Customer Reviews

Live From Hell

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an album with style. There aren't any mainstream comics that have this kind of style, this intellect to just pull things from out of nowhere, a flow of ideas. The first disc is great, and gets even better when you learn by reading the liner notes or listening to his act, this show was a huge deal for him as a comedian, in terms of size and technique. Add onto that his drinking problem, the only problem he doesn't mention in his act. To hear about more personal things, the second CD is a really strange one-time-only interview kind of thing where Richard just goes off on these nervous, off the wall rants. I think it's a good comic's CD, beginning comics that haven't had much experience, the things he talks about on the road and performing, it has an appeal to the few maniacs that want to attempt standup comedy. Even the stilted, catchphrase kind of comedy (I know, "From hell," a catchphrase that's said all over the album, but it's not the joke, it the means to a joke), even this mindless pandering to the audience requires some sort of brain malfunction. I would highly recommend you buy this seemingly unknown comedy gem, turn off Comedy Central and listen to a rare thing...SOMETHING FROM THE EIGHTIES THAT ISN'T UTTER CRAP. THANK YOU RICHARD, THANK YOU.God Bless George Bush And His Fight Against Evolution.

Man..this is really a great package! I have been a Richard Lewis fan since college and never knew why he didn't have CD's (just some monologues from Comic relief)--only videos...well the wait is over and wow-- it was well worth it! It's totally insane! It's the best! The hard-to-find first disk is one of the funniest concerts he ever did but to hear him now free-wheeling with that great writer-interviewer, Bill Zehme, in-studio live,is totally amazing and unlike anything I ever heard from a comedy CD. I mean, it's like the best of the old Lewis and the best of the new Lewis. I just happened to read his first book, "The Other Great Depression" and was blown away at how funny and revealing Mr.Lewis allowed himself to be and this double CD is like the knock-out punch. I can't imagine any fan of the "Prince of Pain" not devouring this CD. Thank God for Live Archive. Long live the "Prince"! Keep knocking out the new riffs, Richard, and stay sober if this new you keeps rockin'! Man, this is like too good to be true!

I liked the first CD a lot. It kicked was hilarious. This is one amazingly disturbed man. But because of that he's so funny. His family stuff is the best. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because of the second CD. It wasn't really funny. It was more of an interview. Bill Zehme just kept ... up to him. Although the Sinatra Story on the second CD made me cry it was so funny. Its worth the money. I suggest getting Lewis Black's CD. That is funnier.

I was too young to have appreciated his humor back in the 80's but his early gig on this CD in like a crazed, gunslinger "from hell" ...but it's the 2nd and more recent weirdness in Lewis's head that Zehme brings out of him that is for me the coolest comedy album I have ever heard. I have played it over and over and each time some new, weird references destroy me. He's great live and the first CD rocks but the interview is the weirdest, wildest, most bizarrely funny comedy album I've ever heard. Thank God I'm not him but thank God he's able to say what he does. Richard Lewis has to be from another planet.

I met him personally at the airport in mpls.
I'm a skycap and a comedian. And we could easily relate to one another.