Is It Something I Said
From the first cut to the last, this rollicking CD is proof of Pryor's immense talent and influence. His impression of a windy preacher ("Eulogy") is the routine that launched a thousand black comics that came after. "Life is not the ultimate test. The ultimate test is whether your ass will survive Death. Nobody we know has passed this test, least of all this sorry mother." Neither imitated nor equaled is Pryor's signature character "Mudbone," who dominates the middle of the CD. Those hysterical long-form routines would be enough to make this an essential pick, but jolts of painful laughter like "Cocaine" and "Just Us" makeIs It Something I Said?the favorite of any Pryor-phile. A great recording of a great standup at the height of his powers.--Michael Gerber