I put a lot of thought into this, so dont dismiss it easily. but anyhow, before comedy central, HBO, it was about comedy albums.

Belle Barth, Moms Mabley, or Skillet & Leroy saying crazy shit.

As time went but, real pioneers like Moms Mabley and company were replaced by Newhart, and Lenny Bruce, then by Pryor and Carlin etc.

This shit is subjective, so all you professional list makers that get your dick hard from this list shit dont come here and start crying that your favourite comedian ait no. 1 or something.

NOw, I am only allowing 3 album per person just because I want some lesser known names to get their shine.


So here is JIgga 50 best comedy albums ever:



50 – Reality, What a Concept – Robin Williams

Dude is a maniac he came with a frenetic style with disjointed characters firing quick lines that are at first hard to catch. U can tell he looked up to jonathan winters on this ish here.

49 – Gilda Radner Live from New York


Gilda at her best. Some Broadway shit where and some sketches for her SNL characters with some moments of her just being herself.

48 – The Wit and Wisdom of Andy Griffith


Challenged Bill Cosby as the best storyteller, Griffith took clean, rambling anecdotal stories and weaved them into a long ass stories of comedy. “What it Was, Was Football,” is a classic.

47 – Bigger and Blacker – Chris Rock

Probably the best stand up right now this is chris on women and whiteie and police and clinton and very funny.

46 – Dice Rules – Andrew Dice Clay

the 1st “comedian as a rock star” .. At the height of his popularity, Dice stepped onto the stage at Madison Square Garden and drove his devoted fans crazy with his brand of comedy. Brash, offensive and unapologetic for being that, i just like his anti PC shit.

45 – Excuse Me, Are You Reading That? – David Brenner

known for all his appearances on Johnny Carson, more than any other performer; I was surprised by how timeless and funny these bits are. Every line is strung together without a bit of fat, and each punch sends the audience into fits of laughter.

44 – Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him – The Firesign Theatre


43– The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters

The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters was first released in 1960, 1st comedian to play a bunch of characters by himself. The stand out tract is “Used Pet Shop.”

42 – Let’s Get Small – Steve Martin

stupid shit but funny.


41 – Big Bambu – Cheech and Chong

legends


40 – Louder Than Hell – Sam Kinison

very caharsimatic. an assault on what the audience held sacred. Every line seemed to be pulled directly from somewhere deep in Sam’s soul. The ability to challenge the audience’s convictions while being relentlessly funny was Sam’s gift.

39 – Looking Good – Freddie Prinze

sadly commited suicide at 22. His legacy was huge considering the short time he was with us. Looking Good is about the world Freddie grew up in, and gives us all a glimpse of the person behind the star.

38 – The Songs and Comedy of the Smothers Brothers Recorded Live at the Purple Onion


their 1st album, Smothers Brothers first album recorded at the San Francisco hot spot in 1961. It showcased the breezy style that would later become the centerpiece of their CBS show. .

37 – Inside Shelly Berman

Relentlessly funny before comedians were relentlessly funny, Shelly Berman graduated Second City, and took the stand-up comedy scene by storm.

36 – An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer

musical comedy steeped in sarcasm

35 – The 2000 Year Old Man – Mel Brooks & Carl Reiner

we all know this,classic.

34 – Rant in E-Minor – Bill Hicks

33 – My Son the Nut – Allan Sherman

32 – Hello Dummy – Don Rickles

politically incorrect great shit

31 – This is a Recording – Lilly Tomlin

30 – A Wild and Crazy Guy – Steve Martin

Goofy, campy and fun,.

29 – The Sick Humor of Lenny Bruce

28 – Comedy Minus 1 – Albert Brooks

If for no other reason, you have to get this album for the bit, “Rewriting the National Anthem.”

27– An Evening With Nichols and May

26 – Dangerous – Bill Hicks

25 – Class Clown – George Carlin

7 wors u cant say, thisis the album

24 – No Respect – Rodney Dangerfield

best one liners ever

23 – Mort Sahl at the Hungry i

teh charlieparker of stand up, changed the game.


22 – Mind Over Matter – Robert Klein

intelligent for leftys.

21 – Lenny Bruce is Out Again

this was him on his last legs, but what great shit he did.


20 - STAN FREBERG PRESENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VOLUME ONE


19 – The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart

. He is one of the most imaginative performers ever.

18 – FM & AM – George Carlin

The 1972 album was controversial because of its strong content, and frank material about drugs.

17 – Standup Comic – Woody Allen

16 – The First Family – Vaughn Meader

15 - Child of the 50’s – Robert Klein

14– Lenny Bruce - The Carnegie Hall Concert

This 1961 release was recorded during the period that most people feel Lenny was at the top of his game, before the arrests and drugs took their toll. talking about topics like the KKK, the flag, Communism, Christ, Pills, his arrest, and Shelly Berman.

13- The devil Made Me Buy This Dress – Flip Wilson


12 -Bill Cosby- Why Is The Air?

best storyteller ever everyone hates on him now but dmn what a pioneer.

11 - The Two Sides of Dick Gregory

1963, and the Civil Rights movement was putting the fear of GOD into a lot of these white americans, Dick Gregory made them block their pants. Shit like “Birth Control and Governor Barnett,” “Cuba,” “Income Tax,” “Ku Klux Klan,” “Chicago,” “Aid to Education,” “Ohio Politics and Housing Bill,” and “Impressing White People,” this shit exposed America’s dirty little secrets.

10 - Comedian – Eddie Murphy

Comedian was the LP version of the HBO special “Delirious.” Eddie on top of his game. The bits were full of characters, and voices, and stories; and the performance was without equal. Eddie’s youth and charisma helped make his performance even more spectacular. Sure the language was extreme, but the subject matter was wonderfully young and innocent. Just listen to “Ice Cream Man,” which avoided the comic cliché of using pain and anguish to fuel the art, and instead focused on the joy that was inherent in the subject.

9 - I Started Out as a Child – Bill Cosby

started Cosby’s reign as the undisputed king of the comedy album. 6 Grammy’s in a row after this shitt and it was one of four of his comedy albums that were in the top 10 at the same time.

8 – That Nigger’s Crazy – Richard Pryor

yeh, now we are talking, this is where the real talent is starting to show. i expect a backlash against this nigga cause that what scensters do.Comedy got a little more real and a whole lot less safe with the release of Pryor’s That Nigger’s Crazy. Gone was the notion that artists had to reflect a “Higher” standard, Pryor took the real, often gritty, and always hysterical life of the real person, and gave that person a voice on the stage. At a time when everyone was watching what they said, and not wanting to step on toes, Pryor came out and screamed his comedic agenda to the whole world. His comedy was an assault to anyone who even remotely believed they were in charge. Even the title was in your face. Other comics begged audiences for laughs; Pryor subjugated the masses. We laughed not because we wanted to, but because he demanded it. Although not the first album to showcase Pryor’s gritty style, it did reach a larger audience than his previous efforts, and it earned him the first of his 5 Grammy awards.

7 - To Russell, My Brother Whom I Slept With – Bill Cosby

When you consider the sheer amount of material Cosby put out from 64 - 70 it boggles the mind.

6 – Them Cotton Pickin’ Days is Over – Godfrey Cambridge

The 60’s weren’t an easy place for blacks in comedy. Dick Gregory was considered too militant when it came to race issue, so white audiences turned off. Flip Wilson and Bill Cosby were accused of ignoring race, and took much undeserved heat from the black community. And then there was Godfrey Cambridge. Godfrey Cambridge bridged the gap between the safe comics like Cosby, and the militant comics like Gregory. He made race an issue, but he didn’t accuse, or point fingers; instead he used his wealth of charisma to make his pointed material palatable to any audience. By making the experiences about himself, and not about the cause, he put a face on the issue. And he delivered his points in a profound, and genuinely funny way. Them Cotton Pickin’ Days is Over is perhaps his finest stand-up, and a forgotten comedy treasure.

5 - Wanted! Richard Pryor Live in Concert

A man, a microphone, and a brilliant mind exposing everything to a room full of people – most critics seem to agree that comedy was never quite as good as it was when Richard Pryor hit the stage. Wanted was recorded during a time in Pryor’s life when turmoil was the norm. Under professional and personal pressures that would have collapsed lesser artists, Richard Pryor rose to the occasion and released a double album of comedy so personal and profound that it stands as a testament to the comic as an artist. His bit “Heart Attacks” from the album made you understand the emotions and pain behind the experience, yet you never stopped laughing.

4 - Uncensored – Redd Foxx

By the time of this 1980 release, Uncensored, Redd Foxx was no longer relegated to being just a party album. He was fully entrenched in the mainstream, and his Vegas shows were legendary. Uncensored was a throwback to the earlier Redd Foxx efforts. Recorded in front of a largely African American audience, Foxx held onto the brash style of his earlier albums, but presented material that had wisdom behind it. By today’s standards Uncensored is decidedly tame, however the jokes have an edge that only Redd Foxx could provide.3 - Flip Wilson Live at the Village Gate

3 - Flip Wilson Live At The Village Gate

Side one was the early show. Side two the late show. This 1964 album contained only a hint of the comedian who would one day be the first African American to have the number 1 show in the country. Flip’s easygoing style was more akin to a Bill Cosby than a Dick Gregory, however his pleasant demeanor masked the true bite of his material. When you compare this album to “The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress” you’ll clearly see the growth of Flip Wilson as a comedian, and as an artist.

2 - Dick Gregory Live At The Village Gate

Dick Gregory was in full political bloom when this album was released in 1970. The funky cover art, rich in imagery was the first clue that something deeply moving was inside. Although references to Agnew and Hoffa make this record seem dated, a brief look under the surface shows a comic mind that was delving ever deeper into the world around him; and a man who could use punchlines like daggers, and pierce the hypocrisy of his targets with comedic judgments. This is a fine example of comedy as a social force.

1 – Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip

this is thebest for me.

i haven't heard most of those. all i know is, i would switch Pryor's Sunset Strip with Wanted: Live In Concert, which is my all-time favorite comedy album.

I think it was his peak, even though the setting himself on fire story in Sunset Strip is amazing to hear.


Also, I think Eddie Murphy is rated too high. I loved him back then, but now I realize he was not a very good comedian.

pretty good list. i love 'bigger & blacker,' i just DLed 'never sacred' and am looking forward to checking that out as well.

my fav. comedy album is david cross' "shut up you fucking baby!" it's a double disc set which initially turned me off but SHIT - everything on that album is funny. i listened to it about a week ago and, natually, as with most comedy albums, some of the material sounds a little dated but the majority holds up. it's not the kind of album you can play at a party or whilst car pooling but if you haven't heard it; you should really check it out.

No HEDBERG No LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also

Bill Hicks way to low

No Larry the Cable Guy?

Eat Out More Often by Rudy Ray Moore.

Emo Phillips - E=MO2
Steven Wright - I Have a Pony
Dennis Miller - The Off White Album
and this list is incomplete without any Monty Python or National Lampoon records...

Good call, however, on Dick Gregory...way underrated.

i'd have put Monty Python, derek And Clive etc but i kept is strictly American and by individual names. Of course those guys you mentioned are classic, but its a top 50 and too many to squash in, i cant beleve i left out Rudy Day Moore and Robin Harris.

Good to see Dr. bob on there.

...and the funny part is, the more political Gregory got ('69-'73), the funnier he was. You can't say the same for Paula Poundstone (but then, she was never all that hilarious anyway, and I don't believe she ever cut a record).

the exclusion of National Lampoon's That's Not Funny That's Sick is criminal.


This list sucks.

My folks had this album when i was a kid. Hilarious stuff. I particularly like "The Grace L. Ferguson Airline (And Storm Door Co.)" bit.

i wonder if anyone can YSI this.

Dana Carvey?

link to the 50 Most Influential Comedy Albums that Jigga probably copied his list from..
http://www.kingsolomon.com/comedy/50albums.htm

even the intro line... nice.

he took off the first one:

50. Dick Gregory Live at the Village Gate -- Dick Gregory
"Dick Gregory talked about topics with substance long before Richard Pryor and Paul Mooney. He talked about them at times when it was dangerous to talk about these things." -- Leighann Lord
Dick Gregory was in full political bloom when this album was released in 1970. The funky cover art, rich in imagery, was the first clue that something deeply moving was inside. Though references to Agnew and Hoffa make this record seem dated, a brief look under the surface shows a comic mind that was delving ever deeper into the world around him, plus a man who could use punchlines like daggers and pierce the hypocrisy of his targets with comedic judgments. This is a fine example of comedy as a social force.

hahaha...nice work

I'd put How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When Your Not Anywhere At All by Firesign Theatre on my top list. I would also include a PDQ Bach set such as A Townhall Concert or The Intimate PDQ Bach.

Bill Cosby Himself is a favorite, too.

And of course Weird Al. (best ones: Bad Hair Day and In 3-D).

Stan Freberg is a genius, but the pure laughs come from his singles, found on the box set Tip of The Freberg or The Best of. His Hist of the US is indeed a classic, but more whimsical than hilarious.

I'd put Steven Wright's I Have A Pony up there, too. The sensibility of Dali with the rapid fire one-liner style of Dangerfield...exquisite.

Some good calls there, Aggie.

Someone mentioned Dana Carvey, but I'm not sure he ever recorded an album.

I would chase Lenny Bruce Is Out Again right off that list, unless this person is partial to incoherent thoughts chasing each other into nowhere. His later "material" is painfully, deflatedly sad. I'd replace it with his Curran Theatre show.

i think there's tons of bootlegs, especially recorded versions of that HBO show that later re-aired on comedy central. but probably 0 on official releases

i remember seeing his routine before he got on SNL.

he was maybe a little too safe and sunny, but extremely likeable. He already had the Church Lady character.

had a great routine about him and his brothers, which included a prototype for Garth.

the rest was exaggerated Jimmy Stewart and Paul McCartney impressions.

Doing a "Best Comedy Albums Ever" is like doing a "Best Rock Albums Ever" list. Only instead of The Beatles and Dylan taking up 8 of the top 20 spots, it's Pryor, Carlin & Cosby.

Dana Carvey was born for sketch comedy. Great impressionist, great guy, funny guy - but not a great stand-up by any stretch.

Worthy is his appearance on Comic Relief with the "Choppin' Brocolli" song. That's the extant of my experience with him in standup.

What was that CD that someone on the board was recommending here in a few threads last year? It was from a radio show on WFMU and featured lots of odd interviews and hilarious calls from listeners. I heard one bit from it and it was great, but I can't remember what it was or who recommended it here.

who's got some Emo Phillips they can send along?

please?

Awful list. Unless America has some kind of monopoly on being funny.

George Carlin - Class Clown

Steven Wright - I Have a Pony

National Lampoon - That's Not Funny, That's Sick!

Hon. mention:

Ntl. Lampoon - Lemmings

Gilda Radner - Gilda Live

any Bill Hicks

Scharpling & Wurster!!!!!

Funny how your alleged countryman chose that list 2 years ago.

No one mentioned Radio Dinner yet (criminally has not been released on CD). Lemmings is meh, I think one had to be there live to really appreciate it.

I dunno - I love parts of Lemmings a lot. Belushi's stage announcements are great, and the closing "band" is called Megadeath, which always cracks me up.

Have you not watched CNN the past eight years?

Okay, I know he copy and pasted the list, but it looks like he wrote the opening section himself. So wtf is up with jigga using capitalization, punctuation and decent grammar. Even the thread title and subhead and devoid of jiggaisms.

Just when I thought this week couldn't get any weirder around here.

It's early yet - I still haven't started my in-depth analysis of the lebanese cornershops of Cincinnati's inner city.

But I might.

Thread is from Feb 2006. Rest easy.

If you needed more proof that Jigga is neither black nor British, David Brenner.

Gotcha. I'm surprised you weren't the one to bump it.