Before he gained renown as an actor/director, Woody Allen stalked the planks of comedy clubs across America as a standup comedian. This album documents those years (the performances here are from 1964 to '68) with uproarious samplings of Allen's live act. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Allen's standup persona differed little from the one he presented in his early films - that of a sarcastic, self-effacing nebbish confounded by the most basic functions of everyday life.

As in his movies, Allen plays up his Jewishness (a possible holdover from the borscht belt days) for maximum comedic effect, using stereotypical Jewish neuroses as a powerful comedic building block. Besides being a hilarious comedy album, STANDUP COMIC also provides a peek into Allen's writing process, as some of the jokes here would resurface years later in Allen's cinematic efforts.


Notes

Originally released seperately as Woody Allen, Colpix (518); Woody Allen 2, Colpix (488); The Third Woody Allen Album, Capitol (2986).

Recorded at Mr. Kelly's, Chicago, Illinois in March 1964; The Shadows, Washington D.C. in April 1965; Eugene's, San Francisco, California in August 1968.

Compilation producers: Woody Allen, Steve Tyrell.

Engineers include: Don Geis, George Horn, Jerry DeClerq.


Tracks

1. Vodka Ad, The
2. Vegas
3. Second Marriage
4. Great Renaldo, The
5. Mechanical Objects
6. Moose, The
7. Kidnapped
8. Unhappy Childhood
9. Science Fiction Film, The
10. Eggs Benedict
11. Oral Contraception
12. European Trip
13. Lost Generation, The
14. Private Life
15. Brooklyn
16. Army, The
17. Pets
18. My Grandfather
19. My Marriage
20. Bullet In My Breast Pocket
21. N. Y. U.
22. Love Story, A
23. Police, The
24. Down South
25. Summing Up