FM & Am [Original recording reissued]

George Carlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00004X0OG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,953 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #82 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Classic Comedy

Editorial Reviews

Great collection at a great price. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasing Both Sides, October 26, 2000

By 

Ben McClellan (St. Charles, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FM & Am (Audio CD)

George Carlin's second album was released in 1972, and was recorded after Carlin made his public transformation from clean-cut, suit wearing comedian to the laid back, long-haired hippie who wasn't afraid to tackle things like drugs, sex in commercials, and exactly which word of the Seven Words that got him fired from a gig in Las Vegas. However, Carlin also stays true to his original routine, lengthy monologues while posing as a wacky disc jockey, news anchors, or slimeball game show hosts. Side one (the "FM" side) is the "new" Carlin, with well written and performed material like "Drugs", "Sex in Commercials", "Birth Control", and a bit justifying his long hair and new beard, "The Hair Peace". Side two (the "AM" side) is Carlin reprising some of his earliest routines, like "Son of WINO", the sequel to "Wonderful WINO" from his first album. "Divorce Game" and "Ed Sullivan Self Taught" are also fun. The best cut on the album is "The 11 O'Clock News", with the return of everyone's favorite hippy dippy weatherman Al Sleet, and his dead-on forecasts ("Tonight's forecast...DARK! And continued dark until scattered light in the morning, man..") A must own for Carlin fans, it marks the beginning of the Carlin era during the 70s, one that will always be a defining legacy in stand-up comedy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Carlin Era started here..., October 22, 2000

By 

Ben McClellan (St. Charles, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FM & Am (Audio CD)

George Carlin released this record in 1972, after going through a public metamorphosis from clean-cut comedian who relied primarily on silly newscasts, disc jockey personas and such to the long-haired cool cat who wasn't afraid to touch drugs, sex, or anything considered taboo. Regardless, we get to hear both sides of the early George Carlin, with the "FM" side covering the more risqué material ("Drugs, "Sex in Commercials"), and his amusing take on the S-word in "Shoot". The "AM" side is more reminiscent of his first album "Take-Offs and Put-Ons", with the sequel to his popular Wonderful WINO, "Son of WINO", observations on Ed Sullivan impersonations and TV game shows, and the return of "The 11 O'Clock News", complete with everyone's favorite hippy-dippy weatherman, Al Sleet. Be warned, the sound quality isn't the best (Carlin's voice is almost entirely in the right speaker, and kind of hard to hear at first), but don't let that scare you away. If you want to hear vintage George Carlin, get this album. Then compare it to the George Carlin of today, the ranting, angry old man. You'll be shocked, since it's almost like comparing two totally different comedians. Trust me, FM & AM is worth whatever money you spend on it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Wattage, June 20, 2001

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: FM & Am (Audio CD)

FM & AM is another classic George Carlin album from the early 70's. The album is broken up into the FM side that contains his new, hippie side and the AM side is a throw back to his earlier comedy roots. Both sets of routines show that Mr. Carlin could be topical and cutting edge in his humor focusing on counterculture issues of the day like use of vulgar language, drugs and sex or could slide into universal routines like mocking radio station DJ's, newscasts & Ed Sullivan. His "11 O'Clock News" bit is an absolute scream as he mocks the typical talking heads of local newscasts who take themselves way more seriously than everyone else does. In "Sex In Commercials:, he skewers the supposed wholesome images of products that use a subliminal message sex to get you buy their stuff. His Ed Sullivan routine is great. FM & AM shows that George Carlin is a comic who can inhabit numerous comedy styles and make us laugh at all of them.