"Aunt Bunny Is Comin' to Get Me!"

I was 13 years old the first time I heard 1983's Eddie Murphy: Comedian, which was reissued this week on Columbia/Legacy.

The concert was recorded in my old haunts at Constitution Hall in Washington. D.C. Not-so-coincidentally, that's also where Eddie disciple Chris Rock would later shoot some of his best stand-up specials.

I bought the tape (!) at a place called Strawberries in Chelmsford, Mass. I used the money I made mowing Old Man Monahan's lawn. (Old Man Monahan was a terrifying man who demanded a different mowing "pattern" each week. Only problem was, I could never remember which pattern I was on. So I winged it, which would inevitably lead to Monahan gimping after me in a rage and denting our riding mower with his cane.)

Anyway, my parents figured that the next best thing to saying no would be to listen to the album with me. Parental guidance and all that. So we bought subs at Brothers Pizza. We lugged the ginormous boombox into the kitchen. And on that Friday night, the Daly family listened to Eddie go off.

We all cringed back then (and I cringed today, listening to it in my car, rolling up my windows at stoplights) at the nasty homophobia at the beginning. I recall my mother getting all serious and saying, "Do you understand what he's saying?" What was I supposed to say: "Yes, mother, Eddie is saying if Mr. T were gay, Mr. T would be really angry in bed." My folks just kept trading these pained half-smirks. Didn't matter anyway. My entire school would be reciting the album at Monday recess.

For all the cringing, however, I also remember tears streaming down my parents' cheeks -- and mine, too -- at the "The Barbecue" routine which remains 12 minutes and 41 seconds of comedic perfection. Remember the first time you ever heard that? I can't remember my social security number, but 23 years later, I can still go line for line about Aunt Bunny and the Goony Goo-Goo mobile. You're wife's a Bigfoot, isn't she, Gus?

When Richard Pryor died, comics the world over gushed about how he was the best. But I didn't grow up listening to Pryor. My friends and I were all about Eddie. Driving around today, listening to Eddie Murphy: Comedian, there's no doubt in my mind about the greatest comedy album of all time. You bring your Pryors and Cosbys and Cheeches & Chongs.

In his prime -- before the kids movies, and the tranvestite pick-up, and the reclusivity -- Eddie Murphy was unbeatable.

Comments

[Sparky]

Aunt Bunny has fallen down the steps, time after time after time and it's still funny.

[Sherry]

Here is another reason why I am convinced that you and I were separated at birth! To this day, friends will come over, put on "Raw" or "Delirious", and everyone will turn around and watch ME instead of the show... probably because nothing's funnier than watching someone turn purple and have veins popping out of their face... this ain't no McDonnow's hamburger...

[Guy]

I challenge you to find a comedian more on his game than Eddie v.1 (80s edition)? He was the true master of his domain, between SNL, movies, comedy albums and his concerts. One of my favorite Christmas memories to this day is the first time I saw "Raw".

[brotherofdangler]

Though I'm more familiar with "Delirious" and "Raw" than "Comedian", Eddie Murphy has provided me with memories of my childhood in the early eighties.In 1980 or 1981, my brother and three cousins were sleeping over at my grandmother's house. My older cousin and I were shooting rubber bands at my brother and younger cousins who were asleep. We had on "Saturday Night Live" and Eddie uttered the word "Bitch" as his word of the day as Mr. Robinson in the "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" skit. My cousin and I stopped in our tracks and my world was changed. Eddie Murphy and that sleepover go hand-in-hand as great memories for me. Having my mother overhear me say "Bitch" the following day--not such a great memory!

[Six]

I watched "Delirious" the other day. It still cracks me up. The family reunion/barbecue is the best part of the whole concert. I'm with Sparky on that Aunt Bunny thing. I can't watch it or listen to it while I'm eating or I'd choke to death laughing at her falling down the stairs. His imitation of his father is hysterical. I wonder how much of it is based on true events and how much is made up. I really love "Harlem Nights" (1989) also. It was great seeing him work with comedy legends Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor. They had a great chemistry together, and even though Richard Pryor was very sick, he turned in a top-notch performance as "Sugar Ray". It was like he was passing the torch to Eddie. Della Reese was funny in that movie, too. The movie could've used a better script, but having them all together in one flick makes it a classic for me.I was saddened by the death of comedian Robin Harris (Bebe's Kids, House Party), who was also in Harlem Nights. He was pretty funny, too. It's kinda sad to see the old comedy guys die out. Imagine when George Carlin passes on. That'll be a sad day. *sigh*

[Dave]

Eddie is the best, I dont think i have this album but i know i have heard it several times in the past. My first Eddie encounter was from a self-titled tape with the stuff about Shooting the Pope, Ronald Reagan, Myths, Talking Cars, etc.. From 1982. I shoplifted the tape from a store when I was about 10 and still have most of it memorized even tho i havent listened to it in years. I recently ordered Eddit Murphys Greatest Hits compilation from BMG, still need to open that. Eddie! You treat me like animal!