Comedy Is Not Pretty!
Encyclopedia
Comedy Is Not Pretty! is an album by the American comedian Steve Martin
. It was recorded at The Boarding House
in San Francisco, California
, where his previous two albums were also recorded.
When released, the album was not as well-received as his previous two albums (Let's Get Small
, A Wild and Crazy Guy
). However, at this point in his career, Martin was in the midst of writing the screenplay for his first starring role in the motion picture, The Jerk. As a result, he spent less of his time working on material for his stand-up career and the album was his first to not make the Top 10 on Billboard's Pop Albums Chart
, peaking only at #25. The album was also his first to not go Platinum; it was, however, certified Gold
.
One track was simply a humorous reading of a short story from his book Cruel Shoes
accompanied by a banjo solo in the background. The track "Drop Thumb Medley" is an instrumental banjo
performance.
This album was nominated in 1979 for a Grammy Award
for Best Comedy Album
.
Martin also starred in a television special
of the same name for NBC
in 1980.
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
. It was recorded at The Boarding House
The Boarding House (nightclub)
The Boarding House was a nightclub located at 960 Bush Street in San Francisco, California. Steve Martin's first three albums, Let's Get Small, A Wild and Crazy Guy, and Comedy Is Not Pretty were recorded there, in whole or in part...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, where his previous two albums were also recorded.
When released, the album was not as well-received as his previous two albums (Let's Get Small
Let's Get Small
Let’s Get Small was an album by American comedian Steve Martin. It included Excuse Me, a comedy bit whose title went on to become a national catchphrase...
, A Wild and Crazy Guy
A Wild and Crazy Guy
A Wild and Crazy Guy was an album by American comedian Steve Martin. It reached number two on a Billboard's Pop Albums Chart. The album was eventually certified double platinum....
). However, at this point in his career, Martin was in the midst of writing the screenplay for his first starring role in the motion picture, The Jerk. As a result, he spent less of his time working on material for his stand-up career and the album was his first to not make the Top 10 on Billboard's Pop Albums Chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, peaking only at #25. The album was also his first to not go Platinum; it was, however, certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
.
One track was simply a humorous reading of a short story from his book Cruel Shoes
Cruel Shoes
Cruel Shoes is a collection of offbeat, mostly humorous essays and short stories by Steve Martin, and his first published book, and is also the title of one of the pieces therein, a satirical short-short story about a woman in a shoe store....
accompanied by a banjo solo in the background. The track "Drop Thumb Medley" is an instrumental banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
performance.
This album was nominated in 1979 for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Comedy Album
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from yearly 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:*From 1959 to 1967 it was Best Comedy Performance...
.
Martin also starred in a television special
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
of the same name for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1980.
Track listing
All tracks by Steve MartinSteve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
- "Born to Be WildBorn to Be Wild"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
" (Mars BonfireMars BonfireDennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
, Martin) – 5:49 - "The All Being" – 1:24
- "McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
/Men's Underwear" – 3:11 - "Drop Thumb Medley" – 2:10
- "Googlephonics" – 3:06
- "Hostages" – 1:13
- "Cruel Shoes" – 2:17
- "Comedy Is Not Pretty" – 3:26
- "How to Meet a Girl" – 3:47
- "Rubberhead" – 0:56
- "Jackie O.Jacqueline Kennedy OnassisJacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
and Farrah F.Farrah FawcettFarrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
" – 3:39 - "You Can Be a Millionaire" – 2:55
Personnel
- William R. Eastabrook – Photography
- Pat Kraus – Digital Mastering
- Steve Martin – Composer
- William McEuen – Producer, Engineer, Artwork, Editing, Art Direction, Design
- Norman SeeffNorman SeeffNorman Seeff was born March 5, 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since moving to the United States in 1969, his work as a photographer and filmmaker has been focused on the exploration of human creativity and the inner dynamics of the creative process....
– Photography - Geoff Sykes – Mastering
- Dean Torrence – Graphic Design