Robert Calvert Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters Genres:Pop, Rock Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the former Hawkwind member's 1974 album including three bonus tracks. Recorded for United Artists Records, this concept album featured classic songs such as 'Ejection', 'The Rig... more »ht Stuff' and 'The Widowmaker' interwoven with humorous satirical dialogue from Calvert, Jim Capaldi and Viv Stanshall. The musical guests include Hawkwind, Arthur Brown and Brian Eno, making for a unique and legendary album. Atomhenge. 2009.« less
Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the former Hawkwind member's 1974 album including three bonus tracks. Recorded for United Artists Records, this concept album featured classic songs such as 'Ejection', 'The Right Stuff' and 'The Widowmaker' interwoven with humorous satirical dialogue from Calvert, Jim Capaldi and Viv Stanshall. The musical guests include Hawkwind, Arthur Brown and Brian Eno, making for a unique and legendary album. Atomhenge. 2009.
CD Reviews
Robert Calvert - 'Captain Lockheed&The Firefighters (BGO)
Mike Reed | USA | 09/17/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When I heard this CD reissue for the very first time,I thought,"what the...?".Originally released in 1974,the purchaser SHOULD keep in mind of course that 'Captain Lockheed...' is a concept lp by Robert Calvert,who was the resident poet for Hawkwind through out the '70's.Maybe to conceptual for some.For one thing,there's plenty of dialogue.This may be so,but there are some tunes here,that truly hold the test of time.The ORIGINAL versions of "Aerospaceage Inferno","The Right Stuff","Ejection" and "Song Of A Gremlin,Part 2".This may not technically be a Hawkwind lp,but the players backing Calvert(R.I.P.) on this effort are:Dave Brock,Nik Turner,Lemmy,Del Dettmar and Simon King.Need I say more?A great Calvert solo title to have."
One great story with music
R. Recchia | 02/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I recall the days listening to the record in the basement. Sterio cranked up, and the story with music came to life. I think this is one of the best records of the 70's. My older brother had the copy and I could never get him to sell it to me. When you hear it you'll know why it is priceless, and not for sale. Thank you for putting it on cd. I can now share it with my friends. I would recommend this cd to any one. Enjoy."
Beg, borrow, or steal a copy of this CD, spacefans!
R. Recchia | 11/10/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is as close as you'll get to vintage, studio quality Hawkwind in the guise of a "solo" work. Over Dave Brock's "assassin-esque" guitarwork, powered by Lemmy's thunderous bassline, Calvert's opening lyric "A flock of steel eagles tearing by, the ripped-silk scream of the rended sky..." drives this concept album on towards the inevitable "falling starfighter" anthem/dirge, providing ample testimony to Calvert's genius."
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!"
