Thirty some years later the sketch comedy on A Great Gift Idea, the second CD re-release by The Credibility Gap, still works.
I doubt this can be said about a lot of even recent sketch comedy. The Credibility Gap was formed by Harry Shearer of The Simpsons fame, and Lenny and Squiggy of Laverne and Shirley, and Michael McKean of This Is Spinal Tap. A Great Gift Idea is a very rare case of truth in advertising; this sketch comedy CD will be appreciated by all who like this genre.
A Great Gift Idea opens with Kingpin, a very, very funny bit that mixes Martin Luther King with Blacksploitation movies. This is really original stuff that hits all its targets.
The CD closes with another classic bit of sketch comedy, Where’s Johnny, a 14-minute skit spoofing The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The imitations are pitch perfect. The sketch itself is extraordinarily vicious, more a slam down than a send up of the Carson show, including sycophant Ed McMahon. The Don Rickles imitation is also brilliant.
Stand-up comedy fans will absolutely love 16 Golden Bits, a commercial for a K-Sell Records compilation of the best comedy routines with dead on cover versions of Jose Jimenez, Bob Newhart, The Goons, Shelley Berman, and Nichols and May.
An Evening With Sly Stone is incredibly prescient of MTV’s Cribs although it was originally a spoof of Playboy after Dark, whatever that was.
There really is not a bad moment on this sketch comedy CD. You Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Hair is very much Jackson 5. Supposed poet Rod McKuen takes a knockout punch on the chin with In Someone’s Sneakers.
Other good bits include a radio drama spoof titled Lance Learns to Box, and a very much over the top sketch imitation of those public health movies shown in high schools way back when.
The one weak point to The Credibility Gap A Great Gift Idea is the insert. Keeping the album’s original artwork was a good idea but unfortunately the track list and some information is dark brown on black
A Great Gift Idea
The Credibility Gap
Sketch Comedy CD
Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, David L. Lander, Richard Beebe
Originally Released 1974
Collector’s Choice Music 2009
Related Posts
- 74Third Damage Control sketch comedy CD and the only sketch comedy group I like.