Comedian
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Album Summary
"Comedian" was Eddie Murphy's debut comedy album, released in 1983 on Columbia Records, recorded live and capturing the raw, unfiltered energy of a young man who had already set Saturday Night Live on fire and was burning bright across the entire entertainment landscape. This was Murphy in his element — on stage, in front of a crowd, doing what came naturally — and the recording preserved that lightning-in-a-bottle moment when the whole world was just starting to realize they were watching something special. Produced during the peak of his early rise, the album reflected a comedic voice that was bold, boundary-pushing, and unmistakably his own, blending sharp observational humor with vivid characters drawn straight from the streets and living rooms of Black America.
Reception
- The album performed strongly on the Billboard 200, affirming that Murphy's appeal extended well beyond the television screen and into the homes of comedy record buyers across the country.
- It received significant radio airplay, a rare achievement for a comedy album, further cementing Murphy's status as a crossover star in an era when comedy records were finding a renewed commercial audience.
- The album's success demonstrated the early 1980s appetite for stand-up comedy recordings, proving that a charismatic young comedian with a television platform could translate that energy into a thriving recording career.
Significance
- "Comedian" stands as a defining artifact of early 1980s stand-up comedy, capturing the moment when a generation of comedians schooled in sketch and television began commanding the live stage with a fearless, unapologetic energy that felt entirely new.
- The album showcased Murphy's gift for character-driven, adult-oriented material — from the domestic chaos of "Ice Cream Man / Shoe Throwin' Mothers" to the sharp social commentary of "Politics / Racism" — revealing a comedian equally comfortable with broad laughs and pointed observations.
- It helped establish a blueprint for the comedy album as a legitimate artistic vehicle for entertainers who were simultaneously conquering television and film, laying the groundwork for Murphy's own subsequent Grammy-winning recordings.
Tracklist
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A1 Faggots Revisited / Sexual Prime 83
8:03
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A2 Singers 90
10:01
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A3 Ice Cream Man / Shoe Throwin' Mothers 75
6:09
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A4 Modern Women 82
2:11
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B1 The Barbecue 63
12:41
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B2 The Fart Game 167
1:51
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B3 Politics / Racism 104
4:33
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B4 Languages 117
2:09
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B5 TV 169
2:23
Artist Details
Eddie Murphy, the same Eddie Murphy who had folks rolling in the aisles as a comedian and lighting up the silver screen, stepped into the recording studio and surprised everybody when he dropped his debut album How Could It Be in 1985, followed by So Happy in 1989, blending R&B, pop, and funk into a sound that was slick, playful, and undeniably him. His single Party All the Time, produced by the legendary Rick James, climbed all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that this man wasn't just playing around — he had genuine musical chops to back up that megawatt charisma. Murphy's foray into music stands as a fascinating chapter in pop culture history, representing that rare moment when a mega-celebrity crossed over into music not as a gimmick, but as a legitimate artistic expression that connected with millions during the height of his cultural dominance in the '80s.