Steve Allen's Hip Fables

[ghost of miles]

Another one I came across in the station's library, from 1983... read by Al Collins (yes, that Al Collins aka "Jazzbeau") backed by Slim Gaillard. Haven't listened to it yet... did Allen ever record any of these himself back in the 1950s, when the book first came out? Seems like a schtick that could grow tiresome fast... but I'm kind of eager to hear the LP when I get the time.

Edited January 13, 2005 by ghost of miles

[frank m]

Don't remember if Allen ever recorded them. They are fast receding into unintelligibility for generations who don't know who Allen was. Consider what people of this and coming generations can make of a phrase like "-----since Mel went legit" This needs a pocket compendium for posterity. B-)

[Christiern]

I believe Allen recorded some, but it may be that he just read them over the air--anyway, I have heard them read by him and I have always found them exceedingly unfunny. It was a very strained effort to be "hip," but it never made it, IMO. And if the material sounded trite back then, I can imagine what it sounds like today.

[JSngry]

I've got a beat-to-hell Coral comedy sampler 10" LP that has Allen reading one himself, so I assume he did a full album's worth.