Eddie Murphy by Eddie Murphy

I’ve just listened to Eddie Murphy’s self-titled album, Eddie Murphy. You youngsters out there perhaps aren’t aware of the fact that Eddie Murphy was once a king-shit comedian. He was popular on TV, in the moving picture shows, and of course, on records. You might remember him from Saturday Night Live or from movies like Trading Places or Beverly Hills Cop. And then all of a sudden, he evidently fell out of favour with the powers that be and disappeared, which is a bummer.

Comedy, as they say, is not pretty (I think it was Steve Martin who said that first) and this record has some unprettiness. In parts, it’s rude, it’s crude, and it’s offensive. The bit on gay people (“Faggots”) made me squirm a bit and I doubt he could get away with it today (this record is from 1982) but back then, people weren’t so concerned about being politically correct. Having said that, in many ways it is tame by today’s standards.

The rest of the album hasn’t really aged that well but I guess it could be seen as “bridging comedy”, that is, comedy that connects the old days as such with the comedy of today. This record reminds me a bit of Richard Pryor in that they are both story tellers and evidently mocking the truths they’ve experienced in their lives. Or something like that.

My favourite gag is the bit about dads getting aftershave or cologne for Christmas. “Brut. By Faberge.” It strikes home for so many reasons, I loved it. I remember liking “Boogie in Your Butt” back when it was on the radio in the 80s, but not so much now. So, we are dealing with a mixed bag of sorts but overall, if you are a comedy record collector, grab it if you see it.

The rest of the album is okay and definitely worth the $2 I paid for it. If you see it, grab it.

Rich