George Frayne (Commander Cody) Collection on Letterman, 1982-83

1. March 24, 1982. "We're Drinkin', We're Nuts" and panel with Dave.
2. April 22, 1982. "Rock That Boogie" and panel.
3. September 15, 1983. Panel and "We Used to Ride."

[@davecorbin6137]

WOW - don’t know how I missed those - I’ve been a hard core Letterman & Commander Cody fan for years - Thank You !

[@MM-vv8mt]

One of the first albums I bought was CCAHLPA Tales From the Ozone. Went on to buy pretty much his entire catalogue. Still my favorite music to play on long-diatance road trips. George Frayne was a true original.

[@JackSilbert]

Thanks so much, Don. Commander Cody was just a name I'd see from time to time, but from this collection, what a great personality and performer. I wish he'd been on more but I see he took a long hiatus from recording.

[@donaldivey7702]

Thanks for posting the Commander Cody vids. I remember him, always made me smile when he was on Letterman.

[@sloburnjo]

what a breath of fresh air - free spirit - outlier

[@superorangeish]

My man is Lost in the Ozone!! We saw them whenever we could in the 70's.The best!

[@jackoneil3933]

That was fun! I ran into George several year ago playing at a dive bar in Silverton Oregon before the open. We had a burger at the bar and I offered to buy him a drink. He graciously declined saying that in the condition of his liver, he couldn't drink anymore. Sadly however, after he started the gig, fan started buying them drinks and setting them on his keyboard, which he resisted for a while, but eventually started downing them in shotgun style and having a blast! RIP George, and thanks for all the great songs and times!

[@clayz1]

This video: 36 minutes of solid smiles. I wish I could have seen them live.

[@krisscanlon4051]

George seemed weird at midnight in 1982 now he seems just right. Miss you CC aka George Frayne quite a character. Dave was hipping us to all the cool stuff. George was quick witted too

[@CoconutDaddy]

I am so glad for all this I love Commander Cody

[@whisperingmike9424]

My pappy said son you're gonna drive me to drinking if you don't stop driving that hot rod Lincoln

[@superfuzzymomma]

You're amazing Don Giller! We get to know or be reacquainted with these folks who graced our stages. Thank you friend

[@dongiller]

Forgive me, as I don’t recognize the YT name - did you work at Late Night, and if so, in what capacity?

[@superfuzzymomma]

@@dongiller didnt work in that side of the Biz don. Im simple and faithfully your fan

[@dongiller]

@@superfuzzymomma Thanks!!

[@smatchimo645]

@@dongiller since you are active just popping in to say thank you as well. A real treasure trove you have here, all the time it must have taken to upload. Hope you have made enough for some new equipment or at least negate the internet bills! I was born in 86' and never got into Letterman at all until now.

[@dongiller]

@@smatchimo645 Thank you so much. I monetize nothing.

[@jollyroger6258]

Thank you for this. What a beauty, a piece of work this guy was.

[@Gavin_Volure]

Everytime you post a video I have to Google whether the subject just died. Sure enough..... R.I.P. Commander

[@badad0166]

He just left us and I've only now seen past the "Hot Rod Lincoln one hit wonder" phenomenon. He was a delightfully "loose cannon". Real honest. While we'll always have the clips, I'm sorry to not have seen him earlier.

[@xtheunknown4662]

I do the same 😢

[@milart12]

Thank u Don and RIP to Mr. Frayne. I love Letterman's interviewing style in the early days. Much more restrained and humble and, frankly, funnier. He seemed like he was trying too hard when he got to CBS.

[@siggylloyd3566]

Ah, NBC Dave vs. CBS Dave. A truism of a horse that's been beaten dead for decades. Even after all this time, I find myself wondering: who gives a shit?

[@squinkque]

Yep, I only probably watched one or two CBS Letterman's over the years. Damn near caught every episode on NBC. Truth is towards the end of his stint on NBC Dave was becoming more showbiz, only interested in big celebrities. Gone were the days when he'd have on his pals and weirdos.

[@anthonyhiggins4273]

He was great piano master beat big daddy eight too the bar.

[@wsemmons2001]

Thanks!

[@clayz1]

I wore out an 8-track tape of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Back in the day. Weed Whites And Wine might sound familiar to some. This was the 70s then. Great music.

[@andrewnewman8907]

What’s whites? Cocaine? I’m a little younger so I don’t know all that “cool 70s lingo”

[@siggylloyd3566]

13:38 Commander Cody asks "what the F is going on?", listen with volume turned up, and look for Dave's reaction a few seconds later. :-)

[@kevincaldwell9202]

heard it....

[@katiezee2]

good catch

[@katiezee2]

Lost in the Ozone Again ! and Smoke Smoke Smoke that Cigarette... When he mentioned the 7-11 song being played on KFRC radio (San Francisco), I have a feeling the DJ was Russ the Moose Syracuse on midnights.. he was always playing stuff that didn't fly in the 'top 40' daytime hours

[@Hodag71]

KFRC was a great station back in those days.

[@katiezee2]

@@Hodag71 Remember they put on the Magic Mountain thing on Mt Tamalpais, June '67 ?. . that was even before Monterey Pop

[@paulienebz]

RIP Dear Commander.

[@DDechoes87]

My kind of guy!

[@BradNorth]

Saw the band around 1975 in Vancouver, Canada. Never heard of them, but they opened for The Grateful Dead and blew them off the stage. Not fair for any band to have to follow them, they were true entertainers (esp. CC and Billy C. Farlow) and got the crowd totally pumped!

[@dongiller]

Unlikely it was in ‘75 as the Dead were on hiatus that year, save some local S.F. gigs. So more likely before or after that year.

[@BradNorth]

Before 1975 "around" @@dongiller

[@benkleschinsky]

And I'm down to seeds and stems again too. RIP!

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

The song Tina Louise

[@adash66]

"I Asked Hunter he said he didn't do it!" Classic!

[@gerrytinder3602]

Out-freaking-standing. Just like a second Christmas!!!🤠🎹🎸🎹🎸.

[@dennisst.pierre210]

Miss Yu George from a big fan at Chan’s in Woonsocket .RI

[@trevorcoole4197]

he dosnt blink...just moves his eyes round !!!,,,

[@stannowak5086]

George was wound up man His mind just races . I seen him in '74 .

[@Hodag71]

30:20 Love the comment about playing at the B&B Tap in Oshkosh. Not only did the Commander play there, he was a regular customer in the late 60's & early 70's. On night I spotted him at the end of the bar by the front window where we could observe the shenanigans on the sidewalk. That night was the epitome of the song lyric "A whole lotta things that I never done, But I ain't never had too much fun!"

[@sloburnjo]

"Fire Island and sucks" = crowd chuckles & Dave grimaces.

[@MM-vv8mt]

Ah, that old piano pounder, The Commander!

[@Joe-mk2pj]

I got drunk with George one night in Minneapolis

[@gigishapiro]

RIP George

[@theshimmerglimmers105]

does anyone remember a bit from letterman’s morning show where paul makes a little toy nativity scene and then dave said it needs snow and blasts it with a fire extinguisher? it was one of the funniest things i ever saw but i can’t find any reference to it anywhere. i’m starting to wonder if i imagined it. edited to say thanks for all the effort in making these collections! they’re priceless!

[@dongiller]

It could not have been the 1980 morning show - Paul wasn’t a part of it. You must mean Dave’s Late Night.

[@peppercat8718]

LOL, would love to see that :)

[@kevincaldwell9202]

Me & the Guys watched more than a few CC&TLPA (Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen) Concerts back in the swinging 70's...George was always goofing around during the music . We both lived in Saratoga NY at the same time. We still play their music at parties, yes, I still party at 65.

[@peppercat8718]

Good for you Kevin, live it up!

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

The original band was the best they miss andy stein

[@edengarden8815]

Steve Jordan on drums

[@dongiller]

Part of the Late Night band for four years.

[@edengarden8815]

@@dongiller yeah.. that solid Steve groove 👌

[@squinkque]

Anybody know who the guy was on the phone at the beginning of the video?

[@dongiller]

He was an audience member who was selected for a “Bad Phone Call” segment

[@RolandDuke]

Good post as always! In that first segment he grabbed the bass player and kinda shook him? What’s up with that? Was he not singing back up? Was CC pissed that he was sitting? Idk was kinda weird. Also RIP CC

[@kevincaldwell9202]

Not pissed, just his odd personality..Bass player was having fun too.

[@beardymcj2026]

I don't know if you take requests or even read messages, but if you do, can you do a compilation of Johnny Dark, The Oldest CBS Paige( Tits up!) and one of the guy that would come on randomly and yell F*** You at Dave, Paul, and Alan? I feel like they were both around the same time, maybe the Johnny Dark ones a little earlier. Mid 2000s I think

[@dongiller]

Johnny Dark is definitely in the works. The F Y guy not so much.

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

Lost in the ozone again

[@stevennielsen7500]

RIP George