Flying Saucer Tour, Vol. 1 [Live]

Bill Hicks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B00006LEPC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,409 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Live in Pittsburgh , this is the first in a series of previously unreleased complete live performances from the Hicks estate's private collection. Recorded in 1991 in front of what Bill dubbed 'the worst audience I've ever faced'. Ryko. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Non-smokers die every day. Sleep tight!", December 7, 2002

By 

Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flying Saucer Tour, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

This is everything a Bill Hicks album should be. It's not scattered or all over the place, it is a complete set in its entirety. (With the exception of the last bit, which was replaced with another one due to the tape running out. That is explained in the booklet.) "Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1" is an outstanding Bill Hicks album with great material.

Hicks wasn't your ordinary comedian. He didn't do the whole "family" bit or "relationship" bit. No, he tackled edgy and controversial topics without any fear. It's subtle, and yet very refreshing and original. His comedy and sense of humor is dark and sarcastic, but it's all executed perfectly. Bill Hicks was a great talent to admire. There was no end to his brilliant mind.

"Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1" took place in Pittsburg, PA on June 20th, 1991. He talks about drugs, the gulf war, President Bush (not G.W.), smoking, working, the news, the media, and much more.

The great thing about this album is you get to hear the whole act, with the exception of the end. You get to hear the man every step of the way, and see just how cool and calm he can be when the audience doesn't appear to "get him" in the beginning. You get to experience him gradually winning the crowd over as the time goes by without breaking a sweat. The best is when he actually interacts a bit with the crowd when he feels that they're not laughing like they should be. It's really a great thing to hear.

Although the whole album is great, my favorite tracks are "the f-word," "smoking," "trying to quit," "are you guys drug dealers?," "school days," "Beelzebozo," and "great times on drugs." All of the "vs. the audience" tracks are also hilarious.

It sounds like there will be more of these types of albums coming out. I think it's a lot better when we get to hear Bill's material in its entirety without it being out of order or all over the place. If you love Bill Hicks, pick this album up right now. Stop reading the review! Go out and buy this right now. You will not regret it. "Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1" is everything a Bill Hicks album should be, and more.

Bill Hicks: the comedian, the philosopher, the great. Not to forget very much missed.

Also known as "Beelzebozo," clown from Hell. Use him for your next kid's party!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We can only hope the aliens picked him up, June 20, 2003

By 

T-Diddy "T-Diddy" (Weehawken, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flying Saucer Tour, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

For any Bill Hicks fan, this is a must. It is a rare treat, after several discs of compiled material, to have basically a performance in its (almost) entirety. If you have other titles of his, it is truly an insight to listen to this cd. Here is where you start finding out the depth of his material, how much he thought everything through, and where he could put individual bits. Sure, you've heard a lot of this stuff already, but not exactly the same way. You start to learn about the nuances of comedy in general, aside from his personal style and delivery. Same bit, slightly different wording and delivery, different audience reaction. Here you figure out that Bill wasn't out to get his audiences, or irritate them (although he didn't seem to mind it). He spent a lot of time on the stage in front of them, trying to get through.

You also start learning about comedy audiences. It's hard to tell whether people were bored (as another reviewer states) or angry. They weren't miked- he was. Being in a room and feeling the energy are totally different from arbitrarily hearing an audience reaction. You're only getting half of their reaction.

The amazing thing about Bill was his way of covering touchy issues by making them funny. Sure, he was frustrated about a great number of social and political ills. Making them funny is the key, and not easy to accomplish. It would seem that most American audiences do not care to think when taking in forms of entertainment, be it a movie, music, tv, or comedy. Hicks recognized that, and found ways to burrow into people's minds via humor.

This cd is a great look into a complete Hicks set; how he builds it, his ability to find setups and punchlines that no one else could, audience banter, and atypical comedy. He left us too soon.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius at Work..., November 30, 2002

By 

"shaunm13" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flying Saucer Tour, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

This is basically a complete Bill Hicks performance (see liner notes for slight change in the last bit). This shows what made Bill Hicks such a genius. The audience is totally not with him at the start but as Bill gradually wins them over they come to love him by the end. Most the material here is off his first two albums. What makes this so wonderful is the improvised bits where he talks to the audience. His conversations with a guy with a cell phone is priceless. Not to mention his ongoing bit with the pysch student. Even if you have heard this material before it sounds fresh and relevant. I had to keep telling people that he was talking about the other President Bush, not the current one. Even though he comes across as cynical and bitter, you can still see where Bill had a real hope for the future. If you don't own them already, get Arizona Bay and Rant in E Minor for the material that made Bill truly stand out as a stand-up comedian/philosopher.