for its subject matter, Curly's Airships sketches images of post-WW1 bravery, obedience and stupidity, resulting in the disaster. The events are seen through the eyes of Curly McLeod, a fictional aviator. Almost all other persons and events though are based on reality, like Lord Thomson, whose part is performed by Peter Hammill. The libretto (a 44-page booklet) contains many 1920s slang words. Cover art The cover art was done by Glide Design of Eastbourne. The front cover shows a picture of Smith as Curly McLeod on fire in period airship officers' uniform. The double CD contains two booklets, one of 44 pages with the libretto, and one of 48 pages with essays, photos of all musicians in their persona, a glossary and bibliography. Track listing The track listing for Curly's Airships comprises twenty-six songs, divided into fifteen chapters. Disc One Chapter One: Curly Comes Through "Voices From A Crystal Set" "Walking Her Out" Chapter Two: Curly's Conducted Tour "Curly Takes Us Up" "Drifting About Like a Bad Smell" Chapter Three: Curly In The Clouds "Curly In The Clouds" Chapter Four: Catastrophe "A Capital Idea" "A Shrieking Of Aluminium" Chapter Five: Curly On Civvy Street "Curly On Civvy Street" Chapter Six: A Great British Compromise "That Imperial Airship Scheme" "From The Sidelines" Chapter Seven: A Kindly Sort Of Cove "A Kindly Sort Of Cove" Chapter Eight: Curly At Cardington "Curly At Cardington" Chapter Nine: Lord Of A Continent "A Creature Of Grace" "A Byronic Sort Of Blighter" Disc Two Chapter Ten: Big Chief And Some Minor Bugs "Big Chief And Some Minor Bugs" Chapter Eleven: Curly's Close Shave "The Canadian Run" "Conan Doyle & The Flying Sieve" "Horrors At Hendon" Chapter Twelve: Cutting The Lady In Half "As Safe As A House" "A Ship Of Fools" Chapter Thirteen: Curly Gets The Creeps "The Night Before" "The Morning After" Chapter Fourteen: Curly Cashes His Chips "Bedford To Hastings" "Hastings To Beauvais" Chapter Fifteen: Carry On Curly "The Muffled Drum" "The Final Taboo" Personnel Judge Smith – vocals and bass & drum tracks John Ellis – electric guitars & EBow, mandolin Hugh Banton – organs & piano Pete Brown – percussion & vocals Rikki Patten – supplementary guitar David Jackson – saxophones & whistle Joe Hinchliff – accordion Ian Fordham – bass guitar & double bass René van Commenée – tabla, ghatam & tambura Tammo Heikens – sitar & tambura David Shaw-Parker –