Lenny Bruce - Let the Buyer Beware
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Free Music Notes for Let the Buyer Beware
Free Music Review: "Here's My Search Warrant": The Harrassment, Attempted Annihilation And Eventual Canonization Of Saint Lenny
Hit: 5 Stars
As I have reviewed other Lenny Bruce products on Amazon, it's easy to verify that I idolize this man...not just buy the books and other stuff for a couple years and then move onto somebody new, but IDOLIZE. I have been a fan of his since approximately age ten when my extremely hip father let me listen to Lenny's vinyl records; even at that young age, I knew that this man stood for something that he may not have lived to see, but he fought for, nonetheless. At ten, I couldn't comprehend that, in our country, Lenny had been told "Here's my warrant" and had a gun pulled on him by a police officer sent to, depending on your view, either harrass Bruce or do his own job, but I knew that it wasn't right...Lenny immediately rocketed into my consciousness, and has never faded into a corner with other childhood interests, crushes and fads. Therefore, it's difficult to review something to do with Lenny and not have everyone roll their eyes and think, "Sure this will be unbiased,", but I will do my best...Now, this six CD set has been out for a few years, and is getting tougher and tougher to find, and so I picked up an extra on Amazon. Listening to material that I already know, you'd think I would have nothing new to say, but let's mention the physical presentation of this collection because getting a new copy really made me appreciate it, all over again. It comes in an oversized-book like package; it opens to first a very detailed 79 pages of text, newspaper article reproductions and concert poster reproductions - very, very impressive, and important information for the Lenny neophyte. Then the six discs are each in their own sleeve, sewn into the 'book'; the contents of each disc is noted inside the back cover (a more detailed content detail is listed pages 71-75, as well). Now, does the material live up to the presentation? IMO, yes. There are definitely what I would call throwaway bits - "Testing the Sony Microphone" is one of those: I'm a Bruce fanatic, but I don't need to hear every single breath the man ever took, and, in this case, quite possibly taped the night before he died. But for every one of those dubious tack-ons to this collection, there is a "Religions, Inc.", "Christ and Moses","Are There Any N---- Here, Tonight?", Lenny being busted ONSTAGE, LIVE MICROPHONE or "T--- and A---" (What would Lenny think, fifty years later, that we still cannot say those words in some media, but we can say 'molested', 'raped', 'murdered' etc. without anybody so much as batting an eye?). I found the entire Disc 5, subtitled "You'd Better Bring Your Toothbrush" to be my favorite, although I am certain some would think that it's too serious and political, going into detail about LB's many legal struggles. Personally, I've never felt that hearing about Lenny's getting royally screwed by his own country's laws was a bore: There but for fortune, guys. And so, I will absolutely acknowledge what other reviewers noted to be correct - There is filler, and the discs could have been in better order of appearances, years, etc., but...when somebody elevates beyond 'entertainer' or 'favorite writer' or so forth, some things shed from their legacy, and there is a psychological 'pass' on those bumps and bangs, because we know that, to have reached the level of brillance that a Lenny Bruce or Dylan Thomas or John Lennon reached in many minds, there is going to be a bit of stumbling, experimentation as to what works and doesn't work, and just plain complete and unabashed purging of the soul. I listen to Lenny, replay again and again the ones I 'get' and fall down laughing over or think about (I am not arrogant enough to say that I completely 'get' "My Name Is Adolf Eichmann", but I sure as hell think about it), and I forgive the hit-and-miss stuff. It always interests me that people will review an icon with the "Well, two tracks just don't work" attitude, but when reviewing bubblegum or rap crap of the year will be sure to say, "A couple of tracks are not up to the rest, but that's okay!" We need to be more loving toward our heroes, and remember that they, too, started out as human. Lenny stumbles here and there in this set, yes, but mostly he flies, runs with the ball, whatever you want to say. And remember, you can say alot of what you do because of this man - Go into this collection with that way of thinking, yourself, and you will acknowledge that...a half century later, Lenny Bruce still deserves to be selling, discussed and appreciated.Free Music Review: Release of the Lenny Bruce boxset is a cultural EVENT
Hit: 5 Stars
As a long-time fan of Lenny Bruce's work I have collected every available recording and book on the man and his art. The Lenny Bruce boxset, LET THE BUYER BEWARE, is a cultural event as important as a trunk filled with unpublished Mark Twain novels being unearthed. LET THE BUYER BEWARE presents over 7 hours of Lenny Bruce material, much of which has never been released in any form. As a hardcore fan, I was amazed to find virtually no overlap between this boxset and previously released Lenny Bruce albums.
As for the comedy on this boxset, Lenny Bruce has never been more relevant, never more hilarious, as he lampoons santimonious religious and political leaders, gives frank and insightful opinions about the art of comedy and who the "real" comedians of his time were. Lenny himself does not escape his incisive eye and satire as one track on Disc 2 has him reading a scathing review his nightclub act received, admitting to the audience how the review rankled him.
LET THE BUYER BEWARE is much more than a "Best of" Lenny Bruce. It provides tremendous scope of this comic genius' career, from his very early apperance on THE ARTHUR GODFREY show (winning the talent contest for that week) to his being warned by a police officer to keep his nightclub act "clean" while performing in a particular city.
To this fan, the single most poignant track in the entire boxset comes on Disc 6 when Lenny explains how "I Picked on the Wrong God." Lenny is never maudlin, but introspective and painfully honest as he assesses what has been about his outlook and nightclub act that ignited his myriad legal troubles.
It's easy to cast Lenny Bruce as a philosopher, as a martyr for freedom of speech, but I think Lenny's assessment of himself is most apt: "I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce." His brand of insight and satire was so singular, it cannot be summed up as simply "comedy." It was no mere entertainment, nor was he simply pontificating from a nightclub stage. Lenny Bruce opened himself before his audience unlike any performer at that time, and like few have since then.
Very special thanks must go to Lenny's daughter Kitty Bruce for making this material available. LET THE BUYER BEWARE is the Dead Sea Scrolls of contemporary culture. Whether Lenny Bruce discussed the Kennedy assassination, the death of Marylin Monroe, St. Paul, or LBJ, he expresses his thoughts with a rare and abiding honesty and hilarity.
For anyone interested in the art of Lenny Bruce -- whether you saw the man perform during the 1950s and '60's -- or have no idea what the fuss is about, get your copy of LET THE BUYER BEWARE and listen to a man whose work has been compared to Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain. Hear the words of what most people consider to be the greatest comedian of the 20th Century.
--Matthew St. Amand author of AS MY SPARKS FLY UPWARD and FOREVER & A DAY... www.matthewstamand.com
Free Music Review: Release of the Lenny Bruce boxset is a cultural EVENT
Hit: 5 Stars
As a long-time fan of Lenny Bruce's work I have collected every available recording and book on the man and his art. The Lenny Bruce boxset, LET THE BUYER BEWARE, is a cultural event as important as a trunk filled with unpublished Mark Twain novels being unearthed. LET THE BUYER BEWARE presents over 7 hours of Lenny Bruce material, much of which has never been released in any form. As a hardcore fan, I was amazed to find virtually no overlap between this boxset and previously released Lenny Bruce albums.As for the comedy on this boxset, Lenny Bruce has never been more relevant, never more hilarious, as he lampoons santimonious religious and political leaders, gives frank and insightful opinions about the art of comedy and who the "real" comedians of his time were. Lenny himself does not escape his incisive eye and satire as one track on Disc 2 has him reading a scathing review his nightclub act received, admitting to the audience how the review rankled him.
LET THE BUYER BEWARE is much more than a "Best of" Lenny Bruce. It provides tremendous scope of this comic genius' career, from his very early apperance on THE ARTHUR GODFREY show (winning the talent contest for that week) to his being warned by a police officer to keep his nightclub act "clean" while performing in a particular city.
To this fan, the single most poignant track in the entire boxset comes on Disc 6 when Lenny explains how "I Picked on the Wrong God." Lenny is never maudlin, but introspective and painfully honest as he assesses what has been about his outlook and nightclub act that ignited his myriad legal troubles.
It's easy to cast Lenny Bruce as a philosopher, as a martyr for freedom of speech, but I think Lenny's assessment of himself is most apt: "I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce." His brand of insight and satire was so singular, it cannot be summed up as simply "comedy." It was no mere entertainment, nor was he simply pontificating from a nightclub stage. Lenny Bruce opened himself before his audience unlike any performer at that time, and like few have since then.
Very special thanks must go to Lenny's daughter Kitty Bruce for making this material available. LET THE BUYER BEWARE is the Dead Sea Scrolls of contemporary culture. Whether Lenny Bruce discussed the Kennedy assassination, the death of Marylin Monroe, St. Paul, or LBJ, he expresses his thoughts with a rare and abiding honesty and hilarity.
For anyone interested in the art of Lenny Bruce -- whether you saw the man perform during the 1950s and '60's -- or have no idea what the fuss is about, get your copy of LET THE BUYER BEWARE and listen to a man whose work has been compared to Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain. Hear the words of what most people consider to be the greatest comedian of the 20th Century.
--Matthew St. Amand author of AS MY SPARKS FLY UPWARD and FOREVER & A DAY... www.matthewstamand.com
Free Music Review: Beyond Expectation
Hit: 5 Stars
I am going to keep this short. I have everything one can get regarding Lenny Bruce (with really very few exceptions). I read or Listen to him almost every day, and have done so for 20 years. I teach in an adult graduate degree program and talk about him and use his ideas in my Critical Thinking courses year in and year out.
Still, this new set is so full of new material, new ideas, new views, and new energy, I am finding this to be as important a document about Lenny Bruce and his convictions (which have shaped mine) as anything that has ever been available--ever. Along with the importance of this set as an intelectual and ethical opus, it's damn funny. Of course, all that know the Bruce story know that we laugh and cry often at the same time.
If you are young and new to Lenny, listen to this and ask lots of questions so you can integrate the concepts to your lived experience. If you're a old time fan, and think you must already have most of this, and it could only have a few little things here and there that would be new to you---stop thinking that. Really, very little of this is from the 5 or 6 mainstay albums. THIS IS NEWLY FOUND (WELL NOT SO NEW WHEN YOU READ THE INTRO) RECORDINGS AND TEXT FOR THE MOST PART. I can't emagine anything more extensive coming our way soon with respect to this man (I call him a civil rights leader on the order of Malcolm X--he would hate that, I'm sure.) Every thinking person MUST have this! I feel that strongly about it. Now if we could only find the video of the Pierre Berton Show that Lenny did in 1966; that would be about as important a find as Berton's now found interview with another Bruce--Bruce Lee. (Okay, I went on too long, sorry!) 100 stars!!!!!!
Free Music Review: Lenny Bruce Fans should own this!
Hit: 5 Stars
I started listening to Lenny Bruce in the late 80's and had to dig to search out used copies of his Fantasy records on vinyl and try to seek out everything I could because once you get a taste, you're hooked.
I agree with the other reviewer (the one that gave 2 stars) that you should own the Originals Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 and also the Carnegie Hall 1961 set (and I'll even agree with the Berkeley set though I will say it comes after the first 3 titles), but I disagree that this boxed set is anything less than phenomenal. I think that it should proabably be heard AFTER the Originals sets, but I think that it gives an essential overview of his career. I, as one who has always been interested in bootlegs and rarities, loved all of the unreleased tapes. I could listen to hours more. I don't think that I'm alone as a Lenny Bruce fan when I say that, either.
This has lots of great unreleased material, a great packaging and should be heard. The collection has been lovingly assembled and I thank the people involved for taking the time and care to put something like this together for the fans, old and new.