Tom Lehrer continues to teach musical theater and math at UC Santa Cruz. This compact disc makes available his ultra-rare 1953 debut album which was the biggest-selling comedy record of the 1950s. Includes such devastating... more » satiric classics as "The Masochism Tango," "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," "A Christmas Carol," and "We'll All Go Together When We Go."
Tom Lehrer continues to teach musical theater and math at UC Santa Cruz. This compact disc makes available his ultra-rare 1953 debut album which was the biggest-selling comedy record of the 1950s. Includes such devastating satiric classics as "The Masochism Tango," "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," "A Christmas Carol," and "We'll All Go Together When We Go."
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: LEHRER,TOM
Title: SONGS & MORE SONGS BY TOM LEHR
Street Release Date: 05/06/1997
Nancy I. (Nimsy) from WISE, NC Reviewed on 8/13/2010...
Way back in my college years, I listened to these songs (on vinyl); I knew the words by heart. Now I can sing along with Tom on these old favorites. In addition to his melodic piano style, Tom Lehrer's clever lyrics add to the enjoyment. He;s earned his horns and forked tail!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
The smartest, funniest records I've ever heard
E. L. Oneill | Philadelphia, PA United States | 06/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I grew up on Tom Lehrer. My parents had both of his 10" LPs and we listened to them often. His 60s albums were dragged out EVERY time we had a party and often just when we had the stereo turned on. I had every single song Tom Lehrer ever did memorized and I have NEVER heard a comedy artist as perceptive or as intelligent as Lehrer. Then things changed, as they will. I moved away from home, never bought the CDs and pretty much forgot about him. Recently, though, the issue of academic integrity reared it's ugly head in a discussion and I found myself quoting Lehrer's 1955 masterpiece, "Lobachevsky." It was perfect for the moment. I was asked what they hell I was talking about and to illustrate Lehrer's genius, I wound up singing "The Elements" (the entire periodic table sung to a Gilbert & Sullivan tune) and "The Hunting Song" (a brilliant parody/analysis of hunters and gun advocates). After 35 years, there's not a single song on this collection (first two albums of piano & singing, 4 orchestrated versions and one bonus track) that isn't funny AND perceptive and only a couple have become (only slighty, mind you) dulled by time."
Astonishing
Alan Bell | Chicago Area | 02/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"BOB DYLAN, CHUCK BERRY, AND TOM LEHRER, THE THREE GREAT LYRICISTS OF POPULAR AMERICAN MUSIC. These songs are from his original studio releases on two 10" vinyl disks back in the 50's. My parents actually saw him live in NY on his "Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer" tour, and never recovered. As a pre-teen, I was permanently hooked. My original 50's vinyl versions are decimated by endless play on a Webcor portable phonograph. All four releases are a scream, and in fact, if you don't need the original release versions on this CD, the live performances are even funnier."
Still politically incorrect after almost 50 years!
Timothy C. Berneche | Chesterton, Indiana | 05/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hooked on Tom Lehrer ever since hearing him on Dr. Demento, I instantly fell in love with his ingenious satyrical lyrics. I have loaned this album to several coworkers and have received nothing but favorable reviews. Praise to the release of this CD where the original recordings - not only the concert versions - are available to those of us who did not live hear Harvard in the late 1950's. My favorite song has to be Clementine - ala Cole Porter, Mozart, Scat Jazz, and Gilbert & Sullivan - PURE GENIUS! Buy this CD - it will be one of the best in your collection, great for any party or get together when you want all to have a good cderebral laugh. I wish Tom would write and record again."
All the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon.
Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 04/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tom Lehrer is the most brilliant song satirist ever recorded. This CD contains all two of his studio albums. Both of these albums were later recorded as live albums. Arguably, the songs sound better with an audience's reactions, as well as Mr. Lehrer's spoken commentary on the songs. But even alone in a recording studio with just a piano, the songs are clever and funny. In addition to the two albums, the CD includes the four songs he re-recorded with an orchestra in 1960 (two of which were unreleased at the time) and one song ("I Got It From Agnes") which he used to perform in concert back then, but he considered to be too risque to record at the time (he finally recorded it in 1996). This is a great collection that I highly recommend to fans of funny music."
Not The Same
Evergreen | Seattle, WA | 08/11/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Buyer beware! Yes, these are the usually great, sometimes brilliant, sometimes annoying Tom Lehrer songs BUT his introductions are gone. These are rather sterile recordings, with no audience reaction and, more importantly, none of the wonderfully funny verbal introductions that were half the fun of Tom Lehrer's music. The songs are there. And most, while not as wonderful without the introductions, do stand on their own. Just know what you're getting."