Search - Steve Martin :: Steve Martin Brothers

Best (Only!) Comedy/Bluegrass Album Ever

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Twenty-five years after this was first released in 1981, THE STEVE MARTIN BROTHERS is still the best half comedy/half bluegrass album ever recorded. Okay, it's also the only one. And truth to tell, it hasn't aged well. The comedy routines are from a Las Vegas show at the Riviera (best bit--"What I Believe") and a Hollywood performance at The Comedy Store (best bit--"Love God").



The only real reason to buy this album is for the traditional bluegrass music. Martin obviously has a sincere appreciation for the genre and works with first-class musicians like John McEuen (of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), fiddler Vassar Clements and bassist Roy "Junior" Huskey. Some of the the tunes are traditional ("Sally Goodin'," "John Henry" and "Waterbound," the latter is the only vocal), but the rest of the tracks are Martin originals.



Bottom line? Two stars for the comedy; four stars for the music. This one is for completists only."

Two sides of Steve, whether you like it or not

reechie | Lebanon, PA USA | 07/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

""The Steve Martin Brothers" confused and frightened a lot of people upon its release in 1981. Those who'd bought his previous comedy albums didn't get what they'd expected. Martin tried to chart out some new comedy territory, didn't rely on his typical catch phrases and routines, and what was with all the banjo tunes on side 2? Sales were weak, and Martin never released another album.



Truthfully though, as a stand-up comic, Steve Martin was finished by this point. He retired his live act around this time to concentrate on movies and writing, and these recordings represent some of his last performances as a stand-up comedian. Though Martin tries to freshen up his act with new characters and styles, even calling on outside comedy writers like Jack Handey to help, what's here is definitely "B" material. He sounds tired and burned out, and definitely ready for a change. Still, there are a few laughs left to be had, and one routine, "What I Believe" has become an SNL classic.



As for side 2, the main reason for the banjo music is that Martin had run out of comedy material and needed something to fill out the album. Martin is an accomplished banjo player, as he's demonstrated many times in his act, and the the music here is well done (apart from an ill-advised vocal attempt at "Waterbound."). But banjo music isn't why people bought Steve Martin albums, and thus it likely got little play among fans.



It's nice to have "The Steve Martin Brothers" finally make its CD debut, if only to complete his catalogue on digital. But it's certainly not the place to start."

The Steve Martin Brothers for Banjo Players

Dean A. Lungu | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 08/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've always loved and appreciated Steve's brand of humor and his old comedy stand-up routines. All that said, however, the comedy "side" of the CD is a bit tired and I would be hard-pressed to recommend this CD on its comedy merits alone. As a five-string, bluegrass-style banjo picker, however, I have to recommend this CD very highly. There's some really great banjo music contained here, and many arrangements are Steve originals (e.g., Hoedown At Alice's'; Pitkin County Turnaround; Saga of the Old West; and Banana Banjo); all terrific songs in their own right. Steve's a very talented guy, and it's been long in coming that the banjo-playing side of this force of nature is now preserved on CD for banjo pickers to learn from and enjoy."