Customer Reviews

Rejoice, Dear Hearts!/Kick Thy Own Self [2 on 1]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Brother Dave's "Rejoice Dear Hearts!" in about 1968 at the age of 14. The record belonged to a friend's parents who were great fans of recorded humor-- Andy Griffith, Red Foxx, and Brother Dave. I still consider it to be one of the best I've heard. I later bought a used copy and place it at the front of my collection which includes David Frye, Firesign Theater, Cheech and Chong, and George Carlin. It still measures up to the best and is Pure Southern Humor without the gratuitous low-brow foolishness of later artists (although they're funny too). It is great that it is back on CD--it was always hard to keep from having the needle "skip" when flipping the record while laughing your ___ off. Brother Dave's characters are alive and well--and my kin!

We live in a time when its still hard to find individual talent.James Dickey said the key to SOUTHERN humor was that it was self=deprecating. All of Dave Gardners characters lived and are still living in these United States.

Still, nothing like Brother Dave.

I first heard these (then) albums when I was 8 years old. My father and his best friend (the two funniest guys I ever knew), LOVED "Brother Dave". Better still, they would let me in on their adult world and let me listen along. Back then, I loved the outrageous vocal effects and other-worldly voices. As I got older I "got" more and more of the humor. thirty years ago, the albums disapeared, seemingly lost forever. Then I recently found them on CD. I cried at my fathers memory and DIED laughing all over again. This time I got ALL of the humor. I swear, there was one joke that my father NEVER got and which took me fourty years to get (The one where Chuck says 'lets blow this joint', and Baby says 'naw man pass it on to the waitress'.) Often imitated, (just listen to a Ray Steven Record), but never duplicated, Brother Dave was equal part philosopher, preacher, con-man, metaphysicist, and comedy pioneer. Buy this disc, set your brain to allow for the cultural reference time warp, and REJOICE, dear heart! By the way, disclosur forces me to admit that I'm a born and bred Southerner, but as Brother Dave says, We all live South of somewhere!

The fact that dear, beloved Brother Dave made the Essential Comedy selection proves beyond a doubt that Earth IS a southern planet. Glory! On a deeper note, this Brother Dave set brings back my father's philosophical style and rich humor. Remember, it doesn't matter where you are when the bomb drops -- just as long as you can say, WHAT WAS THAT??

I remember Dave Gardner from when I was child and I was supprised when I pulled out the old vinal at how current his jokes still are. He and Bill Cosby have a commonality in that they both like to tell good entertaining stories that are filled with thought provoking yet humorous at the same time. He keeps you in stitches every moment you are listening to him.

This is such a great recording. Can't believe I Found it again. Heard him originally when I was 29 and now 43 years later he is as timely and funny as ever. I am only from Southern California not from his South, but we knew talent when we heard it and he was an original. So happy you have it and so happy to give it 5 stars.

Brother Dave's humor was a two-edged sword: sophisticated for the adult and slapstick for the young. My son laughed at these stories when he was 10. Now 23, he understands the subtle double-entendre in almost every track. Brother Dave's humor is Southern (he gladly tells you that there ain't no North, everything is south of something) it's pretty clean (he may say hell or damn, but that's as bad as it gets), and its belly rolling funny. The two albums included on this CD contain some of Dave's funniest and brightest stories. (I'm hoping that the rest of his albums will be re-released on CD - I'll be one of the first fans in line to buy them!)

One word of caution: if you aren't from the South, some of Brother Dave's humor might escape you. But if you listen carefully, you may understand Southerners a little better. At least you'll see that we can poke good-natured fun at the entire Southern population, not just the rednecks. And be careful: you might find yourself laughing when Brother Dave pokes fun at "those brilliant Yankees"!

I am a Southerner imprisioned in sunny Southern California and I listen to Brother Dave when I get homesick and need to find my spiritual center. I hear his words, lines and imagination so badly imitated by today's comedians. He was an original and had so much talent and humor to share. I have listened to all of his recorded works and I would give any recording by Brother Dave five stars. If you are a Southerner you owe it to yourself to buy his work, if you aren't a Southerner there is still hope. You may find it listening to Brother Dave. Glory! (pronounced glow..reee)

Brother Dave as he was and is known to a loyal group of fans influenced the development of recorded comedy as much as Muddy Waters and Jimmie Rogers influenced music. In the rabid days of McCarthyism, the beginning of the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement; Brother Dave brought out the dark sides of life through humor, forcing those who listened to think about and question their beliefs. I am of the George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Cheech and Chong age, but Brother Dave broke the ground in the clubs and the studio's to give rise to a brand of comedy adapted to different audiences, in different regions, of different races. Know Thy 50's and 60's mind set and history, then Rejoice Dearheart in the throes of laughter!

I had never heard of Brother Dave until I bought a car that came with a satellite radio. I was drawn to his humor because he reminded me of several coaches and teachers I had in high school. I had several teachers who played with the language, using southern euphemisms. I think they used them to ensure we were paying attention. I think this is what Brother Dave is doing also. He takes you down a path and spins you into several different directions. Very smart humor from a southern hipster.