The Sick Comic Makes a Comeback

Ever since Lenny Bruce's death from a drug overdose in 1966, his legend has overwhelmed his comedy. His "sick" material pushed the boundaries of language and subject matter, kept him shuttling in and out of jail--and provided a model for every antiestablishment comic who followed. Now Lenny Bruce: Let the Buyer Beware, a six-CD set due out this week from Shout! Factory, will give the most complete account yet of why. Producer Hal Willner, working with Bruce's daughter Kitty, listened to more than 200 hours of Bruce's private recordings and other long-unheard tapes. Two-thirds of the material has never before been...

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