''The Steve Martin Brothers'', released on LP in 1981, is a comedy album by the American entertainer

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...

. The album, the last stand-up comedy album released by Martin, was released on

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in O ...

in 2006 by

Wounded Bird Records Wounded Bird Records is an American compact disc only re-issue record label that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from popular and lesser known artists, including Paul Butterfield, Cactus, Herb ...

. The album peaked at No. 135 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The album was also his lowest selling album to date as well, and went uncertified. It was nominated in 1982 for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

for Best Comedy Album.

Production

The album was produced by William E. McEuen. Based on the album cover photos, the title refers to the two sides of Martin that are showcased: The Rich Comedian, showcased on Side One, and the Peace-Loving

Hippie A hippie, also spelled hippy, especially in British English, is someone associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to different countries around ...

Banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

player, showcased on Side Two. Although his self-taught banjo playing had been featured on previous albums, it was never showcased until ''The Steve Martin Brothers''. It was the only album on which he brought in other writers to help him with his material, including ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...

'' writer

Jack Handey Jack Handey (born February 25, 1949) is an American humorist. He is best known for his "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey", a large body of surrealistic one-liner jokes, as well as his "Fuzzy Memories" and "My Big Thick Novel" shorts, and for his dead ...

. After the album was released, Martin decided to quit stand-up comedy. The banjo songs were recorded using studio time booked by the

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band. Constant ...

Track listing

Side one

Cocktail Show, Vegas - 7:37
:1. American Photography :2. A Scientific Question :3. What I Believe :4. A Show Biz Moment Comedy Store, Hollywood - 11:27
:5. The Real Me :6. Love God :7. Make the Rent :8. The Gospel Maniacs

Side two

# Sally Goodin' – 1:08 # Saga of the Old West – 2:30 # John Henry – 2:00 # Saga (Reprise) – 1:05 # Pitkin County Turn Around – 1:07 # Hoedown at Alice's – 2:23 # Song of Perfect Spaces – 3:16 # Freddie's Lilt, Parts I and II – 3:47 # Waterbound – 1:16 # Banana Banjo – 1:07 The entirety of Side Two was recorded in August 1971.

Personnel

*Produced by William E. McEuen *Mastered by

Greg Fulginiti Gregory Fulginiti (born February 13, 1951 in Cape May Court House section of Middle Township, New Jersey) is an American recording and mastering engineer. Fulginiti grew up in Wildwood, New Jersey and graduated from Wildwood High School in 1969 ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steve Martin Brothers Steve Martin albums 1981 albums Warner Records albums Wounded Bird Records albums Live comedy albums 1980s comedy albums Comedy albums by American artists Stand-up comedy albums