Customer Reviews

Is It Something I Said

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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The year was 1976, and I was 17 going on 18. All of my friends knew a Richard Pryor routine. I had only heard a few jokes repeated while hanging out before and after school, but I had never heard Rich's entire stand up routine until my father made a tactical error--he bought the album and tried to hide it from us kids in the hall closet. Please. If you want to hide something from teenagers, don't use the hall closet. That's the first place we (myself, my sister and my brother) looked. It was on after that. Our friends gathered at our house after school for leftover meatloaf (or hot link) sandwiches, potato chips, Hostess Ding Dongs and "Is It Something I Said". We often choked on our food because we couldn't stop laughing. "New Niggers" was one of our favorites: "Okay troops, try it again!" "Niccuh, niccuh, niccuh!" "Well, that's close...if you get your a*s kicked you know you made it!" But my all time favorite was "Mudbone". I know some people on this page thought it was too long, but maybe it's one of those cultural things--I have relatives down South that talk and act like Mudbone. "Swear to God!" That's what the routine is so hysterically funny. I recognize the characters, and believe me, they aren't as far fetched as you might think. My aunt in Jacksonville, Florida is the physical manifestation of Miz Rudolph. All of my friends knew people like Mudbone and Miz Rudolph. And Rich had us falling off the couches in my parents' den, tears rolling down our faces as we laughed uncontrollably. Yes, this is an all time classic album. Thanks for the memories, Richard.

For the longest time, I have thought that observational truths were highly prone to being the most piercing of things: I have believed that the truth could either hurt (or disturb) you terribly, or make you laugh so hard, to the point of hysteria--or a combination of both extremes. There are many things to put this theory to the test, but to cut it all short, all one would need to do (if by chance it hasn't been done already) is experience the observational humor of Richard Pryor to possibly get a better understanding of what I am talking about. This classic comedy album from 1975 is a prime example.

Richard Pryor has been hailed as a genius by many, and I would have to agree: it takes plenty of intelligence and natural talent to be a comedian for starters, but to also turn many disturbing observational truths of everyday life into something painfully, body-breakingly hilarious takes a whole lot of something as well. From the very beginning, to the tail-end of this CD, 1975's _Is It Something I Said?_ is a non-stop laugh fest, that personally gets *me* laughing so loud and hard, I end up pretty much abusing almost every part of my body in the process: my throat, my lungs, my sides, my stomach--they all end up feeling beaten and worn-out. Richard's takes on drugs, sex, race & racism, relationships, and politics in general are every bit as painfully observational as they are profane--and did I mention HILARIOUS? The racy quality of the material found here makes so much of what's referred to as "cutting-edge" these days, seem so contrived and unaffecting; Richard's observations seem just as relevant now--if not more so--as they were 30 years ago. I couldn't be graphic in pointing out some of the sickeningly funny moments on this disc -- and there are MANY -- but I should say that the opening one-two punch of "Eulogy," and "Shortage of White People," and Richard's take on his own battle with cocaine addiction in the "Cocaine" bit get me cracking up SO hysterically, I sometimes need to be careful not to make myself sick. And again, those are just a few of the MANY hysterical blasts found here.

Richard Pryor is considered a comedic legend for a reason. This album here is a good example as to why he is considered as such. Just don't play it for the kids, and for the love of god *don't* play it during the middle of the night; you most certainly will disturb the beauty rest of your family, and your neighbors. And you know what could happen if you disturb one person's beauty rest: just imagine what would happen if you disturbed the beauty rest of many...

The first time I heard this album, I couldn't believe it was as dated as it was--because it still holds up to this very day. I grew up liking Dice, loving Kinison, loving Bruce, but this guy was and is the comedy king. Bits like "Cocaine", "Our Text For Today", and "Mudbone pt.2" rock the house like you wouldn't believe. Good for as many repeated listens as you want, and equally as funny every time.

Wow!!!
The first time I heard this I was in school and a buddy of mine let me borrow his "album" to take home and play. I was just a youngster so I had to sneak it the house and play it on my "phonograph" at a very low volume.
I was in tears!
To quote a line from the 'Mudbone' skit, "I had to bite a hole in my damn lip to keep from laughing".

This CD is a classic and a true testament to the genius that Richard Pryor was. All of U diehard Pryor fans know what I mean.
All of the tracks are raw, gritty, and to the point with comparisons to different races of people and their flaws that will make U smile if not split your side. (Caution: U may not want to consume food or beverages while listening)
:-)

I personally love the 'Mudbone' character because he told different stories while doing this skit. For example, "Little Feets".
How can U not laugh about a voodoo woman named Ms. Rudolph whose urine turned blue after 15 minutes of peeing on a guys feet who was hexed.
Or the story of Mudbone sawing the bottom out of an outhouse and waiting for a 400 pound woman to fall through it for revenge. LOL!
Oh my god, Richard Pryor was the king of absurd craziness and reality comedy! R.I.P.

U will not be disappointed with this CD.

If you've heard the CD, (and the routine "Our Text For Today") you'll get the title of this. Clearly the best sendup of a Black preacher since Bert Williams' Elder Eatmore. The famous "Mudbone" routine is filled with hilarity as well as wise insight (all old folks ain't fools-you don't get old by being a fool). Overall, this is comedy's answer to the blues, entertaining while filled with poignant insight on both the Black expereince in particular and the human condition in general, which explains Pryor's widespread appeal. Too bad the overrated trash-talkers who have come since Pryor have not understood how to mix the profane with the profound.

It's great to have Richard Pryor's work on CD, but his best albums on the Warner label "That Nigger's Crazy", "Bicentennial Nigger" and "Wanted" (soundtrack of sorts to the phenomenal "Live In Concert" film) have yet to see the light of day. You can still find them on cassette, if you look hard enough (and believe me, it's well worth the effort). I still think this one is excellent, especially "When Your Woman Leaves You", but let's see the classics on CD, PLEEZ.

Richard Pryor is gut wrenching funny on this cd as he was when I used to sneak to hear the albums when I was a kid.
In one bit he asks, "Where are all the white folks?" He states, "I haven't seen any white folks around. White folks are into yoga. You can't get no nut doing no yoga... You got to get the $%#@%."
Low birth rates among whites is now called the "Browning of America."
On another track, Pryor talks of telling jokes in jail to keep "Bubba" off his booty. "If someone trys to #$%&^ me you'll read about it in Jet Magazine's picture of the week. Mr. Pryor please let the %$#&^ go now, we merely want to sew it back on the body." This stuff is hilarious!
There is much more with Mudbone and the voodoo lady. Check this out.
However, this cd is not for children on the faint of heart. But, for those who love flat out raw comedy laced with the truth, this cd is a huge hit.

I'd seen three of Pryor's stand up videos (the ones that are supposed t be the funniest) before picked this up. Man, this guy is funny. Who else could talk about coke habits, including his own, and make it hilarious? (that title was supposed to be his imitation on the album of a pimp laughing).

Anytime I need a pick-me-up, I listen to this, especially "When your woman leaves you." I can't repeat the funniest routines on here, or this review would never get printed. The mofo count is probably as high as it is on any Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock (my other two favorite stand up comedians) album. Well, maybe not quite as high as Rock's Bigger and Blacker, but that's pretty hard to do. I'm not one of those people who laughs at cursing just for the sake of it- it has to be funny. And it is- it's the way he works it into a sentence or a joke (again, I see where Murphy and Rock got their influences). Also, its nowhere near as funny reading it as actually hearing it come from his mouth. Listen to any of the audio samples (though again, hearing the whole thing is best).

The Mudbone stuff is great, but not my favorite- I never get sick of listening to his imitation of a pimp on cocaine (he makes it sound funnier than me) or trying to be cool and calm when his woman leaves him. The title and the cover of this album (which I think I read somewhere had to be changed before the record company would release it- the company insisted the guys couldn't have white robes) should give you an idea of what to expect. This recording is also a good way to find out, before you make an investment in "And Its Deep, Too" whether or not you think Pryor is funny. I don't really see how anyone couldn't laugh their butt off at this; though I will say if you're easily offernded, especially by profanity...then why are you reading this, now that I think of it? Just listen to the Eulogy, and you'll be rolling on the floor.

A couple weeks ago (Ive been trying to avoid reading news about this, even before I got into Pryor, because it was so depressing), I read that Pryor's MS has now gotten to the point where he can no longer talk. I don't think anyone who has listened to this album will blame me when I tell you that after I read this news, I sat down and cried my eyes out.

i have this on tape and find myself listening to it all of the time.eulogy is funny as hell and what better way to start off the tape.his work here is funny from the start,all the way to the end.now don't get me wrong,his other work is great as well but this one really stands out.it's hard to believe that next year this tape will be 30 years old.this just shows you that he was way ahead of his time and after 30 years this tape is still funny as hell and everyone can still relate to it even after all of this time.

What can I say thats hasn't been already said, Richard Pryor was a comedy genius! His comedy was Graphic but he just did not use vulgarity as a crutch like Most comics do today.This album took you to a vivd world of Pimps, bums, and Polar Bears wit "little tiny feet". Mr. Pryor was "the Master", of story telling and there will be know one like him...EVER!
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