I once went with a friend to a flute convention she wanted to attend. The flute players performed on a small outdoor stage underneath a canopy. There was a lull in the action--probably an intermission of some sort--and I began talking with the man seated next to me. For whatever reason I remarked, "What we need is some Tom Lehrer music." The man got excited and said that he was a piano player and that he knew all of Tom's songs by heart. I said that I knew all the words by heart. So we got up together, went to the piano, and put on an impromptu performance of Tom's songs with me on the vocals. My friend said she loved it!
Humor for people who could read and had some social conscious. Tom Lehrer never pandered to the lowest laugh. He had guts and the commitment to tell the truth. He was popular because so many people work harder trying to not be truthful.
A high school teacher played "Pollution" in class back in the 1970s and I was in tears from laughter. When I finally found his albums I snapped them up and treasured them ever since. I was raised Catholic, so "The Vatican Rag" was especially relatable. Not only were the songs clever and catchy, but so was his banter. I especially liked his self-intro where he described his life's goal as "the attempt to prolong adolescence beyond all previous limits". For decades I wondered if he even had a face, since the albums never showed it. Thanks to RU-vid, that personal goal has been fulfilled. One certainly can't call him prolific - one album per decade - but what he put on those albums is brilliant.
I listened to his albums so much at the Univ of Michigan, I remember all the lyrics now at 72yo. (Btw Tom; there’s nothing sophomoric in your musical work.)
Another Allan Sherman wannabe, but not as funny, clever, handsome or enduring. Probably couldn't get a singing gig. His lame doggerel was badly dated by 1970. Even his "Elements" are outdated.
I used to watch these on HBO 40 years ago. Dick Cabot is my favorite narrator to this day. Sadly, this stuff is largely forgotten and not even available on DVD. He had a "Time Was..." series on HBO Nov 1979 - May 1980 with one episode for each decade 1920-1970.
I used to watch this too as kid. This show has been circulating in my mind since the mid 80’s. I decided to search the song “Remember When” on google and here I am. Brings back memories.
I'm pretty sure it was narrated by Dick Cavett, not Dick Cabot. I only point this out because there *IS* a somewhat famous person named Dick Cabot. But the long time narrator for different series and tv host that narrated this was Dick Cavett.
Just came across your video in 2022 😄. I compiled the Dutch release of the Beatles Collection. I was real fortunate enough to find all the albums except one that I had to go online for and got lucky and found the empty blue box to put them in! On the Sgt Pepper album the tone arm has to go all the way to the label before the "inner groove" starts.
