42 Essential Comedy Albums
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[Editors note: This was originally posted June 3, 2013. We are reposting in honor of today being record store day. Comedy records are records too! Support your local record stores!]
For over 60 years, the comedy album has been the best way for comedians to express whatever they wanted without direction from an executive or show runner. Even with the advent of new technologies, the album has stood the test of time, becoming a cornerstone in bringing their material directly to the public. Some of the greatest comedy that has ever existed can be found on this list. Use it. Enjoy it. There is nothing on this list that will waste your time.
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- Don Rickles Hello Dummy
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- Carl Reiner Mel Brooks 2000 Year Old Man
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- Lewis Black The White Album
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- Cheech Chong Big Bambu
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- David Brenner Excuse Me Are You Reading That Paper
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- Gilda Radner Live From New York
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- Sarah Silverman Jesus is Magic
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- Rowan Atkinson Not Just a Pretty Face
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- Billy Connolly Billy and Albert
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- Patrice O’Neal Mr. P
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- Invite Them Up Various
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- Jim Gaffigan Beyond the Pale
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- Adam Sandler they’re all gonna laugh at you
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- Greg Giraldo Midlife Vices
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- Patton Oswalt Werewolves and Lollipops
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- Zach Galifianakis Live at the Purple Onion
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- Dave Attell Skanks for the Memories
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- Bill Cosby to russell, my brother, whom i slept with
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- Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip
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- Eddie Murphy Comedian
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- George Carlin Class Clown
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- Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart
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- Steve Martin Let’s Get Small
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- Lenny Bruce The Carnegie Hall Concert
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- Albert Brooks Comedy Minus One
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- Woody Allen Standup Comic
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- Bill Hicks Rant in E-Minor
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- Steven Wright I Have a Pony
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- Mitch Hedberg Strategic Grill Locations
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- Louis CK Chewed Up
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- Chris Rock Bigger and Blacker
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- National Lampoon Radio Dinner
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- Dennis Miller The Off White Album
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- Another Monty Python Record
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- Lily Tomlin This is a Recording
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- Eddie Izzard Dressed to Kill
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- Sam Kinison Louder Than Hell
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- Andrew Dice Clay the Day the Laughter Died
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- Spinal Tap This is Spinal Tap
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- Redd Foxx Uncensored
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- Robin Williams A Night at the Met
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- Rodney Dangerfield No Respect
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