Redd Foxx - Classic Stand-up: The Early Years Collection 1946-60 (CD)

Redd Foxx, real name John Elroy Sanford, became well-known in the USA as a stand-up comedian during the 1950s, developing a raunchy night-club act on the east coast and finding fame when Dinah Washington invited him to perform in Las Vegas. He was seen, and signed, by Dootsie Williams of Dootone Records, for whom he released a string of highly-successful 'live' albums. He later had a successful TV career, starring in the situation comedy "Sanford & Son", with overt racial humour that helped redefine the genre of black situation comedy. This 3-CD collection of selected live recordings from his early years with Dootone features the entire "Laff Of The Party Vol. 1" album, a number of tracks from his "Best Of" album culled from other "Laff Of The Party" volumes, plus the complete "Burlesque Humour", "Side Splitter Vols 1 & 2" and "Sly Sex" albums, along with one side of the album "Have One On Me". Also included are a couple of his early singles for Savoy when he was a jump blues singer. As the comedy albums were all 'live' recordings, most of them comprise complete continuous sides of LPs, with no separate tracks. Some of the material is risqué and close-to-the-edge for it's time, as was his style. It's a collection which offers a window on a strand of humour which is maybe not widely known, but has a substantial following among aficionados.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Let's Wiggle A Little Woogie
2. Shame On You
3. Backward Conscious
4. The Sneezes
5. Song Plugging
6. The New Soap
7. The Honeymooners
8. The Politician
9. The Jackasses
10. The Race Track
11. Jealous Bartender
12. Women Over 40
13. I Turned To Stone
14. The Nut And The Flat Tire
15. Chloe
16. My Greatest Thrill

Disc: 2

1. Grape Skins
2. The Soldiers
3. Take Your Life
4. Custard Pie
5. Fun In Crazy House
6. Burlesque Humour Side 1
7. Burlesque Humour Side 2
8. Side Splitter Vol. 1 Side 1
9. Side Splitter Vol. 1 Side 2

Disc: 3

1. Side Splitter Vol. 2 Side 1
2. Side Splitter Vol. 2 Side 2
3. Sly Sex Side 1
4. Sly Sex Side 2
5. Have One On Me Side 1