Thank You Masked Man

The performances on this album are early bits from the Fantasy vault of Lenny Bruce tapes. "Thank You Masked Man" has appeared in a somewhat different version in the animated film of the same name done by John Magnuson's Imaginations, Inc. It is also present in an abbreviated form on the Philles album, "Lenny Bruce Is Out Again. Some of these bits have appeared in written (transcribed) form in "The Essential Lenny Bruce" (Ballantine), and the final portion of "The Sound", that now-classic interview of the night-tripping musician by that famous bandleader, was included under the title of "The Interview" in the Fantasy album "Interviews of Our Time". However, it is presented here in its original, full version, which shows the genesis of the bit and the range if the concept behind it. The rest of this material has never before been available on record and includes the earliest Bruce performances known to exist. Tracks A1, A2, B2 recorded at Peacock Lane, Los Angeles, January, 1958. Tracks A3, B3 recorded at Off Broadway, San Francisco, March, 1963. Track B1 recorded at The Den, New York City, November, 1959. Track B4 recorded at Facks, San Francisco, October, 1958. Track B5 recorded in the artist's room, Hotel America, New York City, July, 1959. © Fantasy Records. All selections published by Parker Music-BMI. ℗1972 Fantasy Records.