Comedy

Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Ant...

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Wonderfulness by Bill Cosby (CD - 02/03/2003)

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Show Me The Buffet

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Show Me The Buffet

"Show Me the Buffet" (10/09/1998) Comedy Pinette, John, Uproar EntertainmentSolo performer: John Pinette (spoken vocals). Recorded live at Zanies, Vernon Hills, Illinois.

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Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Anthology by Bob Newhart (CD - 03/20/2001)

"Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Anthology" (03/20/2001) Comedy Newhart, Bob, Warner ArchivesProducers include: Jimmy Hilliard. Compilation producer: Bill Inglot. Engineers include: Lee Herschberg. Recorded between 1960 & 1967. Includes liner notes by Bill Inglot and Judy Brown. Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot. Liner Note Author: Judy Brown. Recording information: Freddie's Club, MN; San Fernando State College, Northridge, CA; The Broadmoor International Center, Colorado Springs, C; The Crystal Room of the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, NV; The hungry i, San Francisco, CA; The Ice House, Pasadena, CA; The Tidelands club, Houston, TX; UCLA; University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Editor: Wally Kamin. Unique among even the most cutting-edge standup comics of the '60s, Bob Newhart entertained his audiences not with snappy patter and jokes, but with long monologues in which his voice represented one side of a conversation, the other side left to the listener's imagination. This idiosyncratic format proved endlessly adaptable, as Newhart spun seemingly endless scenarios from it. Before he became a beloved TV star with the Bob Newhart Show, he released several popular comedy albums, from which the best moments have been culled for inclusion on this definitive two-disc compilation. Whether he's advising Abraham Lincoln, confronting King Kong, or getting blitzed at a retirement party (among other comedic situations to be found here), Newhart employs his patented mild-mannered, "button-down" personality to subtle but sharp comic effect.

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The Best Of Bill Cosby [3/1] *

Greatest Hit [PA] [Slipcase] by Cheech &...

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The Best Of Bill Cosby [3/1] *

"The Best of Bill Cosby" (03/01/2005) Comedy Cosby, Bill, Rhino Records (USA)The three Noah sketches included here were the highlight of Cosby's first album, RIGHT!, and the closing "Fat Albert (Buck, Buck)" is a good example of Cosby's talent for stretching out and elaborating on stories based on his childhood in Philadelphia--in very funny fashion. With their spot-on recollections of what it's like to get a slush-ball down the back or to go to a monster movie (but to be too scared to watch), "Revenge" and "Old Weird Harold (9th Street Bridge)" also fit into the cycle of Cosby's tales of growing-up. Cosby's gift lies in his ability to make you howl with laughter now at the things that could make life pure misery as a kid. It's amazing how often he succeeds in zeroing-in on events you thought only you had to endure. BEST OF gives a fair idea of the comedian's '60s work, but a few of his Warner Brothers album are completely overlooked. If this collection rings your chimes, check out WONDERFULNESS, which is loaded with such killer pieces as "Tonsils," "Go Carts," and "Chicken Heart," and TO RUSSELL, MY BROTHER, WHOM I SLEPT WITH, a record worth it for the title cut alone.

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Greatest Hit [PA] [Slipcase] by Cheech & Chong (CD - 07/17/2007)

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Circle

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Circle

"Circle" (10/01/2004) Comedy Izzard, Eddie, Epitaph Records (USA)Recorded live in New York, New York, June 26, 2000. British comic Eddie Izzard is many things, not the least of which is wickedly funny. The fact that he dresses in drag has always been a bit of an anomaly in regard to his comedic material in that it has so little to do with his act. Mostly, it serves as a kind of comedic "shock and awe" strategy to force his audiences to lighten up. Which is why the CD version of Circle is both an effective and inadequate document of his live show. On one hand, it allows you to fully focus on his dry wit, deep historical references, and train-of-thought jokes without the distraction of a slightly barrel-chested man in pumps. On the other hand, a slightly barrel-chested man in pumps is quite funny. That said, anyone familiar with Izzard's irreverent, intelligent brand of absurdist humor will find Circle highly enjoyable. Included on this performance from June 26, 2000, in New York City are Izzard's brilliant riffs on how the Pope is akin to Batman; how guns don't kill people, people kill people, and so will monkeys if they have guns; and how Jesus might have been a prophet to the dinosaurs. Much in the tradition of Monty Python, many Americans won't "get it," but that fact only heightens the pleasure for those who do. ~ Matt Collar

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Doin' My Time [12/7]

Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer by ...

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Doin' My Time [12/7]

"Doing My Time [PA]" (12/07/2004) Comedy Gaffigan, Jim, Comedy Central RecordsPersonnel: Jim Gaffigan (spoken vocals). Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, standup comedian Jim Gaffigan's unique delivery is either one of the freshest Comedy Central has highlighted in a long time or one of the most annoying. The topics he covers on Doin' My Time are some of the funniest Comedy Central Records has committed to disc, while his trademark shift in vocal dynamics to another personality can get repetitive and irksome at times. Minor delivery flaw aside, Gaffigan continuously keeps the audience laughing with what appears to be great ease, especially when discussing his Midwestern upbringing. Overall, an impressive debut and finally some respect for a comedian who is long overdue for larger-scale recognition. Hopefully a follow-up showcasing more of his style isn't too far behind. ~ Rob Theakston

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Class Clown

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Class Clown

"Class Clown" (09/12/2000) Comedy Carlin, George, Eardrum RecordsPersonnel: George Carlin (spoken vocals). Following soon after the scene-setting FM & AM, 1972's CLASS CLOWN fully introduced George Carlin's brand-new standup persona. The comedic voice of the post-Woodstock generation, in much the same way that Lenny Bruce had spoken to and for the Beats, Carlin seemed to emerge fully formed with this album, as if his earlier transitional efforts and his previous life as a mainstream Vegas-style comic had never existed. The difference this time out is that the material on CLASS CLOWN is far more personal and observational than anything he had previously attempted, not to mention much funnier. Although the epic, career-defining "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" is the album's most famous routine by far, "Class Clown," riffing on Carlin's life in Catholic school, is one of his most consistently hilarious segments. Carlin continues the theme later in the record, meandering through other religious topics in a tone more gently questioning than openly antagonistic. Besides being a huge seller and a popular discovery for generations of misfit teenagers to come, CLASS CLOWN is one of the finest standup comedy albums of all time.

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Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer by Tom Lehrer (CD - 05/06/1997)

"Songs & More Songs by Tom Lehrer" (05/06/1997) Comedy Lehrer, Tom, Rhino Records (USA)SONGS & MORE SONGS BY TOM LEHRER contains the two albums SONGS BY TOM LEHRER and MORE OF TOM LEHRER on one CD. Originally released in 1953 and 1959. Includes liner notes by Dr. Demento. Personnel: Tom Lehrer (piano). Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot. Liner Note Author: Dr. Demento. Recording information: 01/22/1953-10/08/1996. Tom Lehrer recorded rather sporadically starting in the 1950s then abruptly retired in the mid-'60s from his unique solo musical comedy act. He's a competent pianist with a voice that is perfect for his original material. This compilation combines both of his records that were originally pressed and sold privately on the Lehrer label, which he later re-recorded with improved sound for Reprise as Songs by Tom Lehrer and the live concert An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer. While the differences between this CD and the Reprise versions are minimal, other than a little more muffled piano sound on these earlier recordings, it's fun to hear hilarious works like "The Irish Ballad," the creative "Oedipus Rex," and his satire of military life in "It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier." Several favorites, including "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" and "The Masochism Tango" are heard in orchestrated versions as well as by Lehrer alone. And Lehrer finally got around to recording "I Got It from Agnes," which implies how venereal disease is spread (in an amusing fashion, if that's possible) without ever coming out and saying it directly. This CD is a must for Lehrer fanatics. ~ Ken Dryden

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Box Set [10/18] *

The Best of Comedian Rickey Smiley, Vol....

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Box Set [10/18] *

"Box Set [Box]" (02/28/2006) Comedy Stevens, Ray, Curb Records (USA)The eclectic career of gospel/country/comedy artist Ray Stevens creates a big challenge for anyone attempting to make a representational "best-of" album. He jumped from genre to genre as often as he switched labels, leaving compilers with mountains of unrelated song subjects and complicated licensing issues. When the 2005 Box Set was announced, Stevens' fans had high hopes for a comprehensive, career-spanning collection -- and it was -- kind of. After a successful television-only campaign, Curb Records released the set in 2006 and sales proved that the Stevens' market was still strong in the U.S.. Faithful fan support does not necessarily guarantee that a collection is good though. The Box Set is a sprawling three-disc affair (providing more than an ample amount of time to give the man plenty of room to show all of his facets), but the collection is plagued with glaring omissions and seemingly random sequencing. Stevens' strongest suit has always been his versatility -- blessed with a lovely voice, great musical talent, and uncanny comedic sense, Ray Stevens could (and did) successfully tackle anything that interested him. So why is so much of that good stuff missing here? Sure, there are the expected hits (both comedic and serious) like "It's Me Again Margaret," "Everything Is Beautiful," "Ahab the Arab," "The Streak," "Misty," "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival," "Nashville," and (one of his earliest outings) "Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills," but the majority of the Box Set focuses on lesser-known album cuts that would be obscure even for dedicated fans. Although it's not touted as "complete," the Box Set still suffers from the omission of some of Stevens' strongest material. His brilliant readings of the Coasters' "Along Came Jones" and Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" aren't here, and neither are the moody "Mr. Businessman," the sublime "Unwind," or the hilarious "Santa Claus Is Watching You." The Box Set really only excels as a complementary collection for fans who have a hits compilation already and are looking to delve a little deeper. For fans looking for a more compact (and representationally sound) overview, Capitol's Classic Masters or Rhino's Best of Ray Stevens do the job more succinctly, and with more reverence. ~ J. Scott McClintock

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True Stories I Made Up [CD & DVD] [P...

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The Best of Comedian Rickey Smiley, Vol. 1 [Digipak] by Rickey Smiley (CD - 01/04/2005)

"The Best of Comedian Rickey Smiley, Vol. 1 [Digipak]" (01/04/2005) Comedy Smiley, Rickey, Breakwind Entertainment

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Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer [Rema...

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True Stories I Made Up [CD & DVD] [PA] [11/8]

"True Stories I Made Up [PA]" (11/08/2005) Comedy Daniel Tosh, Comedy Central RecordsPersonnel: Daniel Tosh (spoken vocals). Take the rapid wit of Dane Cook and trade his hyper-cockiness for dry wickedness and you've got Daniel Tosh, which is by all means a compliment. Tosh matches Cook's ability to spit wry crassness, but he's more absurd and complex. Much of his material hits two to three seconds after the fact, partly because it takes awhile to unravel and partly because of the "I can't believe he just said that" factor. The title True Stories I Made Up is the least witty thing about this package, but it references a core routine, "Fictitious Disorder," that will one day be thought of as trademark Tosh. The comedian explains how living in denial is easier than reality on the track, and goes off on a long series of made-up stories that connect. It's the brilliant, standup equivalent of a Rube Goldberg machine, but Tosh's less obtuse, blunter, edgier, and crueler side is just as funny. Suggesting athletes should be pumped with steroids because he has a high-def TV and wants his sports like his video games ("Who cares if you die at 40, you hate life after sports anyway. I'm doing you a favor") or drawing comparisons between the Abu Ghraib prison and the world of baby photographer Anne Geddes is sick and downright startling when delivered so casually by the comedian. In a lot of ways he juggles and alienates the audience in an Andy Kaufman style but without breaking the rules of standup. It's exciting and subversive and you only need to gauge the audience reaction captured on the disc to see how effective it is. At first they are quiet, probably creeped out, but by the end of the disc they're guffawing. The bonus DVD from his 2002 Comedy Central special is less interesting, either because Tosh hasn't matured his act to the sharpness of the audio portion or because the network's censors shaved off the more risky and rewarding material. It's a letdown, but the audio portion of the set is one sick, twisted, and hilarious stunner of a debut. ~ David Jeffries

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Greatest Hits [RCA] by Spike Jones (CD -...

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Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer [Remaster] by Elmo & Patsy (CD - 08/24/2004)

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer [Remaster]" (08/24/2004) Comedy Elmo & Patsy, Legacy RecordingsElmo & Patsy includes: Dr. Elmo Shropshire (vocals). All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Elmo & Patsy; Gary Potterton (guitar); Doug Giddens (bass guitar); Doug Corrigan (background vocals). For Elmo & Patsy fans -- or any admirer of tongue-in-cheek tunes with country flair -- the title track on this album alone is a good enough reason to purchase it for your Christmas collection. Elmo & Patsy are really characters portrayed by a man named Elmo Shropshire, a man who has lead a varied enough life to create many more characters, if he ever so chooses. He has spent stretches as a horse trainer, jockey, veterinarian, and even as a competitive runner. Somehow he found time to perform with a bluegrass band and work on some solo offerings. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" was written and first performed in 1979. The video for the single debuted on MTV in 1983, and the full-length album that carries the same name was released a year later. The title track became an instant hit, moving above longtime favorites like "White Christmas" on the music charts. The album has sold more than seven million copies since it hit the store shelves. Other tracks on the recording include some fun Christmas classics like "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Jingle Bell Rock." Mixed in are a few humorous songs like "Percy, the Puny Poinsettia" and "Se?or Santa Claus." Though not all tunes are done in what one would call perfect harmony -- like the clinkers listeners will hear in the rendition of "Silent Night" -- Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is a merry offering to set to playing in the background of any Christmas get together that doesn't require evening wear. Some other albums Elmo & Patsy fans might want to check out are Dr. Elmo's Twisted Christmas, Up Your Chimney, Dr. Elmo's Twisted Tunes, and Love, Death and Taxes. ~ Charlotte Dillon

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My Son, the Greatest: The Best of Allan ...

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Greatest Hits [RCA] by Spike Jones (CD - 08/24/1999)

"Greatest Hits [RCA]" (08/24/1999) Comedy Jones, Spike, RCA Records (USA)Recorded between 1942 & 1952. Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo. Digitally remastered by Bill Lacey. Personnel: Boys in the Backroom, Giggie Royse, Paul Judson, Sara Berner, Freddie Morgan, Del Porter, Red Ingle, Carl Grayson (vocals); Mel Blanc (sound effects). Liner Note Author: Joseph F. Laredo. Arrangers: Doodles Weaver; Spike Jones. 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

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Has Been by William Shatner (CD - 10/05/...

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My Son, the Greatest: The Best of Allan Sherman [CD] by Allan Sherman (CD - 10/25/1990)

"My Son, the Greatest: The Best of Allan Sherman [CD]" (10/25/1990) Comedy Sherman, Allan, Rhino Records (USA)Producer: Jimmy Hilliard. Compilation producer: Bill Inglot. Includes liner notes by Steve Allen. Personnel: Allan Sherman (vocals). Liner Note Author: Steve Allen. An unlikely star who, according to legend, got his recording contract strictly through being at the right party at the right time, Allan Sherman crafted musical parodies that were, in some ways, a musical equivalent to Charles Schulz's PEANUTS. Like that revered comic strip, the genial surface goofiness of Sherman's ditties barely masked the fashionable neuroses of its era (the 1960s) underneath. For example, "Crazy Downtown" inverts the premise of Petula Clark's soaring original by taking on the hysterical voice of Petula's parents, worried sick about what their daughter is getting up to in a dangerous part of town during the wee hours of the morning. Beyond his reliance on generation gaps and Jewish humor, Sherman was a genuinely clever songwriter who was able to wring laughs from the most unexpected juxtapositions. Unlike some comedians from the same period, more importantly, Sherman presented humor that dated remarkably well, being more concerned with personal foibles than topical events. MY SON, THE GREATEST: THE BEST OF ALLAN SHERMAN is an excellent introduction, especially for those who only know "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh."

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Pete Seeger's Greatest Hits [2002] [Rema...

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Has Been by William Shatner (CD - 10/05/2004)

"Has Been" (10/05/2004) Comedy Shatner, William, Shout! FactoryPersonnel: William Shatner (vocals); William Shatner; Brad Paisley (vocals, guitar); Ben Folds (vocals, piano, tack piano, electric piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, synthesizer, bass guitar, drums, background vocals); Sebastian Steinberg (vocals, bass instrument, upright bass); Lemon Jelly (various instruments, programming); John Mark Painter (guitar, baritone guitar, trumpet, bass guitar, background vocals); Lindsay Jamieson (drums); Joe Jackson (vocals, piano); Henry Rollins, Aimee Mann (vocals); Jon Auer (guitar, background vocals); Adrian Belew (guitar); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Louisville Common People's Choir (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Joe Costa; Ben Folds. Liner Note Author: Ben Folds. Photographers: Jeri Heiden; Frally Folds. Arranger: Ben Folds. Actor, author, pitchman, and recording artist, William Shatner has become a virtual pop icon, in no small part due to his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the STAR TREK TV show and films. While his past recordings have been known for their camp value (including a bizarre version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man"), HAS BEEN finds Shatner venturing into Serious Artistic Statement territory. Here Shatner recites his lyrics in a stentorian, animated tone and runs through a reflective take on Pulp's "Common People," aided by Joe Jackson and Ben Folds, who provides bright, elegant arrangements throughout the record. (In addition to Jackson and Folds, the album's guest list includes Aimee Man and Brad Paisley.) HAS BEEN is vastly enjoyable because Shatner refuses to take his seriousness too seriously--the tirade "I Can't Get Behind That" (which features fellow actor, author, pitchman, and recording artist Henry Rollins) includes a playful dig at himself. Drawing inspiration from and making forays into rock, country music, electronica, Western movie soundtracks, and Beat poetry, Shatner proves there is no medium he cannot master, no genre he cannot subvert.

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