The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart

by Bob Newhart

Overview

Though not the first standup comedian to release a live recording, Bob Newhart was probably the first to really capture the public's attention, thanks to this debut. Of the six pieces included on this album, five are set up as part of a conversation (usually by phone), something that became Newhart's trademark. The material here would have been novel in any age, and very little of it has dated substantially ("The Kruschev Landing Rehearsal" being the main exception, though it would still be funny even if you had no clue what the sketch was referring to). Though "Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue" and "Merchandising the Wright Brothers" are both top-shelf Newhart bits, "Driving Instructor" rises to the top of the heap. ~ Sean Carruthers

Product Details

Release Date:	12/08/2009
Label:	Rhino Flashback / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0081227982034

Tracks

1. Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue
2. The Cruise of the U.S.S. Codfish
3. Merchandising the Wright Brothers
4. The Krushchev Landing Rehearsal
5. Driving Instructor (Pilot Script for a New TV Series)
6. Nobody Will Ever Play Baseball

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Newhart   Primary Artist,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part

Technical Credits

Bob Newhart   Composer
Lee Herschberg   Digital Mastering
Don Bronstein   Photography
Richard Keyes   Design