Your
Unauthorized Guide
to the Golden Age of National Lampoon
Magazine (1970-1975)

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May 2005 Archive

May 23, 2005

A new 4-CD collection of classic (and not-so-classic) National Lampoon audio humor has been released called "The Classic National Lampoon Box Set". The set contains bits going back to the 1973 album Radio Dinner, up through 1982. These are available on other albums and collections (see listing below), but if you don't already own those, this may be a good way to get the favorite bits you remember from your ill-spent youth.

Here is a listing of the tracks: Disc 1 (previously released as "That's Not Funny, That's Sick"): Squalor Show; Confession; Dick Ballentine Phone in #1; Disco Hotline; Dick Ballentine Phone in #2; Love Birds/Flashnova; Listener Sponsored Radio; For $25,000; Gymnasty; Dick Ballentine Phone in #3; Yiddishco; Listener Sponsored Radio #2; Pulp; For $15,000; Rapeline; Mr. Roberts #1; Stereos and Such; Listener Sponsored Radio #3; Height Report Disco; Mr. Roberts #2; Dial-A-Curse; Humpback Whales; Listener Sponsored Radio #4; 2,015 Year Old Man; Fasten Your Seatbelts; Listener Sponsored Radio #5; Monolithic Oil. Disc 2 (previously released as "National Lampoon White Album"): Perrier Junkie; At the Bar; What Is God?; Fartman; Discoleptic; Steak; Sounds of Physical Love; Gay Alliance; Robert Caucasian vs. Squab; What About Reupholsterers?; Shakespeare Knock Knocks; Nude Figure Model; Couple at the Door; Christopher Street; California Hot Tub; What Turns Women On; What Were You Expecting--Rock and Roll? Disc 3 (previously released as "Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and the End of the World"): Introduction; Annie; Firing Line; Cocaine; Jane Fonda Speaks Out; Firing Line 2; Sushi Riot/Godspeak Suite; Porkbucket Place; Born Against Bob; Godspeak; My Bod Is for God; South Bronx Is Burning; Byz Talk; Abe Shenkle's Rock Show; Sidewinders; Byz Talk 2; Walk in the Park; Best Friends; Mr. Reagen's Neighborhood; Apocalyspo Now! Disc 4 (previously released as "The Greatest Hits of the National Lampoon"): Deteriorata; Save the Whales; Colorado; I'm a Woman; Well-Intentioned Blues; Mission: Impeachable; Kung Fu Christmas; Mister Roberts; Gymnasty; Pizza Man; The Immigrants; Those Fabulous Sixties; Magical Misery Tour.

Posted May 23, 2005, 09:00 PM in News.

May 19, 2005

Michael Gross Puts His Work Online. Michael Gross recently put up an online portfolio of his work. As expected, it includes covers he designed during his years as art director of National Lampoon, his work at Esquire, in the movies (including his famous Ghostbusters logo design), and as an illustrator. Less well known are his paintings and photographs (note: some of the photos are not "work safe"). I was particularly taken with his "places" photographs. Just amazing.

Posted May 19, 2005, 04:30 PM in News.

May 13, 2005

Peter Bramley, 1944-2005. Photo of Peter Bramley from the first issue of National Lampoon magazine. National Lampoon's original art director Peter Bramley has died at the age of 60. Peter and fellow Massachusetts College of Art graduate Bill Skurski co-founded Cloud Studio in 1967. Cloud Studio was hired by National Lampoon to produce the magazine during its first year. He created the "duck" mascot that debuted on the cover of the first issue and was used for a while in the magazine, and did a perfect Peter Max parody on the cover of the second issue. After Michael Gross replaced him as art director with issue number 8, Bramley continued to contribute illustrations and cartoons to the magazine through the mid-seventies. Among his classic pieces were "Sextraterrestrials" and "Toilets of the Extraterrestrials" (both written by Henry Beard), and the recurring comic strip "Vinny Shinblind, The Invisible Sex Maniac." (Some of these can be seen on the official NatLamp website here.)

Just last summer I received a brief email from Peter which he closed with, "...give my regards to all the little Lampoonatics. Vaya con carne, Pete." R.I.P.