R.I.P. Tom Lehrer

[T.D.]

This link might be viewable in an "incognito" or "private" tab, but I'm sure there are other stories.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-27/tom-lehrer-harvard-s-satiric-melodic-mathematician-dies-at-97

[JSngry]

Very little comedy stays popular forever. I remember when this guy was HUGE. Now, it's mostly just old folks who remember hi. I do, and fondly.

RIP

[felser]

I first encountered his work as a kid on the 'That Was The Week That Was' TV show.  Had no idea he was still alive - 97 is quite a run.  These are the songs of his that always stuck with me:

 

[Ken Dryden]

I loved the bonus track in the boxed set “I Got It From Alice.”

[BFrank]

When I saw the obit I was shocked that he was still alive in 2025. Had no idea.

[Rooster_Ties]

My mom was definitely a fan, and she had 3-4 of his albums (along with a couple Stan Frebergs, and Bob Newharts).

She was born in the eary 30’s, and would have been in her late 20’s when most of them first came out.

I definitely remember his albums fondly, and I’m sure I made cassette dubs of all them when I was in junior high, and shared them with a couple geeky friends of mine in 8th grade (and assure you, I was similarly geeky).

I also remember Lehrer being popular — or at least certainly known — by half the adults in the community theater I got involved in while I was in high school.  They would have been in their 30’s and 40’a then (in the mid-1980’s).

I remember Lehrer’s cultural references being both dated and somehow still timely. Then again, since my dad was born in 1927, and my mom in 1934, stuff from the 50’s and 60’s seemed like semi-recent history to me (in the 80’s).

Edited 5 hours ago by Rooster_Ties

[T.D.]

7 hours ago, BFrank said:

When I saw the obit I was shocked that he was still alive in 2025. Had no idea.

+1

I was born in 1957 and don't recall him as being extremely popular. Always figured I came of age after his peak. Might also have been a regional component: I grew up around Chicago and got the impression Lehrer was bigger on the East Coast (esp. DC to NYC).

[gvopedz]

One of my chemistry professors at college had us all hear this recording in class:

 

[John L]

40 minutes ago, T.D. said:

+1

I was born in 1957 and don't recall him as being extremely popular. Always figured I came of age after his peak. Might also have been a regional component: I grew up around Chicago and got the impression Lehrer was bigger on the East Coast (esp. DC to NYC).

I was also born in 1957 and grew up in California.   I remember him being pretty big, including in my house. 

[romualdo]

Wow!! I thought he passed years ago - was introduced to him in the 70s - what an innings, 97

My fav recording of his was The Masochism Tango, hearing it first via an Australian band "Captain Matchbox" version in the early 70s

Also remember seeing his 10" LPs at various friends parents houses in the past

from WIKI

In 1960, Lehrer essentially retired from touring in the U.S.^[2] The same year, he toured Australia and New Zealand, performing a total of 33 concerts to great acclaim^[38] and controversy.^[49] While in New Zealand, he penned lyrics critical of the All Blacks' upcoming tour of Apartheid-era South Africa and Prime Minister Walter Nash's stance on it.^[50][51] Lehrer's tours occurred during a time in which he was, he said, "banned, censored, mentioned in several houses of parliament and threatened with arrest." In particular, "Be Prepared" drew advance resistance in Brisbane from the commissioner of police. He performed several songs in Australia that were still unreleased, including "The Masochism Tango."^[31]

Edited 4 hours ago by romualdo

[Big Beat Steve]

Became aware of him through various stories from the U.S. of the 50s - and also from some posts here that mentioned him. Like others, I had figured he was long gone.

Much to my amazement, I found the below 10" LP at one of the periodic 1-EUR-per-record clearout sale days at a local record shop a couple of years ago (apparently an item left behind by an American during a visit or stay here):

Some its contents have not worn that well to today's ears (even if you take the "a piece of its time" aspect into account) - but it now has its place in the "assorted oddities and odds'n'ends" corner of my vinyl collection.