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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
"If, after hearing my songs," Lehrer says in this disc's liner notes, "just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while." Makes him sound like a modern punk, eh? Not so, though. Lehrer, ever the king of jolly vitriol, recorded these still potent parodies in the 1950s--and the best of them, "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park", "The Masochism Tango", and "The Elements" (which joins science with Gilbert & Sullivan) remain both nasty and striking. Musically, Lehrer comes across like a demented Cole Porter, wrapping sophisticated, showy tunes around his acerbic jokes. Lyrically, he's a clear forebear to folks like Phil Ochs and Barry Crimmins, who also cloak their commentary in comedy. --Michael Ruby
CD Description
If this album invokes a feeling of déjà vu, then there is a simple explanation - the album An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer is a live recording of the studio album More Of Tom Lehrer (also available on Hallmark - 707932). Everything is the exactly the same - identical tracks laid out in exactly the same running order. Whether Tom had hit a creative wall or merely wished to exploit the songs for all they were worth is not recorded, but Tom would do exactly the same again with Revisited - a live version of the songs that originally appeared on the 1953 album Songs By Tom Lehrer.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Years ahead of his time, Lehrer only retired from his secondary career asa satirist when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, thusrendering satire redundant. Lehrer went back to Harvard to his originalvocation of Mathematics, which he pursues with great success to this day. What a loss to civilisation!
After many playings, the humbly entitled An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrerstill makes me laugh for the simple reason that Lehrer's wit is timeless. It's extraordinary to think these songs were recorded in 1958; they retainevery ounce of freshness and vibrancy nearly half a century on, and darnnearly the same relevance it had then. Think of the Masochism Tango inthe context of the Internet age and the song has a whole new agenda; Ican't hear We Will All Go Together When We Go without thinking of thecurrent gung-ho Anglo-American pursuit of anyone deemed to be a enemy ofcivilisation and freedom; in fact, go through this collection and you'llfind essential truths lurking at every corner.
Furthermore, Lehrer's dazzling, scalpel-sharp wit and awesome intellectallowed him to toy with audiences like a cat with a mouse (talking about anecrophiliac coroner, he advises those members of the audience notlaughing to "look it up in the dictionary when you get home.") Many ofhis targets are explored in the form of gentle skits on popular songstyles, but don't be deceived - barbed comments lie in waitthroughout.
You will not be disappointed - Lehrer was a talent ahead of his time inchallenging the mores of American society, perhaps more genteel than thosewho followed him (such as Lenny Bruce), but in his day just asrevolutionary.
After many playings, the humbly entitled An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrerstill makes me laugh for the simple reason that Lehrer's wit is timeless. It's extraordinary to think these songs were recorded in 1958; they retainevery ounce of freshness and vibrancy nearly half a century on, and darnnearly the same relevance it had then. Think of the Masochism Tango inthe context of the Internet age and the song has a whole new agenda; Ican't hear We Will All Go Together When We Go without thinking of thecurrent gung-ho Anglo-American pursuit of anyone deemed to be a enemy ofcivilisation and freedom; in fact, go through this collection and you'llfind essential truths lurking at every corner.
Furthermore, Lehrer's dazzling, scalpel-sharp wit and awesome intellectallowed him to toy with audiences like a cat with a mouse (talking about anecrophiliac coroner, he advises those members of the audience notlaughing to "look it up in the dictionary when you get home.") Many ofhis targets are explored in the form of gentle skits on popular songstyles, but don't be deceived - barbed comments lie in waitthroughout.
You will not be disappointed - Lehrer was a talent ahead of his time inchallenging the mores of American society, perhaps more genteel than thosewho followed him (such as Lenny Bruce), but in his day just asrevolutionary.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Some things never change! My dad used to listen to this at University and now I listen to it with my friends. The old ones really are the best.
This is just the funniest thing! Tom Lehrer manages to make things that are disgusting and depressing seem hilarious! He always manages to make his point, though. He sends a clear message about the world we live in. The songs are full of irony and criticism as well as a lot of mocking. The lyrics are very clever, and the message is still valid today, even though Tom Lehrer is now 74 (in 2002).
A great CD. Very honest and hysterically funny.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Tom Lehrer is one of those people who make you realise how little you've accomplished(though he himself once said "It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years!") because he is not only a Maths Proffessor at Harvard University (in his spare time) but he is also a remarkable pianist, singer, and an incredibly clever lyricist. What more then could you need other than these songs. Biting witticisms abound, it is a laugh a minute, and therefore, my advice is simple. Buy it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A very clever entertainer
Tom Lehrer is brilliant at putting lively words and music to everyday life. I first heard of him 35 years ago and his songs still amuse me ... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Greensleeves
tom lerner
The songs on this album are very clever
and most of all very funny. remind me of Noel
Coward at his best.
and most of all very funny. remind me of Noel
Coward at his best.
Published 3 months ago by J. Campbell
tomlehrer rocks
This is a great album, even if it is very old. The sentiments are still relevant and the elements song is very funny and memorable. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eadiedog
defiinately a waste of time
An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer
didn't like it at all!
Too long, too much same old,same old, one long dirge! Read more
didn't like it at all!
Too long, too much same old,same old, one long dirge! Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bea Jay
Impressed
I ordered this for my brother and I had tried to order it on another site and it didn't work so i ordered this in a panic 2 days before his birthday...and it arrived on time!
Published 6 months ago by Kerry174
Wasted again!
God Bless the noble Dope Peddeler, 'Doing Well by Doing Good'!
A good CD, but very short.
A good CD, but very short.
Published 18 months ago by CapnSparoe
Comedy genius
When I first heard the album on tape (via vinyl) I was all of about 12 and didn't understand some of the jokes. But looking back some of these jokes now make sense. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by The Gamesmeister
The nucelar holocaust has never seemed so funny....
If you have dreamed of ridding the world of irritating wild fowl, of dancing the night away in scarlet stilettos on your lover's chest, or simply enjoy laughing hysterically to... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2000
Chemical element names in track 4
Track 4 is a song which includes the names of all the chemical elements. It is quite famous in teaching circles and is a must for any classroom!
Published on 7 Mar 2000 by WebElements
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