Jackie Mason: “The World According To Me”

(Warner Bros. Records)

Jackie Mason’s “The World According To Me” was originally released in 1987 and, for the most part, the material is still fresh and original. Mason takes his time getting started with his “One Man Show” routine. He goes into a bit about how you only need one person to get anything done. He takes about three minutes to build momentum and, by the time he starts talking about sex, hookers, and psychiatry, which is still part of the “One Man Show” track, he’s in his prime. He has a rapid-fire delivery that reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield. The only difference is Mason takes the time to build the joke and, when he gets to the punchline, he throws more than one out at you in order to keep the laughter going. He doesn’t beat it to death though. It’s like he knows how long he can take it before the audience will get bored with it. That’s what makes him great.

I’d also like to point out that Jackie doesn’t use a lot of foul language in his act. He doesn’t need to use a lot of dirty words to be funny. He’s a lot better than that. I’m not knocking the people who do material like that. I happen to enjoy that style of comedy. However, I think it takes a much better man to be able to speak to an adult audience without going to the gutter every five minutes. That’s Jackie Manson. Intelligent comedy, that’s what I’d call his style.

“The World According To Me” should be considered a comedy classic. That’s what it is in my book. Give it a listen and see if you don’t say the same thing.

http://www.jackiemason.com
http://www.jewishmusicgroup.com