Rudy Ray Moore The Cockpit

Although the cover lists it as his third, this was actually Rudy Ray Moore's seventh full length comedy album release. After the massive success of Eat Out More Often and This Pussy Belongs To Me in 1970, Moore had developed a formula taking long traditional spoken monologues, or "toasts", and freshening them up for the "now generation" as he would call it. The release of The Cockpit in early 1971 continued this formula and also introduced the world to "Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil's Son-in-law", a character which Moore would later base a feature length film around in 1977. The Cockpit remains one of Mooreís most popular albums. It also needs to be
noted that this was the first time Rudy used completely topless women in his artwork and this may in fact be the first major record release that includes a man on the cover with semi-naked women!

- Mark Jason Murray, Biographer

Rudy Ray's Petey Wheatstraw was inspired by the real deal, an influential blues recording artist from back in the 1930's who spelled it "Peetie" and billed himself not only as the Devilís Son-in-Law but also the High Sheriff From Hell with song titles like "I Want Some Seafood" and "Meat Cutter Blues." Poetic humor. Rhythm and rhyme. That's where Rudy Ray got the name and then turned his jokester character from a comedy bit into a 1976 motion picture... and during the filming where I, Don Randell, first met Rudy Ray Moore.

The Cockpit was recorded in front of a live audience, their great applause an indication of how deeply into Rudy Ray they were with his pimpin'& players sex on wax party album... ghetto street rhymes that help them free their minds and release some pressure. Rudy Ray Moore takes them on a high flyin' wicked ride, in total control at the helm in "The Cockpit."

- Liners Notes by Donald Randell