Bob Newhart was an advertising copywriter in Chicago who wrote comic satirical monologues with a work colleague, sending tapes of them to radio stations, which led to an introduction to Warner Bros. Records, who signed him on the strength of the audition tapes. He expanded his material to develop a stand-up routine and became a popular nightclub performer.
However it was his first LP in 1960 “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” which launched him to prominence, using the technique of portraying one end of a telephone conversation. It became the first comedy album to reach No. 1 in the Billboard album charts, winning a Grammy in 1961 for Album Of The Year. The album also made No.2 in the UK album charts, where certain tracks became popular on radio request shows.
That same year, he released the follow-up album “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back”, which also went on to win an award for Best Comedy Performance – Spoken Word. This great value 2-CD set comprises every track from those two albums and also from his next two albums “Behind The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart” and “The Button Down Mind On TV”, that latter reflecting his successful move to the small screen. It is therefore a thorough overview of the first crucial years of his career, when he shot to fame, and includes many of his best-known pieces.
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Abe Lincoln vs Madison Avenue |
Bob Newhart |
2 |
The Cruise Of The U.S.S. Codfish |
Bob Newhart |
3 |
Merchandising The Wright Brothers |
Bob Newhart |
4 |
The Krushchev Landing Rehearsal |
Bob Newhart |
5 |
Driving Instructor |
Bob Newhart |
6 |
Nobody Will Ever Play Baseball |
Bob Newhart |
7 |
Automation And A Private In Washington's Army |
Bob Newhart |
8 |
The Grace L. Ferguson Airline (And Storm Door Co.) |
Bob Newhart |
9 |
Bus Drivers School |
Bob Newhart |
10 |
Retirement Party |
Bob Newhart |
11 |
An Infinite Number Of Monkeys |
Bob Newhart |
12 |
Ledge Psychology |
Bob Newhart |
|
|
|
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Rocket Scientist |
Bob Newhart |
2 |
Tourist Meets Khruschev |
Bob Newhart |
3 |
The Uncle Freddie Show |
Bob Newhart |
4 |
TV Commercials |
Bob Newhart |
5 |
The Seven Lost Cities Of The Incas |
Bob Newhart |
6 |
Herb Philbrick - Counter Spy |
Bob Newhart |
7 |
The African Movie |
Bob Newhart |
8 |
Introducing Tobacco To Civilisation |
Bob Newhart |
9 |
The Siamese Cat |
Bob Newhart |
10 |
Defusing A Bomb |
Bob Newhart |
11 |
A Friend With A Dog |
Bob Newhart |
12 |
General Chariot Corp. |
Bob Newhart |
13 |
The Hold Out Huns |
Bob Newhart |