The Tom Lehrer Collection

I had a teacher in elementary school who played us  Spike Jones  songs from time to time, which introduced me to the joys of funny songs. Yeah, there were novelty hits like "They're Coming to Take Me Away" and "Please Mr. Custer," but these were mostly done by one hit wonders. Then I discovered the  Smothers Brothers  in the 1960s. It was not until the 1970s that a friend introduced me to Tom Lehrer and I discovered he was a staple on  Dr Demento . For a while I had to suffice with hearing "The Masochism Tango" and "The Vatican Rag" from time to time, until I was able to get tapes of Lehrer's albums and revel in his particular brand of insanity. As the years have gone by it has been nice to see his songs pop up from time to time, such as when Douglas Wambaugh (for the defense) sang "Who's Next?" on " Picket Fences " or when April Nardini's class sang "The Elements" on a school bus trip on " Gilmore Girls ." Once you hear Tom Lehrer's songs, it is hard to forget them and you will find yourself humming "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" when spring gets sprung each year. It goes without saying, that Lehrer is my favorite mathematician.Often people buy greatest hits collections because they do not have any of the albums by an artist. But I am willing to bet that most of the people who buys "The Tom Lehrer Collection" already have all of his other albums on CD. That being said, there are three reasons for Lehrer's fans to pick up this collection. The first is the DVD, that includes a dozen songs from a concert Lehrer gave in Oslo, Norway in 1967 (10 of the songs are also on the CD), along with bonus videos of eight more songs, half of which are the animated clips from "The Electric Company." I did not know that Lehrer was doing songs for that show or I would have been watching it to catch "L-Y," "Silent E," and the others, which I first heard when Lehrer's albums were first released on CD. So it was a treat to finally see the pictures that go with the words. Second, on the CD there are several songs that I had never heard before, such as "I Got It From Agnes," "Selling Out," and "(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica." Beyond that, all of the classics Lehrer songs are here, although I will confess that I think the album should include "I Hold Your Hand," a song that I like to sing to unsuspecting women from time to time so I can endear myself to them, and "Oedipus Rex," which I always played my students before we starting reading Sophocles' tragic play, but since I have them on CD already, that is not a real complaint. Third, Tom Lehrer is still alive and therefore getting royalties for this album, and given all the joy and laughter he has given us over the years, he can certainly have some more of my money. Plus, the sale price on this CD/DVD combo is pretty sweet.

This man is such a legend. His Vatican rag song made me laugh for days after I first heard it. I purchased this copy of the album for my uncle as a Christmas gift. I knew he would get a big kick out of Tom Lehrer’s musical creations and comedy. If you haven’t heard Tom Lehrer’s stuff and you enjoy people like Tim Minchin, Click buy now and get this record right away (Compact disc album, really, but record sounds cooler). Hope you enjoy it as much as I already have!

What a treat to get this compilation of Tom Lehrer's best numbers with his funny/gory lyrics and impecable delivery

If you like intellectual comedy, you will laugh all the way through this collection. Tom Lehrer was a child genius who learned to play the piano at the age of six. He chose to teach mathematics at Harvard, but he integrated music and math into everything he ended up teaching. He worked on "the bomb" during the 40s, but chose to go into the Army as the lowest grade possible. He is a unique individual with a tremendous sense of humor, and he found something to learn in everything he experienced in life. He is in his early 80s now. He finished his teaching career at Southern Cal, and they say that he is seen strolling across campus every now and then. My husband and I, although we are familiar with all of his works, thoroughly enjoyed listening to the collection and having it to keep. The collection also comes with a very nice CD-size book with things about him and some lyrics of the songs in it. A truly gifted man! It would have been an honor to have known him or to have been one of his students.

If you are not familiar with Tom Lehrer you should listen to his videos on YouTube.com I have always liked Poisoning Pigeons in the Park(it addresses pollution), National Brotherhood Week(Anti-Semitism and Racism), When You Are Old and Gray, So Long Mom(War) and many other songs. Listen to these tunes and enjoy them. It also illustrates that nothing really changes in the USA since these songs were written in the late 1950s to 1970 and none of these problems has been solved or even competently addressed.

Didn't realize that this wasn't a "prime" delivery, but it still got here in time to be a gift for my husband. He was thrilled to get it!

I first got to hear Tom when I was about 10 years old, and I laughed then and I'm still laughing now many years later!His songs are Brilliant ! This selection contains all the classics and a few New ones. A delight!The DVD is also good, but as he was performing in front of a Norwegian audience, their response leaves a little to be desired!But the modest price is really for the CD alone.If you don't know these songs, you've missed several treats!

I was never able to see Tom Lehrer, but remember some of his songs from my childhood. I have enjoyed listening (and watching) him perform.

Ich habe diese songs in den USA kennengelernt, und nachdem ich Georg Kreisler kannte und schätzte (und die beden sich auch noch gegenseitig kennen - beide haben z. B. den song "Tauben vergiften im Park" bzw. "poisoning pigeons in the park" - wer hat da von wem abgeschrieben?) war ich jetzt froh, diese Kollektion auf CD zu bekommen. Einfach grandios!

Tom Lehrer only needs a review if you have not heard him before. This is a great selection and the tracks are classic. You will not find a better musical satirist of all sorts of life situations. And such good value! Don't hesitate, just dive in and listen. The only downer is that he did not record more.