To Russell My Brother, Whom I Slept With

Bill Cosby | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino Flashback
• ASIN: B002UPQ1PG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,935 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
  • #16 in Music > Miscellaneous > Radio Shows
  • #34 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Cosby shot to #7 with this 1968 LP, earning huge laughs with these quirky-yet familiar-tales of youthful travails: Baseball; Conflict; The Losers; The Apple , and the epic title routine!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Title Routine: Bill Cosby at the Pinnacle of His Comic Craft, September 19, 2000

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Back when albums were records and not CDS, the title track of "To Russell, My Brother, With Whom I Slept" took up the entire second side of the disc, which makes it the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" of comedy routines from the 1960s-70s. With this routine Bill Cosby clearly reaches the pinnacle of his craft as a stand-up comic. The other four bits on the album pale into insignificance, mere appetizers in preparation for this comic epic. Cosby had often used his family as a source of comic inspiration, but the depth (and length) of this piece is astounding. Certainly in his recent filmed performances Cosby has created other long comic gems, but this one is the first, and so it is cherisehd with a special fondness.

I recall with feelings of joy doing this routine on late night bus trips in high school. Years later I shared it with my students and for years we could get a laugh out of suddenly wailing, "The man came in through the window, Dad!" Even if you have not heard Cosby's other routines about growing up you can enjoy this timeless piece. If you own only one of these reissued albums of Cosby, this is the one.

Do you understand what I am saying? Or do you want me to get . . . THE BELT?

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious, December 16, 2000

By 

"saxjunkie" (Forest, VA) - See all my reviews

this cd predates the era of computer generated effects and high-tech comedic wizardry. Just a guy, a stool, a microphone, and a couple of spot lights. The title track of the cd is one of the funniest things i've ever heard. With his creative microphone sound effects and his unique take on his house and family, cosby sets the stage for one of the greatest bits of stand up comedy i've ever heard.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't make me get THE BELT!, November 12, 2004

By 

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

This is one of Bill Cosby's best albums. The first side of the album is good, but the real highlight is side two. This 27 minute routine is Bill's "magnum opus". He hilariously describes a night from his childhood, sharing a bed with his brother. Although this is Bill's funniest comedy routine, it isn't included on any of his "best of" albums, simply because it's so darn long. All the more reason to buy this CD. Highly recommended.