I've been thinking about some of those intricately produced comedy albums from the 60's and 70's by Firesign Theater and Monty Python, among others. Unlike most live concert comedy albums, these studio productions demanded repeat listenings, and even had a certain intelligence behind the laughs. Are there any folks out there today who are doing this kind of work, be it in CD or podcast form?

I don't know, but I do remember Tom Lehrer.

Harry Shearer's "Le Show" is available via podcast. While extremely political in nature, he often performs brilliantly elaborate sketches in which he does all the voices. You can listen at http://www.harryshearer.com/news/le_show/#ls574 or download at http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_det ... od_id=1840 .

Definately NOT intended for the dittoheads, however.

Thanks AMW, I'll check it out!

For classic stuff, and not sure if these fit your criteria or not sorry if they don't...
but my fav's are:
--Bob Newhart--"Something Like This..." Anthology (2cd set Rhino 2001)
--Richard Pryor--"The Anthology; 1968-1992 (2cd set Rhino w/slipcase 2001)
--Woody Allen--"Standup Comic (combo cd of first two records from the late 60's-which were re-issued as a 2lp set in '78/ Rhino 1999)
--personal favs now are anything by George Carlin and Lewis Black
And those remastered Monty Python discs are great! I am still trying to get them all to upgrade my vinyl.

Hope that helps but my guess you knew about these already so sorry for the double up.

Rich

Rich, I have one of the Python remasters on order from BMG, and will probably end up getting them all. The other names you mentioned are all great, though I have to say I liked Carlin's older stuff (Class Clown era) better than what he's doing now.

Appreciate all the recommendations, guys! It's not that I don't love music, but sometimes you just need a good laugh.

If you like old Carlin, get the Little David years boxed set. All of his classic albums from 71-78 plus a bonus disc.

Most of Steve Martin's stuff is out too (except, I think, the Steve Martin Brothers album...I think that's the title, the one with a split of him on the cover as "himself" and a hippie version of himself)

I couldn't agree more on your comment about G. Carlin. Not counting his "Take Offs & Put Ons" which is not very good for a first LP but starting with his 2nd "FM & AM" going all the way through 1988's "What am I Doing in New Jersey?" everything in-between those years are pure comic genius.

However, IMO, he has gotten just too angry for angry's sake and is not half as funny as he used to be. He is so political now and not politics but in his utter hatred of what seems like life and people in general. His stories are very insiteful and right on track but just not very funny. I still go see him live (six times now going back to the mid 80's) but the shows seem very redundant now.

Lewis Black is the "new" Carlin as he is very topical and very funny!. You should try out any of his CD's. I have three and just got the "Luther.... Arts Blues" disc from 2004. It is very funny. His most recent At Carnegie Hall is the best.(Black cover 2cd set from 2006).
I laughed my ass off and still do everytime I hear it. The bit on Halloween candy alone is worth the cost of the CD.

Check out the Patton Oswald (Spence on King of Queens) CD's. He's so unlike the character he plays on TV, a little blue but very funny~

His new one on Sub Pop is absolutely HYSTERICAL!!!!

"The Steve Martin Brothers" finally came out on CD about a year ago.

The Warner Bros. Bill Cosby albums are classic, and also get some Allan Sherman

Yeah, I've got to get some Cosby. This past weekend my wife quoted one of his old routines and I think she was a bit miffed that I didn't get the reference. And I'm supposed to be the comedy fan!

Hey, just noticed this is Post #200. Woo Hoo! (Okay, celebration over - I have to get back to work now...)

My favorite Cos record is from '78 "My Father Confused Me..."
It has some classic routines such as the title track, Mother & Fathers, UFO's, The Dentist. and many more. I am not sure if it is out on CD or not. I know WB has reissued many of his early ones but this one is on Capitol. I still get out the vinyl for a trip back to junior high.

"Your parents named you yet they can never remember who you are.. come here Floyd, Richard, Rutabega, what ever your name is and don't lie to me because you live here and I'll find out who you are!"

"...and they will hit you on each syllable, 'didn't-I-tell-you-not-to-go-out-jumping-in-puddles?"

Sorry, my friends and used to quote this record with classic Cheech & Chong one's... Dave, Dave's not here man.

For Allan Sherman, there is the Rhino Handmade My Son, The Box boxed set with all of his classic Warner Bros. albums in one box, the My Son, The Greatest compilation of his signature recordings, and Collector's Choice reissued his album on RCA with the Boston Pops Orchestra entitled "Peter and The Commissar."

Jerry Clower is worthwhile if you like classic country standup comedy, Ray Stevens is always classic if you like the country-pop novelty song style, track down old Minnie Pearl recordings for more classic country standup, Grandpa Jones is more classic country novelty song, the same with anything by Homer & Jethro and also Sheb Wooley. For classic satire and parody aside from Allan Sherman, anything by Stan Freberg (on CD there are greatest hits compilations, the Tip of The Freberg boxed set and the United States of America 2 CD set on Rhino. I'd get The Capitol Collectors' Series disc, which is in print on Collectables under the title "The Very Best of Stan Freberg" if you want a greatest hits CD), Tom Lehrer, Spike Jones, Vaughn Meader's First Family, Pat Paulsen's Pat Paulsen For President album which is available on CD via the laugh.com website. Many of the laugh.com CDs are sourced from vinyl LPs though), David Frye's Richard Nixon parody albums available as a 2 CD set on Collector's Choice Music, anything by the Smothers Brothers (lots of their albums are on CD via laugh.com)

For general overviews of the novelty song genre, get the Dr. Demento compilations on Rhino with the essential volumes being the 20th Anniversary Collection and the 25th Anniversary Collections, especially the 20th Anniversary Collection.

Every so often I pull out the comedy recordings that Mike Nichols and Elaine May did together. "In Retrospect" is a good gathering of pieces from their various albums and live recordings.

Peter Sellers was a master of characters and voices; his readings of a few Beatles songs, such as "She Loves You" (as Dr. Strangelove) and especially "Can't Buy Me Love" still crack me up even after dozens of listenings.

And if you're into classical music and opera, give Anna Russell a listen, too.