Not Comedy - Browse Music at bizrate for the holidays

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"That's Not Funny, That's Sick [PA]" (09/02/2003) Comedy National Lampoon, Uproar EntertainmentNational Lampoon includes: Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, Christopher Guest, Larraine Newman, Richard Belzer, Paul Schaffer. Recorded in 1977. Personnel: Donna Detroit (vocals); Keith Ginsberg (guitar); Poli Carmello (Fender Rhodes piano); Teddy Wender (Clavinet, synthesizer); Jeremy Harris (drums); Lynn Pitney, Ellie Greenwich, Susan Collins (background vocals). Unknown Contributor Roles: John Wiedman; Rhonda Coullet.

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It's Not Funny [PA] [Digipak] * by David...

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It's Not Funny [PA] [Digipak] * by David Cross (Comedy) (CD - 05/04/2004)

"It's Not Funny [PA] [Digipak] *" (05/04/2004) Comedy Cross, David (Comedy), Sub Pop Records (USA)Audio Mixer: Chris Fahey. Liner Note Author: David Cross . Recording information: The Improv, Washington D.C (01/15/2004-01/18/2004). Author: Deborah Orin. Editors: Jeremy Hartshorn; Chris Fahey. On his second album, IT'S NOT FUNNY, actor/comedian David Cross (veteran of cult classics MR. SHOW and THE BEN STILLER SHOW) examines the rise of patriotic country songs as the United States prepared for war with Iraq, skewering the likes of Lee Greenwood with his acerbic satire. This sharply honed attack exemplifies a man with a quick wit who has become royalty in the kingdom of cutting-edge comedy. Cross is not explicitly a political comedian; however, as with the late Bill Hicks, his humor derives from wandering monologues that pick apart the ridiculousness and hypocrisy of society. Cross's every path just naturally strolls back to politics, and usually to the Bush Administration and the Iraq War. He's not a fan of either, to say the least, but while his attacks are pointed and fierce, the self-effacing, hyper-confident performer never falls into the trap of sacrificing comedy for rhetoric. With its relentlessly scathing humor, IT'S NOT FUNNY is nothing less than what Cross's devoted fans would expect.

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I Am Not Homer *

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I Am Not Homer *

"I Am Not Homer *" (04/23/2002) Comedy Castellaneta, Dan, Oglio RecordsPersonnel: Dan Castellaneta (background vocals); Dan Castellaneta; Buddy Judge (electric guitar, banjo, ukulele, bass instrument); Curt Anderson (harmonica, Theremin, background vocals); Laura Hall, Laura Hall (piano, harmonium, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Michael Dunn, Layne Beamer, Michael Dunn (background vocals); Ric Menck (drums, percussion); Rick Hall (background vocals). Recording information: Tree Fort Studio, Los Angeles, CA. Unknown Contributor Role: Dan Castellaneta. Dan Castellaneta is best known for being the voice of Homer Simpson, but he has also found success as a comedian independent of his television career. On I Am Not Homer, Castellaneta attempts to make his first comic sketch album (after 2000's bizarre all-music Two Lips) and enlists his wife, Deb Lacusta, to help him on the project. Simpsons fanatics should beware: This is a very different brand of humor than what the show usually presents. "Elvus" is a perfect example; the sketch involves Castellaneta and Lacusta as two obsessive rednecks discussing Elvis Presley in a slowly building conversation that reveals their unusual relationship with the deceased singer. Although some of the sketches are very funny and unusual, many of them are quite slow in general and lack a certain focus that could make them more directly humorous. The biggest problem is that it seems like they are improvising with no direction at times, as in the opening "AM Therapy" (which is entirely too long), and they seem like they are occasionally breaking character. Simple editing could have tightened up these lengthy sketches, but instead they are allowed to meander from one occasionally funny joke to the next. And the appearance of Homer Simpson at the end of the album is about as funny as songs on The Simpsons Sing the Blues, which is to say, it is mildly amusing. There are a few very funny sketches, but in the long run this is a very average comedy album that only inspires the occasional chuckle. ~ Bradley Torreano

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Why Not: The Best Of Whad'Ya Know?

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Why Not: The Best Of Whad'Ya Know?

"Why Not: The Best of Whad'ya Know?" (04/06/1999) Comedy Feldman, Michael, Newport ClassicPersonnel: Michael Feldman (spoken vocals).

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The Songs & Monologues of Joyce Gren...

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The Songs & Monologues of Joyce Grenfell * by Joyce Grenfell (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"The Songs & Monologues of Joyce Grenfell *" (09/04/2000) Comedy Grenfell, Joyce, EMI Gold (UK)

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Not Normal *

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Not Normal *

"My Life So Far" (08/22/2003) Comedy Andrews, Andy, Compendia/Yell

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The Best of Lieutenant Pigeon by Lieuten...

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The Best of Lieutenant Pigeon by Lieutenant Pigeon (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"The Best of Lieutenant Pigeon" (10/11/2004) Comedy Lieutenant Pigeon, Cherry Red (UK)Quirky and eclectic rock-pop band Leiutenant Pigeon present their 18 greatest hits on this highly amusing and entertaining release from 1972. The highlights from their 1970s singles (including the hits "Mouldy Old Dough," "Desperate Dan," and "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen") are on this 18-track compilation, as well as some cuts from albums, and a couple of previously unreleased songs. Certainly this is too much of a silly booze-up to endure at once. You pretty much get the idea from a few tracks here and there. But as kind of a goofy 1970s counterpart to Joe Meek's unfathomably weird productions of the prior decade, it has its value, novelty, and otherwise. Given how much hipper and more popular vintage, off-kilter kitsch has become in the States since 1990 or so, it's rather surprising no one has picked up on this lot in the U.S.; perhaps it seems too obvious to champion a band that had a number one British single as a remarkable discovery. As far as moments that stand out, it's interesting how the wordless high female vocals on "Spangles" sound so eerily similar to the high female backup parts on classic 1960s Kinks records like "Death of a Clown." ~ Richie Unterberger

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It's Just Not Cricket (v.1 & 2)

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It's Just Not Cricket (v.1 & 2)

"It's Just Not Cricket (V.1 & 2)" (05/15/1999) Rock & Pop 12th Man, EMI Music Distribution

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Do Not Talk Over Me by Guido Hatzis (CD)...

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Do Not Talk Over Me by Guido Hatzis (CD) [IMPORT - Australia]

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Not Your Standard Spike Jones Collection...

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Not Your Standard Spike Jones Collection by Spike Jones (CD - 12/15/2004)

"Not Your Standard Spike Jones Collection" (12/15/2004) Comedy Jones, Spike, Collectors' Choice MusicSpike Jones' free-for-all approach, satirizing and parodying everything in sight, came into its own during World War II, a time when his humor provided needed relief for troops abroad and those waiting at home. Not Your Standard Spike Jones Collection brings together three discs (over three hours of music) of material from radio transcriptions recorded during the war. It isn't surprising, then, that a number of Jones' songs poke fun at the enemy, nor that his first gold record was "Der Fuehrer's Face." While Carl Grayson's delivery, complete with a bad German accent, is funny enough, Jones' band's musical commentary provides the perfect backdrop. Of course, certain songs like "You're a Sap Mister Jap" will seem offensive today, but these transcriptions serve as a historical document as much as entertainment. There are also great versions of classics like "Sheik of Araby" and "That Old Black Magic," with Jones and his musical partners turning the most romantic song inside out. Bells, whistles, trombones, and banjos raise a ruckus, reminding one of a New Orleans jazz band that refuses to take its work seriously. Listeners will also not want to miss such oddities as "Boogie Woogie Cowboy" and "City Slicker Polka." The 79 selections on Not Your Standard Spike Jones Collection provide a welcome overview of the bandleader's work from the 1940s and a nice snapshot of the era. ~ Ronnie Lankford, Jr.

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How Can You Be in Two Places at Once Whe...

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How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All by Firesign Theatre (CD - 12/04

"How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All" (12/04/2001) Comedy Firesign Theatre, Legacy RecordingsFiresign Theatre: Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman, Phillip Proctor. Producer: Cyrus Faryar. Reissue producer: Bob Irwin. Originally released on Columbia (CS 9884). Digitally remastered by Vic Anesini (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York). Featuring better production than the debut album, Two Places at Once is a much tighter affair, with much happening throughout. Side one features a number of smaller sketches, with social commentary interwoven with smart television and radio parodies. It's side two, however, that makes this album worth having. The side-long "Further Adventures of Nick Danger" is a nearly perfect parody of a detective radio play, with sharp wordplay and interesting characters. The more fully developed nature of the piece makes the album worth repeated listening, which isn't the case with many other comedy albums released at about the same time. ~ Sean Carruthers

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Wolfman Jack's Halloween Special: Monste...

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Wolfman Jack's Halloween Special: Monster Mash Bash by Various Artists (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"Wolfman Jack's Halloween Special: Monster Mash Bash" (04/13/2007) Comedy Various Artists, St. Clair

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It's Not Over 'Til the First Lady Sings!...

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It's Not Over 'Til the First Lady Sings! by Capitol Steps (CD - 09/12/2000)

"It's Not Over 'Til the First Lady Sings!" (09/12/2000) Comedy Capitol Steps, Capitol StepsCapitol Steps includes: Mike Loomis, Linda Rose Payne, Porter Koontz, Amy Felices Young, Mike Tilford, Anne Willis Hill, Brian Ash, Andy Clemence, Janet Davidson Gordon, Michael Forrest, Richard Paul, Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss, Toby Kemper, Ann Schmitt, Mike Carruthers, Brad Van Crack, Jamie Zemarel, Bari Biern (vocals); Howard Breitbart, Emily Bell Spitz (piano). Engineers: Jim Smith, Greg Hammon, Ron Larson. Recorded live at Chelsea's Cabaret, Washington, District Of Columbia between 1999 and 2000. Capitol Steps is an amazing group of singers specializing in hilarious parodies of songs old and new aimed at skewering the eccentricities of politicians from left to right. President Bill Clinton is lampooned for his idiotic trysts with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in "Livin' Libido Loco," a brilliant send up of Ricky Martin's huge Latin hit "Livin' la Vida Loca" that includes the exchange "I won't stand for sex! Standing is not required!" Former President George Bush and his son George sing a duet in "Son of a Bush," using the late Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle." Al Gore is subjected to "Put Ten Grand in the Hand" and "Won't You Go Home, Bill Bradley." Senate hopeful and First Lady Hillary Clinton tries to learn to use a New York accent in "I Can't Say Yo," while NYC mayor Rudy Guilliani complains about the controversial Brooklyn Museum of Art exhibit in "Dung at Art." There are many funny tracks on this CD, all performed as usual in front of live audiences. These parodies ought to give some historical perspective on the turn of the century to future generations. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden

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Wolfman Jack's: Zany Hits by Various Art...

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Wolfman Jack's: Zany Hits by Various Artists (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"Wolfman Jack's: Zany Hits" (04/13/2007) Comedy Various Artists, St. ClairWolfman Jack's: Zany Hits, packaged under the guise of the late DJ Wolfman Jack, contains ten novelty tracks from the AM radio era of the '50s and '60s by Bobby "Boris" Picket, Sheb Wooley, and the Rivingtons. Unfortunately, these versions were re-recorded long after they were hits. No matter how attractive the bargain bin price may be, the results are disappointing. ~ Al Campbell

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Come Again by Derek & Clive (CD) [IM...

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Come Again by Derek & Clive (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"Come Again" (09/18/2000) Comedy Derek & Clive, EMI Gold (UK)Derek & Clive: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore. Comedy duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are legends in their native U.K., and their lewd albums were a filthy delight for listeners transfixed by them in the 1970s and '80s. COME AGAIN features 20 of their rudest skits. Dudley Moore and Peter Cook return in the guise of their offensive alter egos for a second dose of crude tomfoolery, including scandalous improvisations on cancer, incest, masturbation, and murder. Some bits are funnier than others, but all are worth double their weight in shock value. The set's best routine is a somewhat simple tale of broken traffic laws. Prudes need not be bothered that recent CD versions of this rude 1977 album contain an additional 17-plus minutes of foul language and incoherent comedy. ~ Brian Beatty

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Live Recordings by Stan Freberg (CD) [IM...

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Live Recordings by Stan Freberg (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"Live Recordings" (07/01/2003) Comedy Freberg, Stan, EMI Gold (UK)EMI COMEDY is the 16 song compilation from Stan Freberg, whose uses his passionate voice to perform 16 swinging classics, including "Yellow Rose Of Texas" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." This multimedia disc from EMI U.K.'s stellar Empire Comedy Series includes 16 of Stan Freberg's best-known and loved sides during his tenure on Capitol Records in the 1950s. Freberg also hosted his own short-lived comedy show on CBS Radio. He took the prime-time slot from Jack Benny, who had successfully made the transition to the burgeoning medium of television. A majority of the material on Live Recordings (2004) may lead potential consumers to presume that the contents are gleaned from a concert performance. However, they are actually from Freberg's studio recordings. As a satirist, Freberg stands alone. His often skewed observations are dead-on, especially those that deal with pop and early rock. No genre or artist is sacred -- the bigger they are, the harder Freberg leans in for the lampoon. He tortures icons such as Mitch Miller ("The Yellow Rose of Texas"), Eartha Kitt ("C'est Si Bon"), Lawrence Welk ("Wun'erful Wun'erful") and Harry Belafonte ("Banana Boat (Day-O)"). The most ample targets were found in the 'fad' of rock & roll, as proven on the muffin-mouthed "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)," "Rock Island Line"'s skiffle spoof and the absolutely hilarious (because it's true) interpretations of "Heartbreak Hotel," as well as the bop-meets-pop confrontation behind the microphones on "Great Pretender." Musically, these tracks are ably aided by conductor and arranger Billy May, whose day job was scoring for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee. He returned to work with Freberg in 1996 on Presents the United States of America, Vol. 2. Freberg takes a few apropos pokes at the boob tube on "St. George and the Dragonet" and "Little Blue Riding Hood," which were inspired by Jack Webb's deadpan delivery of hard-nosed copper Jack Friday on Dragnet. The original song "Tele-Vee-Shun" is a treat, with Freberg claiming to have gotten "weak in the eyes, weak in the head likewise from sitting and looking at Tele-Vee-Shun." The collection concludes with a pair of harder-to-find platters, "The Old Payola Roll Blues" and the sad-but-true "Green Christmas," whose title pretty much says it all. ~ Lindsay Planer

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EMI Comedy by Groucho Marx (CD) [IMPORT ...

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EMI Comedy by Groucho Marx (CD) [IMPORT - (not USA)]

"EMI Comedy" (05/27/2002) Comedy Marx, Groucho, EMI Gold (UK)

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Comedy Is Not Pretty! by Steve Martin (C...

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Comedy Is Not Pretty! by Steve Martin (CD - 04/28/1998)

"Comedy Is Not Pretty!" (04/28/1998) Comedy Martin, Steve, Warner ArchivesComposer: Steve Martin. Recording information: Boarding House, San Francisco, CA; The Boarding House, San Francisco, CA. Editor: William McEuen. Photographers: Norman Seeff; William R. Eastabrook. Unknown Contributor Role: Steve Martin. Martin's third LP rode high on the coattails of his early '80s fame, with the comic reactionary offering his quick-time cut-up response to a decade of overindulgence and supreme excess. And while Martin has been guilty of his own excesses, in comedy one can afford the largesse. COMEDY IS NOT PRETTY is another all-around laughfest and a further glimpse into Martin's wild and wacky world. "The Love God," a routine honed to perfection on many episodes of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, is given full reign here; it's worth the price of admission alone. There are far too many salty bits to recount, but the goofiness factor and Martin's smarmy allure are reproduced to hilarious effect, even without visual aid. Martin is one of the few stand-up comedians whose physical antics manage to transcend the performance and somehow emerge on record. The end result is another classic chapter in stand-up that any self-respecting fan of the funnybone must own.

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