie " PRARIE HOME COMPANION". He was in the real house band. Great player !

[@walkshills]

Andy would join with the Commander to give a comeuppance to a local music critic in Austin that somewhat berated the band musicianship. Cody and Andy came out alone at the Armadillo, dressed in tuxes and tails; Andy played viola, I think, and with Cody on the piano, they proceeded to do Mozart. Very formal and note perfect. And then Cody said, "F**k you xxxxxxx" to the music critic as the audience roared. That's the way it was in the '70s there. The ambiance of the times came through in their music; they became the house band at the 'Dillo for a long time. When there was a headline band, Asleep at the Wheel would open for them, all for a $3 ticket. It was simply great music by both groups that everyone could afford. A professor at UT has all the video and recordings, but there has been a ton of problems with copyrights and releases, so nothing has ever been put out. But it is preserved, all the music and video. I was there the day the Armadillo opened, Aug. 7, 1970, and there the last night...it fed a deep hunger in Austin for music in the 70s.

[@walkshills]

That is: 'was not a headline band'...

[@jimfritz9503]

@@walkshills We saw C. Cody open for Billy Preston around 1973. He had an instrumental ( Space Race )? on the radio. Big hit song. C. Cody was great . I've been a fan since the 1st album. I bought it just because of the cover/ the music was better than the cover art. Win / win.

[@margaretdurner2224]

Brings back great memories at U of M and seeing them in the bars around Ann Arbor.

[@theoriginalchefboyoboy6025]

Great "last song of the night as we close the bar" tune. And it pairs nicely with "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"...

[@Formula-602]

And..Coming down again......by The Stones......

[@stevenbaty6247]

Bill Kirchin and Too Much Fun played at a local dive every week for many years in Northern Virginia. He is one of the best. It never occurred to me that he was young once! Thanks for the post!

[@paragongzzz]

Was at the Sunset Grille every Thursday for years and many of the Sunday shows before they stopped...

[@stevenbaty6247]

@@paragongzzz Cool, I was sitting next to you on more than one occasion. Great memories.

[@dennis652]

I was a Grillbilly too and there almost every Thursday. When I first started seeing him there with Jeff and Dave they didn't even charge a cover. Then came Johnny and Jack and after a while you couldn't hardly get in the place. I miss those days.

[@stevenbaty6247]

@@dennis652 We lived in a very special time and place. DC was and remains a world class music town. Lisner, Warner, Fort Dupont, Blues Alley, Cellar Door, Desperados. What memories. Thanks for posting.

[@dennis652]

Steven... Don't forget the Bayou...

[@dstobinski27]

I was literally down to seeds and stems the first time I heard this. It came on the radio as I was running my leftovers through the sieve for the fourth or fifth time trying to get a joint to relieve some misery.

[@smallywaters7063]

Their understated stage presence belies the genius of each artist in this band.

[@carterc9171]

as a beginner steel player myself, i’m in no place to judge the west virginia creeper in this clip from 1971, but he clearly wasn’t on par with the rest of the band, he was just a guy their age that had a steel guitar and could play it with reasonable competence. the bands classic lineup didn’t come until the next year when steel legend bobby black joined.

[@johndonlon1611]

Bill Kirchen and the rest of these guys are rock gods. I treasure "Live at the Armadillo World Headquarters" (1974). Beyond excellent.

[@brushcountry6361]

I was there.

[@charlesseymour1482]

I was a big fan at AWH. Saw the gods of music of the 70s. And brother ray from ASATW. A sleep at the wheel.

[@mzinns]

I think this is West Virginia Creeper on pedal steel. When Bobby Black came in as their steel guitarist, the band took a major jump in sound, timing and quality. Bobby Black’s contribution was huge.

[@dawgj99]

Bobby Blue Be Bad

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

Well, he was still dragging the bar up and down the neck, and that's okay.

[@mandograssable]

@@scrunchymacscruff1244 LOL Yeah I noticed that.

[@petermcculloch4933]

They were a great band.

[@johnjarpe3494]

My uncles were in Ann Arbor around this time and somehow the "Ozone" album made its way into our fairly thin collection of contemporary records back in the Seventies and it became one of my go to records for many years and I am lucky that even today I can't shake it from my sonic recollection. In 2001 I think Andy Stein the fidel player was a member of Garrison Keillor's radio band and he got all of the "Lost Plant Airmen" back together for a show at St. Paul's F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater which fell on the night that I was fly to N. Y. C. For my vacation. I couldn't reschedule so I had to miss what my uncle told me was a great show.

[@BC-ui9yt]

Wondered if it was Andy on the fiddle. Had no idea he was part of this band, back when I was listening faithfully to PHC

[@andrewbowen8122]

Lol Bill Kirtchen looking like he’s had more than just the seeds n stems here.

[@Free1108]

Lol, that’s good!…and I believe you’re right! My “lol” was literal, I really did Laugh Out Loud!! 🤣

[@andrewbowen8122]

@@Free1108 lol jolly good. So funny as I’ve dug Bill Kirtchen ever since I found out he had played with Nick Lowe but he looks straight as owt nowadays 😂

[@francinecorry633]

Ludes?

[@chuckyanus3563]

Early 1970s, sophomore year of college - every Friday at the end of the school day my 8-track of this album was put on full blast in the dorm and well, let's just say the evening always started off right when Commander Cody was playing.

[@betterfasterstronger0]

Plenty of weed, eh?

[@Daniel-ow2io]

I have the album. Had it a long time. They had a sad song titled Mama Hated Diesels among others/

[@sharonelliott2366]

I remember that one for sure

[@topixfromthetropix1674]

How about "Looking at a World thru a windshield?"

[@Daniel-ow2io]

@@topixfromthetropix1674 Oh Yeah!

[@derykbarker9634]

Saw CC a couple of times in London in 1973; dragged a friend who didn't like country music along to their show at the Rainbow. 3 hours later he was a country music fan. It was either this or Mama Hated Diesels that was introduced as "the first heartbreak of the night"...

[@coachhannah2403]

@@derykbarker9634 - George advertises him music as "feel good music."

[@jeffarcher400]

Now I'm crying in my take out food 😭.

[@tooberetta]

Man there's alot of memories in a tune like this.

[@sxsboy2253]

I saw them at the Paramount Theater in Seattle 1977. They KNOW how to put on a show. Best I’ve ever been to.

[@eddunn4161]

Nice to here great music something that people today have no clue of

[@doughboy8821]

This song got me thru rough times and still does

[@OverlandOne]

Awesome! I first heard this song in the mid 70's while in college in the south. It was very popular in school.

[@williedaniels3882]

A great seminal band from the greatest decade of music too! I dealt with my own issue of "seeds and stems" back then too.

[@sherryking1787]

I was thinking about this song just last night. What a pleasure to have grown up in a time when songs had words and they actually described what was going on in life. Real stuff. Can't beat it.

[@Laakona]

I first heard this on WBCN 104.5 FM Boston Stereo Rock (America's first stereo FM rock station) when it came out in 1971.

[@ponderosalemons]

Amazing footage! I love this song.

[@joeyricefried9621]

Heard this on Spotify. What a GREAT song!!

[@renmichael2055]

Always liked these guys

[@ronduff4325]

I just thought of this song so I searched it . AWESOME ! Brings back memories.

[@bradstephan7886]

One of my favorite bands during my class of '72 high school daze.

[@Acein3055]

Great song. Thanks.

[@uncledan7500]

What a treat , I've been interested in Cody ,and Capt. Beef heart.

[@Formula-602]

Together...that would have been amazing!

[@dannyc1174]

Vintage KIRCHEN! Yeah, Bill - you had it an' ya still got it (even the recitation), son!

[@eddiejansen3918]

I'd never heard that song before. Really good stuff!

[@MsLouise1960]

First time to my ears. This is true to many ears I believe x

[@gregoryvonstolz1593]

Even in the early 80 s me and my friends as Surfers in Australia played these guys all the time. All time band Real music real muso’s

[@ivanmay7890]

RIP Commander Cody aka George Frayne.

[@1978garfield]

I hope someone does make a Commander Cody documentary!

[@horacecrider4960]

a great tune....

[@jimkeogh8552]

Thank you for posting this version of a classic. One of my favorite perty bands of all time. A proper balance of "alone again on a Saturday night" with the cynnical humor with which to survive that Saturday night.

[@howardk6031]

saw these guys several times. fun band

[@ronshalita]

Looks around for my bong!

[@dawgj99]

One of my Fav bands. Never saw this version. Thanks. What a bunch of nerds. Awesome band

[@JaneStillwater7-11]

Damn, I remember being totally in love with this band back in 1970. Thanks.

[@bobhuntsman]

Saddest song ever writ. . .

[@jsdhesmith2011]

Man, ain’t nothing like it today

[@josega6338]

The guy singing and playing guitar has a look very close to some Hapsburg kings of Spain!

[@NickRatnieks]

370 plus comments when I typed this! It just goes to show how popular this band was and still is. It's good that Bill, Andy, Bobby and John have come together to record again as the LPA. Such a multi-faceted band who just knew how to entertain at a high level. I saw them on their first ever gig in the UK- the Reading Festival in August 1973- they got off the plane at Heathrow and drove that 20 odd miles straight to the festival to perform- pretty much the same set that was recorded the next month for the Live From Deep In The Heart Of Texas album.

[@hog8801080]

Nice listening to music as recorded and not edited by computers

[@ronkeeney1752]

Howdy Cody fans! FYI: Bill Kirchen reportedly will be recreating the 1974 Armadillo World Headquarters live recording concert/ entire setlist at a concert venue here in Austin, Sunday, May 26.

[@Acein3055]

The group's leader and co-founder was pianist and vocalist George Frayne IV, alias Commander Cody (born July 19, 1944 in Boise, Idaho, died September 26, 2021 in Saratoga Springs, New York).

[@matthewstepp6044]

I just got this album (Ozone) on cassette recently at an estate sale. I was there mostly to dig the crates of records, but grabbed this one too in the pile. Great choice. the live material is great too. thanks for posting.

[@BurntOrangeHorn78]

Saw them twice at Arnadillo World Headquarters.

[@randallalan4221]

I went there once back around 78-79 and have no recollection of who was playing but I had a good time. Ha!

[@robc.5745]

A true oldie and a goody, I had the 8 track, Think I wore it out.

[@deepwater2652]

Yup - when you heard the "death warble" from your 8-track, it was all over with...

[@flamencoprof]

A school mate, friend and flatmate of mine played a Commander Cody LP when my new wife and I called on him around '72. Sadly, I took little notice. Since then I've gotten over Led Zep, Cream & Hendrix, branching out to many musics, including Country. I wish I had taken more notice at the time, and trusted my friend's judgement a little more, because I like this. I even understand the title. I also have an mp3 of Hot Rod Lincoln and a Telecaster guitar (which spotted in the video) but never connected either to this.

[@TheRockMorton]

I thought I heard Willie Nelson. And then I saw Commander Cody. The seeds and stems of time.

[@spreckrosekrans667]

Awesome song - today’s pampered youth never had to walk through the snow to get to school or deal with seeds and stems

[@tomlehr861]

Good old daze

[@walkertongdee]

WTF dude you are wasted and make no sense

[@tomlehr861]

@@walkertongdee dont bogart dude

[@richardmills5326]

Aye we smoked some shit through an empty can

[@johndef5075]

😂🚬

[@drumminsonlive9199]

Pure Gold...

[@cr82558]

Saddest country song of all time

[@harmonicasplay1608]

"Mama Hated Diesels" is another bonafide tear jerker by CC&HLPAM

[@edwardmiller4709]

Thanks! Classic stuff!! Good dope!!! Great band!!!!

[@rjwh67220]

The saddest song ever written.

[@jmccullough]

Man, they all look young.

[@timfrench3499]

Got to see these guys so many times in ann arbor and Ferndale. Got a picture with the good comander after a show at the magic bag. We used to hitchhike to ann arbor when we were in 9th grade to sneak into shows. Ah the good old days!

[@rickbabcock6397]

They had us dancing on the tables at The Mule Shoe bar Breckenridge Colorado.

[@bobaldo2339]

Very nice! Thanks for posting it.

[@markmiddaugh9359]

Great song.

[@vikingblood0408]

Love this band! Saw them back in the day at the Colonial Tavern on Yonge St. Toronto. Sat in the upper deck overlooking the band! Something I'll never forget! The Colonial is now long gone! Demolished and just a vacant space left. Shameful!

[@michaelspindler8099]

ENDLESS Thanks for puttin’ this up there 😁😁😁

[@MsRmaclaren]

Brings back memories of cruising in my 68 Chevelle Malibu 396.

[@b_uppy]

Thank you! Been trying to find these musicians' name they performed under. Very underrated.

[@tomshields3164]

Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen

[@b_uppy]

@@tomshields3164 Got that from the title...

[@dennisraulin3546]

www.billkirchen.com/official Bill is still playing

[@samansun]

George Frayne (C.Cody): Piano Bill Kirchen: Lead guitar and lead vocals West Virginia Creeper: Pedal Steel Guitar Lance Dickerson: Drums John Tichy: Rhythm Guitar Andy Stein: Fiddle and Sax Buffalo Bruce Barlow: Bass Billy C. Farlow: Harmonica and vocals

[@toomanyguitars9426]

Bill Kirchen (singing) lives in Austin and still plays - before Covid anyway. Still goes live on FB every Friday evening from his home.

[@jglasernyc]

I love the version from Deep in The Heart of Texas. Such an underrated band.

[@billiam3367]

Oh wow. Just ran into this. This great band played at UC Santa Cruz in a dining hall in 1972 a couple of times. We looked just like they did and it was great, great fun. Then saw them in update NY about 4 years later and they were just f'in great. They had added Bobby Black on pedal steel and Andy Stein had really come into his own. Billy C. Farlow was of course great and the Commander -- well he was the Commander. Long live CC&HLPA!

[@LutherAmosHouse]

Kirchen’s nickname is “titan of the telecaster”. That’s awesome. The guy with the fiddle look like that character John Reilly played doctor something or another

[@wrericdog]

WOW I thought this was willy nelson singin then I got it, this band early 70s, was a masterpiece, they were a little Dead,Willie etc, then hot rod lincohn song yes I remember , the instruments and band are lost, but great!!

[@mikebingham7189]

Yep I remember 1971 Carbondale, Illinois. Pot sold on the street corner downtown by the theatre and Dairy Queen. I remember this band too. Bang a bong.

[@harvey1954]

My favorite tune by the Airmen. I can remember figuring out the chords to this tune and then learning that harmonica break near the end. It does sound like this was an early rehearsal for the tune.

[@pietop55]

Shoot. It was ten dollar lids! If you were lucky you got a four finger bag! I can put up with stems and seeds again:)

[@michaelroberts3495]

Lid! I haven't heard that word uses in years! A filled 35 mm film can and rice papers made for a great night! Back then of course...wink wink

[@pietop55]

@@michaelroberts3495 of course:)

[@Formula-602]

@@michaelroberts3495 it’s legal now in lots of places..no big deal...He’ll,they deliver here..9 AM -9Pm

[@GratefulZen]

“ I got the down to seeds and stems again blues.”

[@jimschleich8753]

Great clip!! Cool to see them so early in the process!!

[@jamesford8315]

Saw these guys 2 or 6 times in small clubs > 200. They put on the best shows.

[@stephenoneill1805]

Love this sad one from the Airmen.

[@kevsol7665]

I saw them twice one of the funnest groups I’ve ever seen