Bruce, Lenny - Live at the Curran Theater CD (Mega Blowout Sale)
SKU
23-GSGZ 035
“Lenny's master work in many ways, it must be noted that if you are new to Lenny Bruce this is his thesis work towards his PhD in Freestyle Social Commentary. By this show Mr. Bruce no longer does bits, he is all free form, and lays this show out like a brilliant jazz piece. In lieu of a Louis Armstrong or Kermit Ruffins delivernig tales of love, loss, trials and tribulations through beautifully combined notes from their trumpets, however, his music is the truth and his instrument is his style.
This show has no bits, so if this is your first Lenny Bruce experience note that his early work is equally brilliant but structured in a way more common to comedic records. When he states " I no longer do bits, man" on this album don't confuse that with him saying I sued to do schlock humor, now I don't. His "bits" are more than written jokes. They were legend. Religions Inc. is a brilliant treatise on the profit centers churches had become. And he laid it out equally. A rabbi is skewered, a cardinal, and a Pentecostal preacher are in his sights throughout and he lays it out cold.
Like I said, no more bits, not even Religions Inc. in this show. This show is great, and you certainly don't need to know Lenny's past work to get this show, but note that he has other material and if you are looking for a certain Lenny Bruce bit you heard about it isn't here.
What is here, however, is pure Lenny Bruce. He comes out of the gate hard and doesn't let up until it is time to go home. By this time in his career Mr. Bruce's rap sheet was longer than his album catalog. The bit I referenced earlier, Religions Inc., set off a firestorm of local diocese in Catholic cities such as Chicago putting pressure on the police to bust this blasphemer.
The underlying theme of the record is a bust Lenny endured for possession of a drug with a prescription. That isnt a misprint, it is correct. He had a prescription for a narcotic for plerousy or some other breathing condition but that didn't matter to the police. He was arrested on possession and a French farce of sorts is played out from the time he is arrested and they try to get him into the elevator thru to his trial. Mr. Bruce truly believe in the American way. Anyone who says Lenny Bruce is un-American has no idea what America is. Mr. Bruce believed so strongly in his country he thought he didn't need a lawyer, he could just walk into court and say look, your honor, I had a prescription, and the judge would bang the gavel and send him on his way, both he and the judge happy that justice was served.”
- LabelGrey Scale
- UPC5056083200511