Customer Reviews

2000 & One Years With Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks

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2000 AND ONE YEARS WITH CARL REINER AND MEL BROOKS is the follow up album to the duo's classic comedy smash, 2000 YEAR OLD MAN. The original was a piece of comic genius and was one of the key albums that took comedy to a different level. The main gag on 2000 AND ONE YEARS is a continuation from the first album. The 2000 Year Old Man is a year older and just a tad bit wiser as well as somewhat cynical; a lot can happen in a year, even to a 2000 year old man. Whereas the first album seemed fresh and inspired, Reiner and Brooks have their routine down pat and things seem a little stale. It's not really the material, but the actors don't seem as excited as they did on THE 2000 YEAR OLD MAN. That's not to say there's not some great stuff here. "Two Hour Old Baby" takes the oppositte approach to the 2000 Year Old Man--instead of listening to the oldest person in the world, we are invited to converse with one of the world's youngest. Then there's the "New Technique Psychiatric Society"--this is a killer sketch with some hilarious moments that are even more comical in the ever so politically correct culture and society in which we find ourselves. Just watch them eyes.

2000 AND ONE YEARS wa recorded by Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the landmark CAPITOL tower on 5/26/61. Original stereo and mono pressings are on that company's black w/rainbow edge label. There are no liner notes on the back cover. A set of fake celebrity quotes contains one from Marilyn Monroe that in hindsight was regrettable ("I'm feeling much better").

The old fellow's genesis (to coin a 2000 year old woid) was at a party where Brooks and Reiner ad libbed some jokes and someone caught it all on tape. During a subsequent TV appearance, Mel, who had recently undergone gout surgery, moaned that he felt 2000 years old. Carl picked up on this and asked what it felt like to see two millenia worth of history, a question that allowed his partner much creative latitude. The result was a classic television moment.

2000 Years became a regular feature of the Reiner/Brooks stage act, expanded upon over time and polished. The routine led to a CAPITOL recording session and the popular 2000 YEARS album, followed by this equally funny sequel. In its "2000 Years Six Month" centerpiece, we learn how song began, plus the origins of the handshake and dancing. '2000' remembers Shakespeare and King Arthur, talks of ancient medicine and gives advice to the world.

The Tax Expert explains a bean counter's Hanker Method and we hear the Hip Accountants Oath. The shrink, poet and infant on Side Two are in a word: crazy! "2000 and One" is Brooks and Reiner at their free-form best. Highly recommended.

PROGRAM--

SIDE ONE

[13:53] 2000 and Six Month Man

[2:47] The Tax Expert

SIDE TWO

[6:36] The Two Hour Old Baby

[8:00] The New Technique Psychiatric Society

[5:07] The Third Best Poet

TOTAL TIME: 36:23

I won't argue all the pros and cons of this record, but one thing really galls me after listening to this repeatedly over the years. Now, I know Reiner is playing the straight man. However (Sir), the (Sir) constant (Sir) repeating (Sir) of (Sir) the word "Sir" everytime he speaks to Brooks' character gets really annoying. Now I know people were probably more courteous in the early 60's, but give me a friggin break. Also, I really doubt there is such a word in the English language as "origination". Some might see this as nitpicking, but it's what I've come to notice.

Brooks and Reiner are so stilted by this performance it shows. It doesn't have the snap of the earlier recordings and in this tired recording, there's alot of cursing and swearing(infomercial and self help book)which is not in the early renditions. Save your money and learn from my mistake, don't buy this.

I HAVE ALL THE 2000 YEAR OLD MAN SERIES. WE LISTEN TO THEM ON OUR TRAVELS. THE TWO OF THEM ARE NUTS.