Customer Reviews

Wizard of Comedy

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

 

 

Usually, Pryor's recordings for the low budget Laff records in the late 60s and 70s (as opposed to his more legit records on Warner Bros) are cheapshot affairs that are poorly edited and recorded, not often with the best of his material (such as Who Me I'm Not Him, Supern----r, Black Ben The Blacksmith, Are You Serious, Holy Smoke, etc.). This is different. Almost a comic opera of sorts about his youth and neighborhood.

The "Rumplestilskin" piece is important as Pryor has said that appearing in this play as a child changed his life. Black Erma would later evolve into Big Bertha on "Craps Afer Hours" and the Churches/Sweet Songs/White Protestants routines would later be crystallized into "Our Text for Today" on his other classic "Is It Something I Said." Enjoy.

Laff Records should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this mess. Richard left Laff Records for Warner Bros. Laff released him from his contract but held on to his material. Everytime Warner Bros. would release a Richard Pryor album, Laff would go into their vaults and release one also to cash in. This album sucks. This is the only Richard Pryor CD I listened to and didn't laugh one time. Please, do not waste your money on this. I gave this CD to my brother because he laughs at everything.

If you love Richard like I do, go with his Warner Bros. recordings (That N----- Crazy, Bicentennial N-----, Is It Something I Said?, Wanted). Stay away from this one and 'Are You Serious??,''SuperN----' 'Black Ben the Blacksmith,' and 'Holy Smoke.' 'Who Me, I'm Not Him' is another thrown together Laff compilation but it's not really all that bad. It's better than this one. If you must have some Richard Pryor in your life and his box set is too expensive, go with his Anthology or the 'Evolution/Revolution' CD. But please, whatever you do, stay away from this one! You've been warned by a die-hard Richard Pryor fan.