Live At The Comedy Store, 1973
Omnivore, 2021
8/10
Listen to Live At The Comedy Store, 1973
The early ‘70s were good to Richard Pryor, who was booking shows all over the country thanks to his successful comedy albums. Rather than telling the same bits repeatedly, Pryor was always moving forward with new material, and he secured 4 nights at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood to test out these new pieces, and 20 of those tracks are culled together here for the first time.
Pryor starts the listen with the animated role playing of “Street Corner Wino”, where his easy going delivery makes an immediate connection, and it isn’t long until the clever, insightful “Fighting” and the most likely autobiographical “Dope” keeps the audience in stitches.
In the middle, Pryor starts talking about his increasing fame in the forthright “Black Movie Stars”, while the commentary on “Cops” is sadly still relevant today. On “Nixon”, Pryor gets political, but in a very playful way that incorporates the crowd, who at this point fill all of Pryor’s pauses with laughter.
Of the bonus tracks, Pryor’s timeless storytelling shines on tracks like the wise and blunt “Death”, and “Black Films” places some keen observations alongside sound effects, another avenue Pryor excelled at. With “Jesus Saves”, he addresses religion, and while some of the jokes in another’s hands could cause people to abruptly leave, Pryor’s easy going and inimitable delivery can’t help but amuse.
Although these evenings were never meant to be heard by anyone other than the attendees, this first commercial version of the set documents a pivotal point in the career of one of the best comics who has ever lived, and the liner notes from Cory Frye only make this an even more essential package.
Travels well with: Richard Pryor- Craps (After Hours); Richard Pryor- Richard Pryor