Jean Shepherd: Life Is (Classic Radio Humor) [Audio CD]

Jean Shepherd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2007 | Series: Classic Radio Humor

Radio Again is pleased to present 8 classic radio performances by raconteur Jean Shepherd from the archives of Hartwest Productions.

Do you think that we should continue to deal as cleanly and as openly and honestly with the vast intricacies of life... or do you think you re up to it?

Have you ever thought about life? Jean Shepherd did, in his inimitable way, and Life Is will please those who can appreciate the thought and the inherent humor therein. The eight shows in this collection include performances pondering forbidden magazines, playing tuba in the school band, his old man s love of Oldsmobiles, chauffer-driven Ferrari s, home in Hammond, the insidiousness of public relations, and so much more.

Includes liner notes with excerpts from the biography EXCELSIOR, YOU FATHEAD! The Art and Enigma of JEAN SHEPHERD By Eugene B. Bergmann.

8 Audio CDs - Digitally Remastered and Restored. Each program is approximately 44 minutes. Total running time approximately 6 hours.

The radio programs in this collection, long lost and forgotten, were created in the mid 1960 s by Shepherd for radio and television syndicator Hartwest Productions in the format heard on Shepherd s WOR shows of the day, right down to his familiar Bahn Frei theme music.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Humorist Jean Shepherd 1921-1999, creator/narrator of the holiday movie favorite A Christmas Story and author of numerous other works of fiction and television, had a long and stellar career on radio and was heard most days during the period of 1955-1977 on WOR radio in New York, a clear-channel station heard along the Eastern seaboard and points west. Shepherd s radio work was both unique and transitional in the development of today s talk radio. Shepherd could talk, and talk he did, touching his listeners intimately as if speaking to an audience of one. Shepherd was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2005.

From AudioFile

Shepherd, best known as creator and narrator of the perennial film favorite A CHRISTMAS STORY, was an early developer of talk radio. The eight programs included here were prepared for syndication in the format of his long-running New York-based program: commentary, often insightful, sometimes genially cynical, on human nature and culture, mixed with middle-brow pop philosophy, storytelling, nostalgia, and just plain goofiness. A natural raconteur, he riffs humorously on loose topics such as "Fate," "Public Relations," and "Playing the Tuba." But many of his references are dated and will be obscure, and some of his attitudes may seem equally dated. If newcomers wonder what all the fuss was about, however, old-time fans will feel like Linus rediscovering his blanket in middle age. W.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Radio Again (May 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978997301
• ISBN-13: 978-0978997304
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Books on CD > Radio Shows

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what you remembered! And just what you want..., January 4, 2009

By 

S. Bacon "quansoo" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Shepherd: Life Is (Classic Radio Humor) (Audio CD)

At thirteen I would huddle by the radio, lights out, waiting for 10:15 PM and WOR at the ready: the music began and so did a great 45' of how to look at the crazy world.

My wife got me many of these for Christmas this year, and I listen to them in the car. The problem is that I have to pull off the road sometimes because I am laughing so hard at the things I had forgotten--there are some great pieces here and some great moments.

The only thing I miss is that sort of "Ahhhh..." you used to get at the end of the music at the close of the show.

Well worth the price!!!!

Only regret? You don't get many of the older ones--I guess they weren't keeping tapes. So, these tend to be more mid-60's kinds of things.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars radio nights and other shepherd sources, March 4, 2009

By 

Arthur Mclean (Sunderland,MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Shepherd: Life Is (Classic Radio Humor) (Audio CD)

Jean Shepherd: Life Is (Classic Radio Humor) I found Jean Shepherd's radio show quite by chance one night back in the '60s and tuned in nightly ever after. From the classic theme music of "Bahn Frei" through the commercials and musings eventually came a wonderful story of life mostly real, sometimes imagined (like the story of the "Flying Dutchman" airplane he built that crash-landed in one telling but sailed off never to be seen again in another). Often you didn't realize you were listening to the night's story until you were hooked. I've ordered this set and have no doubt it will occupy many more enraptured nights. If you're interested in more Shepherd, [...] has a great 3 DVD mp3 collection of his shows (529+ hours and very reasonably priced) spanning his career and [...] is the de facto official Shepherd website with lots of information, downloads and links.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, April 10, 2009

By 

Stefan Josef Herzog - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Shepherd: Life Is (Classic Radio Humor) (Audio CD)

I love a good story and Jean Shepherd can tell one. But after the hopla of it all you realize that if you didn't know about the time period these took place you would swear that he was alive and well today. The more things change the more they stay the same should be the key phrase of all these recordings. The same things that were prevellent n the 60's you will find are still going on today. There worth a listen and if you do you'll see what I mean.