The Steve Martin Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Steve Martin Brothers, released on LP in 1981, is a comedy album by American actor Steve Martin
. The album, the last stand-up comedy album released by Martin, was released on compact disc
in 2006 by Wounded Bird Records
.
Based on the album cover photos, the title of the album refers to the two sides of Martin that are showcased on the album: The Rich Comedian, showcased on Side One, and the Peace-Loving Hippie
Banjo
player, showcased on Side Two. Although his self-taught banjo playing had been featured on previous albums, it was never showcased until this album.
This was the only album on which he brought in other writers to help him with his material, including Saturday Night Live
writer Jack Handey
. When this album was released, he announced that he intended to never perform stand-up comedy
again.
The record became his lowest peaking album to date on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart, peaking at #135. The album was also his lowest selling album to date as well, and went uncertified.
Despite its poor reception, the album was nominated in 1982 for a Grammy Award
for Best Comedy Album
.
Comedy Store, Hollywood - 11:27
The entirety of Side Two was recorded in August 1971.
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
. The album, the last stand-up comedy album released by Martin, was released on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 2006 by Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
.
Based on the album cover photos, the title of the album refers to the two sides of Martin that are showcased on the album: The Rich Comedian, showcased on Side One, and the Peace-Loving Hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
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...
player, showcased on Side Two. Although his self-taught banjo playing had been featured on previous albums, it was never showcased until this album.
This was the only album on which he brought in other writers to help him with his material, including Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
writer Jack Handey
Jack Handey
Jack Handey is an American humorist. He is best known for his Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, a large body of surrealistic one-liner jokes, as well as his "Fuzzy Memories" and "My Big Thick Novel" shorts. Although many people assume otherwise, Handey is a real person, not a pen name or ...
. When this album was released, he announced that he intended to never perform stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
again.
The record became his lowest peaking album to date on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart, peaking at #135. The album was also his lowest selling album to date as well, and went uncertified.
Despite its poor reception, the album was nominated in 1982 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...
.
Side one
Cocktail Show, Vegas - 7:37- 1. American Photography
- 2. A Scientific Question
- 3. What I Believe
- 4. A Show Biz Moment
Comedy Store, Hollywood - 11:27
- 5. The Real Me
- 6. Love God
- 7. Make the Rent
- 8. The Gospel Maniacs
Side two
- Sally Goodin' – 1:08
- Saga of the Old West – 2:30
- John Henry – 2:00
- Saga (Reprise) – 1:05
- Pitkin County Turn Around – 1:07
- Hoedown at Alice's – 2:23
- Song of Perfect Spaces – 3:16
- Freddie's Lilt, Parts I and II – 3:47
- Waterbound – 1:16
- Banana Banjo – 1:07
The entirety of Side Two was recorded in August 1971.
Credits
- Produced by William E. McKuen
- Mastered by Greg FulginitiGreg FulginitiGregory Fulginiti is an American recording and mastering engineer.In a career spanning three decades, Fulginiti was nominated for the TEC Awards by Mix magazine 6 times, earned 175 Gold and Platinum Awards, 25 Multi-Platinum Awards, 100 Number One recordings, 135 Grammy nominees, including the...