Let's frame this commentary as more a testimonial, rather than really any attempt at a critical review of this 1974 nightclub recording.
Now, I have undoubtedly picked up numerous phrases and sayings from this recording that I have to be mindful of saying in polite and/or black company, but I wouldn't trade this for anything.
Said differently, this recording has implanted deeply enough in my brain as to defy a fully rational dissection. Richard has worked on my brain with this thing since I was about 15. It occurs to me that I listened to this at least 100 times in high school, and have bought it again repeatedly on CD.
For one thing, I can see in retrospect how significant this recording (and some War 8-Tracks) were to forming my views and expectations of black folk. Not having happened to live around many black folks signifcantly until years later, this record was the PRIME example that came into my path of a black man talking straight and open.
I particularly appreciate the pure paranoid vision of Vietnamese boat people (the "New Niggers") in ESL classes "learning how to say 'nigger'- so they can become good citizens."
Mudbone, sitting around the barbecue pit in Peoria, Illinois, gave me the most succinct point of understanding how a black guy from Missisippi under Jim Crow might have some issues with society. Payback for the hateful fat "collard green eatin'" white bitch in the outhouse was priceless.
But Mudbone was maybe even funnier with the "Little Feets" story about taking his afflicted buddy to the voodoo lady, with the tattoo on her big titties and the crazy three legged monkey.
All this stuff comes slinging in attached to jokes such as to mask the pathos. For example, "Cockeye Junior," the evil son of the old white boss, and the confusion caused by his bad eye. "He was hard to work for, see, cause his eyes went every which-a-way, see. He'd say 'Nigger, pick that up,' and four or five niggers bend down." After about the 50th time laughing at that joke, the scope of the pure humiliation sinks in. And it's STILL funny.
Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
You and Pryor have one thing in common, Al. He's funny when he imitates white people. And you're funny when you try to talk black, e.g., "There's a universality in all this material that transcends being about black folks. Ultimately, we're all niggers up in this bitch."
2 - sonny
Cool post. Have ya visited Richard's website, richardpryor.com? He posts on it and likes gettin e-mail.
3 - Eric Olsen
I believe you have stunned a number of people with this, Al - I hope it helps recalibrate some misconceptions about where you are coming from.
4 - Shark
I wasn't stunned; I've never read a racist word from Big Al.
The person who constantly accuses him of racism accuses everyone of racism -- which sort of lowers the ol' credibility factor.
The Gal Who Cried Wolf ended up being ignored.
(And eaten, too!)
mmm... tasty....
5 - Al Barger
Yeah, but Richard far transcends secondary racial issues. I'm not listening to Richard Pryor records thinking about the plight of the black man like I'm Michael frickin' Stivic. The bastard was just funny. Also, repeated listenings start to reveal some deeper insights into the human condition- which only make his shit seem even funnier.
Moreover, I hate to burst Diva and Tekwh0re's delusions that I'm the Grand Wizard of the Klan and such.
I'd rather have them think I'm Lester Maddox than to make some cheesy gesture to prove that I'm not a "racist."
I can imagine few things more pathetic than looking for gestures to prove that I really, really like black people. For starters, I would not want to be on the receiving end of that kind of enforced affirmative action liking based on any cheap group identity.
Besides which, Diva and Victoria could both use this essay to demonstrate my true dark slave master intent.
Remember, I am still the official White Devil of Blogcritics.
6 - Al Barger
So I was reading more of the stuff about what public officials to blame for Katrina, when suddenly my mind flashed to the classic Mudbone talk from this album. CLICK HERE