Customer Reviews

Benny Hill: The Ultimate Collection [Television Soundtrack Compilation]

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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What a great CD. I remember a lot of these from when I was a kid and now that I actually get the humour - it is even better. Get this album, you won't be sorry.

As a fan of the Benny Hill TV shows I wasn't sure I'd enjoy a Benny Hill music CD. Benny was a master of visual comedy; half of the bits he did on his TV show didn't even have dialog. I decided to spring for the CD anyway and boy I'm glad I did. I got my first belly laugh about 5 seconds into the first track!

A lot of the material on the CD is recycled from the TV shows (or vice versa, I'm not sure), but despite the fact that I'd heard some of this before I still enjoyed it. Benny had a talent for recycling material but still making it seem fresh (or at least endearing), and that comes though on this CD. Most of the material was new to me, although Benny's stamp is firmly planted on each number.

If you are a Benny fan this CD is a must own. If you have never seen or heard of Benny Hill before, I would recommend starting with the DVDs first (the "Early Years" sets two or three are a good place to start), then come back and get the CD.

Yes, this is some of Benny's older recordings from long ago, but all his whit and pizzazz come through just as well as in his more recent songs. It's unfortunate even at this late date that no one still has snapped up more of his recordings to compile more of his songs on to more CD's, and he has had a lot in his career. At least I have heard that someone is finally trying to do a more proper compilation of all his TV shows, and starting up a series of DVD's. So you should snap up this one along with the other one of his "Best of Benny Hill". It's a small amount of his songs so far, but well worth the humor when just doing chores around the house, or riding along in the car, or if you have permission while at work (not that he's really all that dirty, just a bit of insinuation which is where he gets some of his humor from and can still keep it clean enough for most of the family). A couple of the songs on this one are also on the other, but they are different versions recorded at different times. You may also notice some lyrics in some songs to be similar, which is what he did sometimes when he might have been lacking a few extra lyrics to fill a song, or he might have thought it was such a good joke to use it repeatedly. And that is also where Benny's whit comes into play, he had such a way with his words especially so when he wrote songs.

This CD represents good value for money as there are 23 tracks on it for starters. Secondly the fact that it would probably be a great introduction for anybody wanting to know who this British comedian was. And thirdly the disc actually oscillates between painfully twee 'straight' songs and humorous ditties that harken back to English seaside musical comedy, a form that Benny Hill would of been only too familiar with from his early days.

Speaking of early days the recordings certainly are older and the recording process can sound a little hollow at times, but at least they've not attempted some sort of butchered remastering.

Lastly I should point out that those seeking the more ribald side of Benny Hills humour should direct themselves more towards DVD releases as they bring out that side of the mans comedy more and also they allow the punter the chance to see Hills' conspiratorial facial expressions as well as his regular cast of 'side men' who were such a big part of his visual comedy.