I Am the Greatest

Cassius Clay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000JT3K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #71 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Poetry

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Cassius Clay had yet to win the heavyweight championship or, indeed, to change his name when this 1963 recording was made. Incredibly young sounding, he's at his best here when making swipe after verbal swipe at Sonny Liston, both in verse and in (scripted?) answers to audience questions. One silly sketch ("'I Have Written a Drama,' He Said Playfully") isn't up to the solo spots, but even that hardly disrupts the record's giddy tone. This reissue of a once-rare LP, augmented by several other hard-to-find sides, is a must for Muhammad Ali fans, American Studies scholars, and anyone else who seeks further illumination of the Greatest's self-mocking but total confidence. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

2008 digitally remastered reissue of this album from the man who would soon become Mohammad Ali. I Am The Greatest! Yep, it's no empty boast...as the sportsman of the last century does his thang in a hilarious and amazing collection of standup, poetry and rapping, just prior to entering the history books by becoming the greatest ever heavyweight champ of all time! Well on his way to becoming the idol of boxing fans and kids worldwide, and a role model to millions, the brash young Ali is as hilarious, insightful, and wise as ever; a moment of history captured forever! As a bonus, this CD includes the stunning take on Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me', an idea conceived by the great Sam Cooke, where Ali shows he could have been a contender in the charts too! In the specially prepared stereo remix done exclusively for the RevOla release, it sounds stunning. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hang on to your sides-Mighty funny stuff!, October 17, 2001

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am the Greatest (Audio CD)

Even those unfamiliar with boxing or the topical events of the time cannot help but roar at most of the humor in this as the former Mr. Clay delivers a series of hilarious rhymes about his modesty (or lack thereof) and likelihood of beating then-champ Sonny Liston. Ali would have made a great comedian. The added bonues is that he's just as funny when he tries to sing. His attempt to sing Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" straight with his incredibly hoarse voice and poor timing is hilarious! Ditto for his Beatle-esque, raucous version of "The Gang's All Here" celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston (check out the Paul McCartney-like WHOOOO! in the backgound on this one).

This one will have Ali fans rolling on the floor in laughter. Those who are not in the know may also find this amusing. Enjoy!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the Ali fan only, July 16, 2001

By 

"jdpedersen" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am the Greatest (Audio CD)

If you are a devoted Ali fan, you need this. Aside from the importance to the collector, it really IS quite funny. Definitely a kind of pre-rap. You might think this kind of endless bragging would be obnoxious, but he keeps it entertaining. If you aren't an Ali fan or boxing fan, you won't like it. But admirers of "The Greatest" will find this bringing back memories(and encouraging them to pop in the Clay-Liston fight).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars He is the greatest., January 18, 2005

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am the Greatest (Audio CD)

This spoken word album was recorded by Cassius Clay before he became Muhammad Ali, and even before he became World Heavyweight Champion. It's pretty entertaining stuff, with Clay reading poetry and bragging about how great he is. The album was recorded in front of a live audience, and their laughter and applause definitely helps out with the atmosphere. The CD includes three bonus tracks tracks. The single version of "I am the Greatest" is shorter than the album version, plus it is set to music. "Stand By Me" is Clay's legendary Golden Throats version of the Ben E. King's classic. "The Gang's All Here" is a previously unreleased recording of Clay leading a sing-along. Fans of Muhammad Ali should really enjoy this CD.