This quadruple-disc set contains the first seven episodes of CBS Radio's final broadcast comedy series, The Stan Freberg Show. These programs have never been heard in their entirety since their one-time original broadcasts during the summer of 1957. Freberg also became involved with this... [+] Expand

This quadruple-disc set contains the first seven episodes of CBS Radio's final broadcast comedy series, The Stan Freberg Show. These programs have never been heard in their entirety since their one-time original broadcasts during the summer of 1957. Freberg also became involved with this collection, going so far as to record an amusing and informative "Programme Forward" in 1996 with fellow show veterans June Foray and Peter Leeds. Much of the original broadcasts success was due, at least in part, to Freberg's "theatre of the mind" concept. Along with Foray and Leeds, Freberg's ensemble cast also included long-time collaborator Daws Butler, as well as the exquisite musical timing of Billy May and the CBS Radio Orchestra. In unison they allowed Freberg to pull off silly satires as well as daring and insightful social commentaries such as "Incident at Las Varoces" from their maiden broadcast. The multiple talents of each cast member are consistently tested and the boundaries of what Freberg can make a radio audience believe were constantly challenged. No better example exists than his duel-lead roles as both interviewer and subject during the "Abominable Snowman" sketches. Here, his natural timing and mastery of innumerable speech patterns allows him to pull off what could only be attempted electronically by anyone else. Concurrent with these network broadcasts, Freberg simultaneously released sides for Capitol Records and several are preformed here. Among the notable inclusions are "Yellow Rose of Texas," "Rock Island Line," and the poignant satire of "Lawrence Welk" -- which would be re-titled "Wunnerful, Wunnerful" and released as a double A-sided single shortly after radio show was cancelled. Some years later, Freberg compiled several long players including ...With the Original Cast, Face the Funnies, and Madison Ave. Werewolf. These recordings featured sketches from the radio series with many of the same primary players. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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