A Night at the Met
Artist: Robin Williams
Released: 1986

With Robin Williams at the cusp of what would become a very successful film career, A Night at the Met served as a kind of standup swan song for him. He had already made a considerable impression on the public, both as the lovable alien Mork and through his frenetically paced standup routines, but cocaine addiction threatened to derail his... [+] Read More

With Robin Williams at the cusp of what would become a very successful film career, A Night at the Met served as a kind of standup swan song for him. He had already made a considerable impression on the public, both as the lovable alien Mork and through his frenetically paced standup routines, but cocaine addiction threatened to derail his skyrocketing career -- the fuel for his fire was serving to burn him out as well. Cleansed of that addiction, A Night at the Met found Williams full of the same energy and maniacal pace that endeared him to his audience in the first place -- only, this time, the fuel was strictly internal. Overcoming addiction left Williams with a smorgasbord of hilarious and poignant material at his disposal and his wry and intelligent musings on the dangers of overindulgence held extra weight, because he had been there. Ruminations on drugs, relationships, and the Reagan administration were observationally dead-on and served up with a side of Williams' trademark, telling sentimentality. The sentimental and the hilarious reached a crescendo when the subject matter turned to the birth of his son. Among the pregnancy and pee jokes, Williams injected serious concerns for the future with a glimmer of hope that all might not be as dismal as it seemed. Hilarious, poignant, outrageous, and heartwarming, A Night at the Met came at a unique time -- capturing Robin Williams at both his career and personal best. ~ J. Scott McClintock, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Comedian
Artist: Eddie Murphy
Released: 1983

By the time Eddie Murphy's Comedian was released, he was already on top of the comedy world, as well as one of Hollywood and television's most important stars. He was already known for taking standup comedy and pushing it to the limit, but on Comedian he takes it one step further and in the process influenced an entire generation of aspiring... [+] Read More

By the time Eddie Murphy's Comedian was released, he was already on top of the comedy world, as well as one of Hollywood and television's most important stars. He was already known for taking standup comedy and pushing it to the limit, but on Comedian he takes it one step further and in the process influenced an entire generation of aspiring young comedians to develop standup in a similar fashion. None of the topics Murphy covers here are necessarily groundbreaking, but the manner in which he sets up and executes joke after joke is almost like a machine gun: while one joke has unfolded and the audience is recovering, he's firing off the next round with excellent timing and accuracy. Comedian is a classic and one not easily bested in the comedy album world. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing In 3-D
Artist: Weird Al Yankovic
Released: 1984

With an album behind him, Weird Al Yankovic makes much of the improvements expected of new artists when they get a second crack at a release a year later. He premieres the concept of his own band, basically well-trimmed types that looked good in music videos. They also play very well as a unit, so whatever image augmentation was accomplished is... [+] Read More

With an album behind him, Weird Al Yankovic makes much of the improvements expected of new artists when they get a second crack at a release a year later. He premieres the concept of his own band, basically well-trimmed types that looked good in music videos. They also play very well as a unit, so whatever image augmentation was accomplished is just a side benefit. While Yankovic's first album started off poorly and took awhile to build momentum, this one is like a garage door opening to reveal a shiny rocketship about to blast off. When it does, it is "Eat It," a satire of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" that can be considered the first kick in the rear the mighty gloved one received on his way down from the throne of pop music. Making the song a tribute to stuffing one's face with food takes away its phony edge of nastiness without removing any of its rhythmic power. In fact, this version rocks harder than the original, and Rick Derringer's solo in the middle cuts Eddie Van Halen to shreds. From there, it would seem the man is on a roll, but listeners may wind up stifling yawns all the way to the side-ending "Polkas on 45," Yankovic's first attempt at what evolved into a repeated device on subsequent albums, the extended, snappy polka medley in which an incredible variety of pop hits appear, sometimes for only a line or two. The fine musicianship of the leader and his associates is revealed in these performances, which tend to be some of Yankovic's best work. Playing medleys such as this is not easy, and doing it with such energy and wit is even more admirable. The original songs on this record are just as forgettable as any Yankovic had come up with so far. There is no chance of pleasing 11 year olds with any of the originals, despite the fact that many critics feel this is the level of mind Yankovic is aiming at when he gets in the songwriting mode. It is not that their age estimate is too high, either. No children of any age have expressed much interest in the original material here. The thematic thrust of In 3-D comes full circle with the hilarious "Theme From Rocky XIII," often known as "The Rye or the Kaiser." Once again the height of pomposity -- in this case, the character created by Sylvester Stallone -- gets knocked down to knee size by setting the action in a deli, round two probably consisting of a jar of pickles being opened. When this album is good, it is good enough to eat, so "Eat It" already. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May
Artist: Mike Nichols & Elaine May
Released: 1960

This disc contains excerpts from the Broadway presentation of An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1960). The show, which opened October 8, 1960, received unanimously stellar reviews from critics and audiences alike. The stage performance was in many ways a precursor to the British and subsequent American television program Whose Line Is... [+] Read More

This disc contains excerpts from the Broadway presentation of An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1960). The show, which opened October 8, 1960, received unanimously stellar reviews from critics and audiences alike. The stage performance was in many ways a precursor to the British and subsequent American television program Whose Line Is It Anyway? The premise of both concern ensemble improvisations of scenarios as suggested, at least in part, by the audience. As he had done on their previous debut LP Improvisations to Music (1958), pianist Marty Rubenstein occasionally accompanies the two with incidental ambience. Within their dialogues, Nichols and May unleash a dry, acerbic, and consistently intellectual humor. Their dialogues are deeply rooted in astute observations of the absurdities that perpetually bombard the modern everyman. The succinctly titled "Telephone" is a classic bit of spontaneity that finds Nichols attempting, futilely, to obtain a phone number and place a call to one "George Kaplan...that's 'K' as in knife...." There are numerous examples of the amazing and flawless timing that exists between May and Nichols. This is especially evident as May's three distinct personas interact with Nichols. The three-part "Adultery" examines a surreptitious rendezvous between a man and a woman as might be portrayed by an American, an English, and a French couple. While the similarities are striking, the differing contrasts are even more arresting. The poignant "Mother and Son" pits an aerospace engineer named Arthur against his overbearing, nagging, and nervous mother. The guilt that Arthur feels in failing to call his mother on a regular basis turns into a psychological examination as the pair revert back to a relationship they had when Arthur was emotionally dependant on the happiness of his mother. The freshness of interaction between Nichols and May remains as timeless to modern ears as it must have to the audiences that packed Broadway's Golden Theatre during the fall of 1960. The cinematic qualities that both actors bring to the various scenes throughout An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May foreshadow the illustrative careers they would respectively garner. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing A Place for My Stuff!
Artist: George Carlin
Released: 1981

After taking some time off to get his life together, George Carlin came back with A Place for My Stuff!, a combination of live material and some that had been recorded in the studio (fake announcements, commercials, and interviews). The live standup bits are among the best he's done, though there is a definite nasty edge to some of it (notably... [+] Read More

After taking some time off to get his life together, George Carlin came back with A Place for My Stuff!, a combination of live material and some that had been recorded in the studio (fake announcements, commercials, and interviews). The live standup bits are among the best he's done, though there is a definite nasty edge to some of it (notably the short track "Abortion," which is little more than a cheap shot followed by crowd reaction). Still, the majority of the release shows Carlin revitalized and firing on all cylinders. ~ Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing ...And It's Deep, Too!: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992)
Artist: Richard Pryor
Released: 2000

Although some might give the nod to Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor was arguably the most important, influential, and groundbreaking standup comic in America during the latter half of the '70s. Pryor's brilliantly perceptive, confrontational dissections of racial injustice paved the way for countless African-American comedians to tackle similar... [+] Read More

Although some might give the nod to Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor was arguably the most important, influential, and groundbreaking standup comic in America during the latter half of the '70s. Pryor's brilliantly perceptive, confrontational dissections of racial injustice paved the way for countless African-American comedians to tackle similar subject matter, and his brutal honesty about his personal life lent an extra depth to the edginess of his performances. Much of Pryor's best-known material appeared on the Warner Bros. label, and that body of work is reissued on CD for the first time as the mammoth nine-disc box set ...And It's Deep, Too!: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992). The leap between the first and second discs (the albums Richard Pryor and That Nigger's Crazy, recorded in 1968 and 1974, respectively) is astonishing when heard back to back; Pryor moves from relatively traditional standup to inflammatory, foul-mouthed, deadly accurate send-ups of white America and its still poor treatment of African-Americans. Pryor only gets sharper over the rest of the box, which also contains the albums ...Is It Something I Said?, Bicentennial Nigger, Wanted: Live in Concert (Parts 1 & 2), Live on the Sunset Strip, and Here and Now, which take you up to 1983. There's also a bonus disc titled "That "African-American" Is STILL Crazy: Good S**t from the Vaults," which compiles recorded outtakes from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, plus an 80-page booklet packed with tributes, informative essays, excerpts from interviews and Pryor's autobiography, and much more. The set may be huge and somewhat costly, but it's also a fitting tribute to one of the true giants of American comedy. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Class Clown
Artist: George Carlin
Released: 1972

Comedian George Carlin's definitive monologue was delivered on 1972's Class Clown album in the form of "Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say on Television." While the majority of routines on Class Clown dealt with Carlin's self examination surrounding his Irish Catholic upbringing, he saved his controversial tour de force as the album's grand... [+] Read More

Comedian George Carlin's definitive monologue was delivered on 1972's Class Clown album in the form of "Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say on Television." While the majority of routines on Class Clown dealt with Carlin's self examination surrounding his Irish Catholic upbringing, he saved his controversial tour de force as the album's grand finale. The record buying public embraced the album; however, the FCC and Supreme Court held the routine as the epitome of tastelessness, threatening to yank the license of any station that dare play it over public airwaves. George Carlin ran with the torch Lenny Bruce lit a decade earlier and much to Carlin's credit, he put the dirty word issue together in a more concise and universal manner; something that, at times, escaped hipster Bruce. Class Clown was reissued on CD by Atlantic in 2000. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Little David Years: 1971-1977
Artist: George Carlin
Released: 1999

During the early '70s, few comedians were as influential, controversial, or funny as George Carlin. Picking up where Lenny Bruce left off, Carlin became the counterculture comedian, vigorously pushing the limits of good taste while making pointed political and social commentaries. He did this in concert, but also did it on wax -- for the label... [+] Read More

During the early '70s, few comedians were as influential, controversial, or funny as George Carlin. Picking up where Lenny Bruce left off, Carlin became the counterculture comedian, vigorously pushing the limits of good taste while making pointed political and social commentaries. He did this in concert, but also did it on wax -- for the label Little David. Prior to signing with Little David, he cut an album in 1967, but that was before his transformation to radical joke-maker. With 1971's FM & AM, he debuted his new routine, and the results were as scintillating and hysterical on vinyl as they were in concert. Over the next six years, he cut five other records for the label, including the classic Class Clown, which contained the first recording of his notorious "Seven Dirty Words" routine. As the decade progressed, he became a bigger star, turning out nearly a record a year. Carlin's last album for Little David, 1977's On the Road, suggested that he was entering a bit of a slump, due to both hard work and various addictions. He took a full four years off from recording, re-emerging in 1981 with A Place for My Stuff!, his first album for Atlantic. That was a very good record, but the core of Carlin's legacy was in his six albums for Little David. All those albums, plus a disc of non-LP highlights, are reissued on the seven-disc box set The Little David Years: 1971-1977. While it's possible to hear some decline on the last two (maybe three) LPs, this is all prime Carlin. He never lost it -- indeed, some routines, like "Baseball vs. Football," were even improved over the years -- but it's still great to hear the original versions of these seminal bits. Amazingly, some of this still sounds controversial, even dangerous (although it is true that "Seven Dirty Words" has lost some of its bite over the years). It's a big, expensive, exhaustive box set, but for the serious Carlin fan or comedy listener, it's an essential purchase. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Best of Bob Newhart - WARNER BROTHERS
Artist: Bob Newhart
Released: 1990

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Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Remains of Tom Lehrer
Artist: Tom Lehrer
Released: 2000

Rhino's three-disc box set The Remains of Tom Lehrer presents 75 tracks from the satirist's four decade career. The first disc concentrates on Lehrer's studio output, including pieces from his 1953 debut Songs by Tom Lehrer and his 1959 album More of Tom Lehrer, as well as a 1996 version of "I Got It from Agnes" and "That's Mathematics," a... [+] Read More

Rhino's three-disc box set The Remains of Tom Lehrer presents 75 tracks from the satirist's four decade career. The first disc concentrates on Lehrer's studio output, including pieces from his 1953 debut Songs by Tom Lehrer and his 1959 album More of Tom Lehrer, as well as a 1996 version of "I Got It from Agnes" and "That's Mathematics," a previously unreleased track from 1993. Disc two gathers his '59 performances at MIT and Harvard, captured on the albums Tom Lehrer Revisited and An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer (which offered many of the same selections as their studio predecessors). The third disc is a mix of live and studio tracks, including the material from the album That Was the Year That Was, songs written for PBS's The Electric Company in 1971-72, orchestral versions of songs conducted by Richard Hayman in 1960, and four new songs, including "Selling Out" and "(I'm Spending Hanukkah) In Santa Monica." Song-by-song notes by Lehrer, rare photos, and an essay by Dr. Demento add an extra depth to The Remains of Tom Lehrer making it the ultimate collection of his irreverent social commentary. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing No Respect - MCA SPECIAL PRODUCTS
Artist: Rodney Dangerfield
Released: 2000

Rodney Dangerfield's 1980 album No Respect features two of his monologues, "No Respect" and "Son of No Respect," both of which showcase the nervous, self-deprecating brand of humor that made him a star. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Rodney Dangerfield's 1980 album No Respect features two of his monologues, "No Respect" and "Son of No Respect," both of which showcase the nervous, self-deprecating brand of humor that made him a star. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Lenny Bruce Originals, Vol. 1
Artist: Lenny Bruce
Released: 1991

A single-disc reissue of two 1958 LPs (Interviews of Our Times and The Sick Humor of Lenny Bruce), bolstered by a couple of selections from the American LP. The routines are not as funny as you might expect, and from a latter-day perspective, are more important for the taboos they broke than their actual content. Laughs can still be had here and... [+] Read More

A single-disc reissue of two 1958 LPs (Interviews of Our Times and The Sick Humor of Lenny Bruce), bolstered by a couple of selections from the American LP. The routines are not as funny as you might expect, and from a latter-day perspective, are more important for the taboos they broke than their actual content. Laughs can still be had here and there, particularly on the mock radio interviews with rabbis and jazz musicians. Includes interesting liner notes by Bruce's publicist, Grover Sales, as well as a "skeleton key" that explains many topical references that may pass over the heads of those who were born after 1950. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Lenny Bruce Originals, Vol. 2
Artist: Lenny Bruce
Released: 1991

Seventy-five-minute disc including the entirety of Togetherness (1959) and most of American (1960); the two missing tracks from American can be found on Fantasy's The Lenny Bruce Originals Vol. 1. This compiilation of early material has a slight edge over Originals Vol. 1 because of the somewhat sharper, more sophisticated bite and the presence... [+] Read More

Seventy-five-minute disc including the entirety of Togetherness (1959) and most of American (1960); the two missing tracks from American can be found on Fantasy's The Lenny Bruce Originals Vol. 1. This compiilation of early material has a slight edge over Originals Vol. 1 because of the somewhat sharper, more sophisticated bite and the presence of one of his most celebrated routines, the 20-minute "The Palladium." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Bill Cosby "Himself"
Artist: Bill Cosby
Released: 1982

Bill Cosby "Himself," the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, features such classic Cosby routines as "The Dentist," "Natural Childbirth," and "Same Thing Happens Every Night." Without the visual distraction of Cosby's mugging -- which is either charming or clichéd, depending on your point of view -- his total mastery of his art comes into... [+] Read More

Bill Cosby "Himself," the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, features such classic Cosby routines as "The Dentist," "Natural Childbirth," and "Same Thing Happens Every Night." Without the visual distraction of Cosby's mugging -- which is either charming or clichéd, depending on your point of view -- his total mastery of his art comes into sharper focus. "Himself" chronicles a professional comedian at the top of his game, toying with structure, timing, and tone, holding his audience with absolute confidence. Times have changed, though; it might be hard to get away with the many references to corporal punishment in the 21st century, and mentions of Cosby's son Ennis can't help but bring to mind his tragic death, bringing a bittersweet quality to some moments on "Himself." ~ Bill Cassel, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Revenge
Artist: Bill Cosby
Released: 1967

More tales of revenge and mischief from Cosby's childhood are recounted here, from snowballs in the freezer to flushing coats down the toilet, and from smoking in the bathroom at school to coming home late from the horror movies. There's another installment in the men vs. women saga, which is probably the only thing about early Cosby that seems... [+] Read More

More tales of revenge and mischief from Cosby's childhood are recounted here, from snowballs in the freezer to flushing coats down the toilet, and from smoking in the bathroom at school to coming home late from the horror movies. There's another installment in the men vs. women saga, which is probably the only thing about early Cosby that seems dated today. The album also includes one of the first bits in his ongoing series on his children. ~ Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Greatest Hit
Artist: Cheech & Chong
Released: 1991

Probably all the beginner needs for an introduction to this comedy act, as it collects their most famous skits into one compact album. "Sargent Stadanko," "Dave," and "Let's Make a Dope Deal" are here, as are the complete adventures of Pedro and Man and the two "hit" songs "Earache My Eye" and "Basketball Jones." Whether or not one believes the... [+] Read More

Probably all the beginner needs for an introduction to this comedy act, as it collects their most famous skits into one compact album. "Sargent Stadanko," "Dave," and "Let's Make a Dope Deal" are here, as are the complete adventures of Pedro and Man and the two "hit" songs "Earache My Eye" and "Basketball Jones." Whether or not one believes the drug humor has passed its sell-by date, the production on many of the skits is well done, layered with many throw-away gags hidden in the background for the repeat listener (preferably wearing headphones, smoking a doobie, and staring at the album cover). ~ Ted Mills, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Greatest Hits - RCA
Artist: Spike Jones
Released: 1999

There have been many compilations of Spike Jones' music, but few have been better than RCA's 1999 collection, Greatest Hits. Over the course of 20 tracks, all of Jones' best-known songs are presented in their best-known versions, including "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma," "My Old Flame," "Der Fuehrer's Face," "The Sheik of Araby, "William... [+] Read More

There have been many compilations of Spike Jones' music, but few have been better than RCA's 1999 collection, Greatest Hits. Over the course of 20 tracks, all of Jones' best-known songs are presented in their best-known versions, including "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma," "My Old Flame," "Der Fuehrer's Face," "The Sheik of Araby, "William Tell Overture," and "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)." For the curious and dedicated alike, this is very useful indeed, since never before have so many of Jones' classics been presented on one disc, complete with strong liner notes and good fidelity. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Tip of the Freberg: The Stan Freberg Collection 1951-1998
Artist: Stan Freberg
Released: 1999

A massive four-CD set, not only including oodles of material from all facets of his recorded work (largely from the 1950s and 1960s, although it goes all the way up to the late 1990s), but also a video of about twenty minutes length with his humorous television commercials. The first disc is devoted to his musical parodies from the 1950s, and on... [+] Read More

A massive four-CD set, not only including oodles of material from all facets of his recorded work (largely from the 1950s and 1960s, although it goes all the way up to the late 1990s), but also a video of about twenty minutes length with his humorous television commercials. The first disc is devoted to his musical parodies from the 1950s, and on both an entertainment and significance level, it's the best of the four. Besides his debut hit "John & Marsha," there are fairly funny and expertly produced, if sometimes mean-spirited, spoofs of Mitch Miller, Les Paul, the Platters, "Rock Island Line," Harry Belafonte, Lawrence Welk, and most famously Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel," with its out-of-control echo chambers; there are even a couple of previously unissued 1953 takeoffs on popular TV hosts. The satire of rock'n'roll crosses the line to animosity sometimes, most infamously on "The Old Payola Roll Blues." Disc two gets more into satire of media stars and programs, including some of his radio shows and his controversial (to Capitol Records, anyway) take on Joseph McCarthy, "Point of Order." Disc three is mostly devoted to material from both volumes of his United States of America history, and also has his 1959 EP "Omaha!, " a composition that was also an extended-length commercial. Disc four wraps up with no less than 57 of his radio commercials, all previously unreleased. Of course you'd have to be kind of nuts to listen to all or much of this at once. It's funny, to varying degrees, and kind of a link between Mad magazine and Monty Python, but much closer to Mad magazine. The commercials in particular might have more value as cultural artifacts than as classics of recorded comedy. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With
Artist: Bill Cosby
Released: 1968

By the time 1968 rolled around, Bill Cosby was popular enough to sell out over 10,000 seats at a Cleveland auditorium, and this album's bits were taken from that show. There are four shorter bits on side one, including a story about his two daughters, touchingly called "The Losers." Side two, consisting solely of the title track, is a half-hour... [+] Read More

By the time 1968 rolled around, Bill Cosby was popular enough to sell out over 10,000 seats at a Cleveland auditorium, and this album's bits were taken from that show. There are four shorter bits on side one, including a story about his two daughters, touchingly called "The Losers." Side two, consisting solely of the title track, is a half-hour long tribute to his brother and the nighttime shenanigans siblings get up to when they're supposed to be sleeping. Despite assorted episodes of violence and Cosby telling his brother, Russell, that Russell's parents were actually the police, you can hear the love between the two brothers, which makes it both touching and incredibly funny. ~ Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Let's Get Small
Artist: Steve Martin
Released: 1977

Steve Martin's glorious debut album of stand-up comedy has a little bit of everything, from singalong songs that include his excellent banjo playing ("Rambln' Man/Theme from Ramblin' Man" and "Grandmothers Song") to genre-deconstructing anti-comedy ("Vegas," "Closing"). His surrealistic wit and his ability to mock the conventions of stand-up... [+] Read More

Steve Martin's glorious debut album of stand-up comedy has a little bit of everything, from singalong songs that include his excellent banjo playing ("Rambln' Man/Theme from Ramblin' Man" and "Grandmothers Song") to genre-deconstructing anti-comedy ("Vegas," "Closing"). His surrealistic wit and his ability to mock the conventions of stand-up comedy (while simultaneously adhering to many of them) make Let's Get Small a comic masterpiece that hasn't aged a day since its release. ~ Brian Flota, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing The Very Best of Stan Freberg
Artist: Stan Freberg
Released: 1998

Combining Tom Lehrer with Spike Jones (would that make Tom Jones?) and Nichols and May with Joe Friday (a May weekend perhaps?), musical comedian Stan Freberg skewers everyone from Walt Disney to Cole Porter. Mumbling through "Sh-Boom," Freberg drags "The Great Pretender" snarling to "The Heartbreak Hotel," snares "The Yellow Rose of Texas," and... [+] Read More

Combining Tom Lehrer with Spike Jones (would that make Tom Jones?) and Nichols and May with Joe Friday (a May weekend perhaps?), musical comedian Stan Freberg skewers everyone from Walt Disney to Cole Porter. Mumbling through "Sh-Boom," Freberg drags "The Great Pretender" snarling to "The Heartbreak Hotel," snares "The Yellow Rose of Texas," and takes Harry Belafonte's famous "Banana Boat" sniffling down Lonnie Donnegan's "Rock Island Line." Along the way, he reveals Little Red Riding Hood's true colors, turns Chicken Little over to a shrink, arrests a dragon for overacting (a "dragonet" -- get it?! Duuumb da-dumb dumb!), and puts Ebeneezer Scrooge in the modern-day business world (not a far stretch!). Musical? Maybe. Funny? Definitely! ~ Matthew Robinson, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart
Artist: Bob Newhart
Released: 1960

Though not the first standup comedian to release a live recording, Bob Newhart was probably the first to really capture the public's attention, thanks to this debut. Of the six pieces included on this album, five of them are set up as part of a conversation (usually by phone), something that became Newhart's trademark. The material here would... [+] Read More

Though not the first standup comedian to release a live recording, Bob Newhart was probably the first to really capture the public's attention, thanks to this debut. Of the six pieces included on this album, five of them are set up as part of a conversation (usually by phone), something that became Newhart's trademark. The material here would have been novel in any age, and very little of it has dated substantially ("The Kruschev Landing Rehearsal" being the main exception, though it would still be funny even if you had no clue what the sketch was referring to). Though "Abe Lincoln Vs. Madison Avenue" and "Merchandising the Wright Brothers" are both top-shelf Newhart bits, "Driving Instructor" rises to the top of the heap. ~ Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Add to: Favorites  |  Collection  |  Wishlist  |  Now Playing Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection: The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time
Artist: Dr. Demento
Released: 1991

Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection: The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time gathers two discs' worth of highlights from the five-volume Dr. Demento Presents series, as well as some of the good doctor's other favorite novelty singles. Anyone familiar with Demento's show will instantly recognize the Firm's "Star Trekkin'," Barnes & Barnes'... [+] Read More

Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection: The Greatest Novelty Records of All Time gathers two discs' worth of highlights from the five-volume Dr. Demento Presents series, as well as some of the good doctor's other favorite novelty singles. Anyone familiar with Demento's show will instantly recognize the Firm's "Star Trekkin'," Barnes & Barnes' "Fish Heads," and Darrell Hammond's "Wappin'," while Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" and Sheb Wooley's "Purple People Eater" are among the novelty classics that have become part of the mainstream pop culture canon. Weird Al Yankovic's "Eat It," Ray Stevens' "Gitarzan," Julie Brown's "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun," Steve Martin's "King Tut," and Allan Sherman's "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp)" are some of the other highlights of this fun collection, which is arguably the only novelty rock album most people will ever need. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Peter Sellers
Released: 1993

Four-CD box set containing four of Sellers' EMI albums--The Best Of Sellers (1958), Songs For Swingin' Sellers (1959), Peter & Sophia (1960), and Sellers Market (1979). Of equal note are the 24 bonus tracks, taken from rare items like '50s and '60s singles, an EP, cuts that only appeared on obscure anthologies, unissued outtakes, soundtracks,... [+] Read More

Four-CD box set containing four of Sellers' EMI albums--The Best Of Sellers (1958), Songs For Swingin' Sellers (1959), Peter & Sophia (1960), and Sellers Market (1979). Of equal note are the 24 bonus tracks, taken from rare items like '50s and '60s singles, an EP, cuts that only appeared on obscure anthologies, unissued outtakes, soundtracks, and his cameo appearances with the Hollies and Steeleye Span. Far from filler, these bonus selections include some of his best performances. "Any Old Iron" (a British hit) was a folk/skiffle parody, and its B-side "Boiled Bananas and Carrots" did the same to calypso. "Fullers Earth" is a good parody of a flat earth society. The hit spoken-word satire of "A Hard Day's Night" is here, along with half a dozen other spoken Lennon-McCartney parodies, some previously unreleased; the effete reading of "Help!" and the "Cockney version" of "She Loves You" are standouts. This might seem like an overly extensive and steeply priced introduction to Sellers' work, but no comedy fan will regret its purchase. It not only contains some of the funniest comedy recordings on either side of the Atlantic, but some of the most important and influential work in the form in the 20th century. It is also the only easily available anthology of Sellers' recorded material, and contains a detailed booklet documenting his work in the studio. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Monty Python's Flying Circus
Released: 1991

Monty Python Sings is exactly what it sounds like: 25 songs (six under a minute) written and performed by members of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The numbers should be instantly familiar to fans of their legendary sketch comedy series and theatrical features. Each member of the troupe is represented to some degree or another, including... [+] Read More

Monty Python Sings is exactly what it sounds like: 25 songs (six under a minute) written and performed by members of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The numbers should be instantly familiar to fans of their legendary sketch comedy series and theatrical features. Each member of the troupe is represented to some degree or another, including director/animator Terry Gilliam with the tiny tune "I've Got Two Legs" (:33), and two co-written by the late Graham Chapman (to whom the compilation was dedicated): "Medical Love Song" and "Knights of the Round Table (Camelot Song)." John Cleese, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin contributed to several compositions, but the lion's share were written/co-written by the most musically inclined member, Eric Idle. Neil Innes (the Bonzo Dog Band), with whom Idle collaborated on the Beatles spoof The Rutles, assisted with arranging and composed the music for "Knights of the Round Table." All of the songs are sung by Pythons, with the exception of "Brian Song," which features Sonia Jones channeling Shirley Bassey's Bond anthem "Goldfinger" -- quite successfully, too, although it's hard to imagine Bassey singing, "He had arms and legs and hands and feet/this boy whose name was Brian." It's debatable whether those not already enamored by the Pythons' unique brand of humor would be won over by this recording. For the already converted, however, it represents an opportunity to have all of their best known songs in one place: Life of Brian's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" ("when you're chewing on life's gristle/don't grumble, give a whistle"), "Lumberjack Song" (I'm a lumberjack/and I'm O.K./I sleep all night/and I work all day"), and, of course, "Spam Song" ("lovely Spam/wonderful Spa-a-m"). For better or for worse, many of their most politically incorrect songs are also included: "Sit on My Face," "Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song)," "Never Be Rude to an Arab," and "I Like Chinese." Although packed to the brim with (lyrical) comedy, Monty Python Sings is strictly a musical recording and does not include any sketches, spoken word pieces, or narration. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Eddie Murphy
Released: 1997

Greatest Comedy Hits compiles most of Eddie Murphy's most famous comedy bits, as well as some that were never available on disc before. Murphy's hilarious riffs on Mick Jagger and James Brown, his classic routine on hit-and-run drivers, and his impressions of his drunken father -- they're all here. Included as well are recordings from his films... [+] Read More

Greatest Comedy Hits compiles most of Eddie Murphy's most famous comedy bits, as well as some that were never available on disc before. Murphy's hilarious riffs on Mick Jagger and James Brown, his classic routine on hit-and-run drivers, and his impressions of his drunken father -- they're all here. Included as well are recordings from his films Coming to America and Nutty Professor, as well as some riffs from his concert film, Raw, none of which were ever released on CD before. The real coup, though, consists of the seven previously unreleased recordings made at various club and stage appearances, some apparently from the late '80s and early '90s. Though the sound quality is uneven, which sometimes causes the jokes to be drowned out by the audience, there is still plenty of gold to be mined here. Murphy's take on Moses (most of his miracles were the result of a mistranslated speech impediment), his routine about a conversation with Little Richard, and his description of the birth of his first child are as classic as anything else here. His other new routines are too short (or in the case of "Almost Fucked a Midget," far too long) to be as vintage, but contain scattered laughs here and there. Fans may quibble over absent selections, such as his infamous gay Honeymooners bit, but for newcomers as well as longtime fans, Greatest Comedy Hits is a necessary purchase. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Monty Python's Flying Circus
Released: 1988

This ironically titled set was not the final Monty Python anthology; contrarily, it is the troupe's first CD compilation. Nor could it be considered a ripoff, as it draws upon practically all of their albums, the exceptions being their debut long-player, Monty Python's Flying Circus (1970), as well as the Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of... [+] Read More

This ironically titled set was not the final Monty Python anthology; contrarily, it is the troupe's first CD compilation. Nor could it be considered a ripoff, as it draws upon practically all of their albums, the exceptions being their debut long-player, Monty Python's Flying Circus (1970), as well as the Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983) soundtracks. This is more likely due to licensing constraints than a dismissal of the contents. The bulk of the Final Rip Off (1988) has been derived from Another Monty Python Record (1971) and Monty Python's Previous Record (1973) -- which consist primarily of sketches from the four series of their groundbreaking BBC-TV program, Monty Python's Flying Circus. Likewise, there are copious inclusions from their post-telly recordings Matching Tie and Handkerchief (1973) and Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980). As this (or really any Python platter) demonstrates, the collective and respective talents of writer/actors Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam are as aurally unequaled as they are visually incomparable. Even as personalities and egos clashed behind the scenes, the results were uniformly inspired; this remains true of Palin's newly recorded "Introduction" and a few other brief links as well. A glance at the running order will inevitably reveal favorites for all dimensions of enthusiast, from the absurdist pet-related humor of "Fish Licence" and "Parrot (Oh, Not Again)" to the rare Cleese singing vocal on "Eric the Half-a-Bee Song" to the witty and worldly pokes at pompous pretenses on "Australian Table Wines," "Four Yorkshiremen," or the "Gumby Theatre" adaptation of Anton Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard." Plenty of Python's demented ditties are here as well, such as the Viking-led ode to "Spam," "I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio," and the Dadaist dig at Cleese on "Do Wot John." The sole cinematic representation comes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). Final Rip Off is arguably the best representation of Monty Python's remarkable comedic range, although fanatics may find it doesn't replace owning each of the individual titles from which it has been compiled. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Redd Foxx
Released: 1997

The Best of Redd Foxx: Comedy Stew contains the highlights from Foxx's '50s records for Columbia, offering a good overview of one of the most convtroversial and influential comedians of the post-war era. Comedy Stew is an excellent way for nearly anyone to become acquainted with Foxx's ground-breaking routines. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide

The Best of Redd Foxx: Comedy Stew contains the highlights from Foxx's '50s records for Columbia, offering a good overview of one of the most convtroversial and influential comedians of the post-war era. Comedy Stew is an excellent way for nearly anyone to become acquainted with Foxx's ground-breaking routines. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Redd Foxx
Released: 1997

Foxx's Laff Records catalog is the source of this best-of collection, which compiles his influential and incisive "blue" material of the early 1960s. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Foxx's Laff Records catalog is the source of this best-of collection, which compiles his influential and incisive "blue" material of the early 1960s. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Steve Martin
Released: 1978

"Repeat after me. I promise to be different! I promise to be unique! I promise not to repeat things other people tell me to repeat!" This is Steve Martin in action. He says something somewhat pseudo-intellectual followed by something silly, observation of the moment in tow. Throughout the Wild & Crazy Guy compilation, Steve Martin continuously... [+] Read More

"Repeat after me. I promise to be different! I promise to be unique! I promise not to repeat things other people tell me to repeat!" This is Steve Martin in action. He says something somewhat pseudo-intellectual followed by something silly, observation of the moment in tow. Throughout the Wild & Crazy Guy compilation, Steve Martin continuously caps on himself for being a comedian. "It's really great to be here... There's nothing like doing the same thing over and over again every night for two weeks in a row." Self-reflective, one of his gimmicks is to put on the super suave act and compliment that by then turning into a complete imbecile. (Reference the movie The Jerk for a more complete definition of the phrase "complete imbecile.") Not only do his jokes fall into this unique-to-him format, but the album itself is set up the same way. The first half of the compilation is a series of clips of Steve Martin working the nightclub crowds in San Francisco. Very intimate settings. Lots of brainpower being exercised. The second half is Martin caught onstage in a frenzy of celebrating mob mentality in front of a fantastic crowd. There's a heavy reliance on his Saturday Night Live bits and creative but simple sex jokes.

Part one of the Wild & Crazy Guy album is wry and elicits a series cock-eyed grins along with several guttural "a-ha-I-get-its" from its audiences. There are many "takes" of the same joke (different versions, different clubs) that can give the at-home listener a sense of inertia, but this is forgivable (even enjoyable) because of the special kind of brilliance he bombards the audience with. Not everyone can play an idiot with the amount of savvy that Steve Martin can. Also, it is very interesting to hear how the same joke plays itself out with different crowds. The listener almost gets the sense that s/he is being let in on the creative process.

In the first half, Martin notes idiosyncrasies about college (his major, Philosophy, no surprise) career, and language. He claims he has a way with words, while other people, he notes, "er...not have way." This comedy album also contains some of Martin's best (and most repeatable, not to mention stolen) comeback lines. When interrupted by a catcall from the peanut gallery, Martin takes a moment, then offers, "Yeah, I remember when I had my first beer." (Some of the more "heady" humor from this section that would be lost on a larger crowd also translates into his written works. He even names a few new faux titles including, "I'll Take the Alphabet." An important work for him, he muses, because it's when he first started to include verbs in his writing.)

Part two of the Wild & Crazy Guy album (the crazy part) isn't quite as engaging from a philosophical standpoint. But if you're looking for zany, "Excuse me, I lost my mind for a moment." Here Martin lovably panders to a roaring audience. He leaves his intellect for the crowd who can really appreciate it and beefs up posing as a complete idiot for the enjoyment of all involved. Non sequiturs abound between gags. (Another Steve-ism). He sings, "I'm a neat guy." And "Grandpa/bought a rubber." The crowd, obvious SNL devotees, gets treated to the famous "kitty handcuffs" bit, King Tut, and a rare on-stage appearance of the album's namesake and actual wild and crazy guy character.

All in all, a very enjoyable album highlighting the range of Steve Martin's craft. A must-have for the shelf of every fan. ~ Sandy Lawson

, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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Artist: Eddie Murphy
Released: 1982

Eddie Murphy is one of those people who was obviously going to be a huge star from the very beginning. The Long Island, NY-born comedian was a nationwide sensation by the time he was 21. He exploded as the breakout star on Saturday Night Live during the lean early-'80s years when the show faced the daunting task of rebuilding after the classic... [+] Read More

Eddie Murphy is one of those people who was obviously going to be a huge star from the very beginning. The Long Island, NY-born comedian was a nationwide sensation by the time he was 21. He exploded as the breakout star on Saturday Night Live during the lean early-'80s years when the show faced the daunting task of rebuilding after the classic original cast had left to pursue movie stardom, which Murphy would ultimately do as well. Despite Murphy's gifts, his first standup comedy album, 1982's Eddie Murphy, is uneven despite containing some classic routines. Eddie Murphy was recorded at The Comic Strip in New York City between April 30 and May 1, 1982. "Buckwheat" riffs on his memorable SNL character and expands it to sarcastically note that blacks aren't named for specific breakfast cereals. "Black Movie Theaters," "Talking Cars," and "Myths/A Little Chinese" are based on various racial stereotypes -- not exactly politically correct, but very funny. "Doo-Doo/Christmas Gifts" features Murphy's musings on how fathers get shafted when they receive cheap Christmas presents. The hysterical "Drinking Fathers" is loaded with belly laughs -- and a horrifying, underlying look at working-class alcoholism. The manic "Hit By a Car" is the best, most clever segment as Murphy explodes into overdrive. Comics often include novelty songs on their albums, and so does Murphy -- with average results. "Boogie in Your Butt" weaves Murphy's spoken and semi-rap vocals, but the best part is the funky bassline. "Enough Is Enough" is a parody of 1979's chart-topping Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer duet "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," with Murphy once again recreating Buckwheat and imitating effeminate fitness guru Richard Simmons. For a perfect comedy classic, you have to jump one year ahead to 1983's Eddie Murphy: Comedian, but Eddie Murphy is a promising start. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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