Search - Robert Calvert :: Capt Lockheed

Total must-have for Hawkwind fans, with comedy thrown in

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 02/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1974's Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters is Robert Calvert's first solo album. It was released on United Artists, no surprise, since that's the label Hawkwind recorded for. In 1977 the album received an American release on the Import Records label (I never realize that LP was available on that label until I found a copy), but doesn't have a gatefold, but does have an insert with the lyrics to all the songs, and even lyrics to the comedy bits the go between the songs. As often, the UK LP has superior packaging.



The album is about how the West German government wanted to purchase the Lockheed F-104, modified and called the F-104G, which turned out to be nothing more than a death trap, with about 30% of the F-104Gs crashing, giving the nickname "The Widowmaker".



Now, it's no surprise this album is a complete must for Hawkwind fans. Not only do these songs sound like Hawkwind, Hawkwind members make guests here, including Lemmy, Simon King, Paul Rudolph, Del Dettmar, Nik Turner, and (only on one cut) Dave Brock. Other guests include Brian Eno, Arthur Brown (he sings on "Song of the Gremlin" Part 1 and 2), Vivian Stanshell, Twink, and even Jim Capaldi. First you get treated with some comedy, before the first real song kicks in, "Aerospaceage Inferno". This piece starts off with Lemmy's unmistakable use of fuzz bass, and the song gets rocking, showing it to be just as great as the best of Hawkwind. The next two songs are in the same vein, "The Widowmaker" and "The Right Stuff". There is no getting around the Hawkwind sound, but no one is surprised, but these are classics, as far as I'm concerned. "Song of the Gremlin Part 1" is a bit different, with some nice use of synthesizer, and great vocals from Arthur Brown. The drum track has that almost '80s big drum sound, although this is from 1974. "Hero With a Wing" really blew me away, a rather nice, mellow piece with a sinister feel to it. "Ejection" is another similar rocking piece to "The Aerospaceage Inferno", "The Widowmaker" and "The Right Stuff", and in fact Hawkwind included this song in their own set (as demonstrated on California Brainstorm, recorded in 1990, and while Calvert was sadly no longer with us by 1988, it was one of the then-current members, probably Richard Chadwick or Alan Davey who did the vocals, although sounding nothing like Calvert, still sounded silly). "Song of the Gremlin Part 2" is a rather twisted piece, reminding me of the more twisted moments of Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come's Galactic Zoo Dossier (1971) (it helps that Brown was on this cut). "Catch a Falling Starfighter" is a great closing piece, with great vocal harmonies. I don't know why, but I swore I heard that song long ago when I was a kid, but I never heard of Hawkwind or Robert Calvert as a child.



The album makes mention of a song called "The Widow's Song", but it never actually made it on album. It's my understanding that Nico (as in the Velvet Underground singer for just their debut) was to appear on that song but later scrapped. Apparently a version did get recorded in 1984 with Jill Riches (his wife) and got on one of those Hawkwind comps.



Now I have to say the comedy bits might not be to everyone liking, but the songs themselves are totally killer, and it's the stuff Hawkwind fans should die for! This album comes with my highest recommendation!"