The legendary comedian Don Rickles made history today as his iconic 1968 album Hello Dummy! was inducted into the National Recording Registry (NRR), marking it as the 14th comedy album to achieve this prestigious recognition. The album title itself reflects the bold and brash insult comedy style that Rickles mastered throughout his career, showcasing his unique ability to blend humor with irreverence.
Released in 1968, Hello Dummy! was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1969, highlighting Rickles’ impact on the comedy scene. He received another nomination the following year for his album Don Rickles Speaks!, although he lost to the renowned Bill Cosby both times. Known as The Merchant of Venom, Rickles graced television screens for decades but received his first Primetime Emmy nomination only in 2008, which many believe was a long-overdue recognition of his distinctive comedic persona. In that year, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for the HBO special Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, which also garnered a second Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special.
The National Recording Registry includes several remarkable comedians, notably seven who have also been honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This esteemed list features legends such as Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, George Carlin, and Bill Cosby. It’s worth noting that Cosby’s Mark Twain Prize was revoked following his 2018 conviction for sexual assault, casting a shadow over his legacy.
Among the comedy albums recognized in the National Recording Registry, two stand out for their remarkable success on the Billboard 200 chart: The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart and The First Family by Vaughn Meader. Both of these albums enjoyed extended runs at the No. 1 position, while Steve Martin’s A Wild and Crazy Guy narrowly missed the top spot, achieving an impressive six weeks at No. 2.
There’s a popular saying that laughter can keep you youthful, and it appears to hold true for several of these comedic legends. Notably, two of these artists are still active in their 90s, with Mel Brooks at 98 and Tom Lehrer at 96. Four others, who have since passed away, also reached the remarkable age of 90. Carl Reiner lived to be 98, while Bob Newhart and Mort Sahl both celebrated their 94th birthdays. Tragically, Rickles passed away at the age of 90 after delivering his final comedic barbs.
In this article, we delve deeper into the 14 full-length comedy albums currently enshrined in the National Recording Registry, providing a chronological overview of each significant work and its impact on the landscape of comedy.
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Tom Lehrer, Songs by Tom Lehrer (1953)
Billboard 200 peak: Did not chart
Notes: The brilliant Tom Lehrer, now 96, found his greatest fame during the vibrant 1960s with his clever songs addressing pressing social and political issues. He contributed to the American adaptation of the British television show That Was the Week That Was, which aired on NBC from 1963 to 1965. One of his albums from 1965, That Was the Year That Was, achieved significant success, peaking at No. 18 on the Billboard 200.
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Mort Sahl, At Sunset (1958)
Billboard 200 peak: Did not chart
Notes: This album was recorded in 1955 and released three years later, showcasing the humor of Mort Sahl. He had the honor of hosting the inaugural Grammy Awards ceremony on May 4, 1959, during which he was nominated for Best Comedy Performance for The Future Lies Ahead. Sahl’s subsequent album in 1960, Mort Sahl at the hungry i, reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200 chart. Sahl passed away in 2021 at the age of 94.
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Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks, 2000 Years With Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks (1960)
Billboard 200 peak: Did not chart
Notes: This classic album was the first of five comedic collaborations between Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, inspired by the immense popularity of their “2000 Year Old Man” routine, which remains one of the most celebrated comedy acts alongside Abbott & Costello’s timeless “Who’s on First” (1938) — also included in the NRR. The inaugural 2000 Years album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Performance – Spoken Word, and three of their subsequent albums continued to receive nominations in that category. Notably, The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 won the award in 1999. Additionally, a 1972 release titled 2000 and Thirteen reached No. 150 on the Billboard 200. Brooks, who is currently 98, is an EGOT winner, while Reiner won 11 Primetime Emmys and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame before passing away in 2020 at the age of 98.
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Bob Newhart, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960)
Image Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (14 weeks)
Notes: This remarkable album held the No. 1 position longer than any other comedy album in the illustrious history of the Billboard 200, with an impressive 14-week run. It was also the first comedy album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, a significant milestone in the genre. Bob Newhart also won the award for Best New Artist, making him the only comedian to achieve this honor. Although Newhart’s career as a top recording artist was relatively brief, he enjoyed tremendous success on television, starring in two long-running sitcoms. He eventually won a Primetime Emmy in 2013 for his guest performance on The Big Bang Theory. Newhart passed away in 2024 at the age of 94.
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Stan Freberg, Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America (1961)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 34
Notes: This innovative album received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Performance. Stan Freberg was a nominee in each of the first four years of the Grammys, winning in the inaugural year for The Best of the Stan Freberg Shows. Freberg achieved remarkable success, topping Billboard’s separate Best Sellers and Disk Jockey charts in 1953 with his novelty single “St. George and the Dragonet.” He passed away in 2015 at the age of 88.
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Vaughn Meader, The First Family (1962)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (12 weeks)
Notes: This comedic masterpiece, which parodied President Kennedy’s family, became a cultural phenomenon during what turned out to be the final year of JFK’s presidency. Notably, it was the second comedy album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year and also received a second award for Best Comedy Recording. Tragically, Vaughn Meader’s career never fully recovered following Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963. Lenny Bruce famously remarked on the night of the assassination that “Boy, is Vaughn Meader f—ked.” Meader passed away in 2004 at the age of 68.
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Bill Cosby, I Started Out as a Child (1964)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 32
Notes: Bill Cosby’s journey is a tale of highs and lows; he started out as a child, enjoyed a pioneering career at the top, but ultimately faced disgrace. Notably, this album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Performance. Throughout his career, Cosby, now 87, won an impressive nine Grammys—more than any other comedian—as well as four Primetime Emmys.
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Don Rickles, Hello Dummy (1968)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 54
Notes: Hello Dummy! marked a significant milestone as Don Rickles’ first album for the comedy powerhouse Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded live at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, capturing Rickles’ trademark style. Known ironically as Mr. Warmth, Rickles was renowned for his acerbic wit as an insult comic, often targeting celebrities and audiences alike. His unique comedic approach paved the way for future comedians such as Joan Rivers and established the tradition of celebrity roasts that are still popular today. Rickles passed away in 2017 at the age of 90.
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Firesign Theatre — Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers (1970)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 106
Notes: This album is notable as the only project from a comedy troupe included in the Registry. The Firesign Theatre made a significant mark on the Billboard 200 with eight different albums. Their highest-charting album was 1971’s I Think We’re All Bozos on This Bus, which reached an impressive No. 50.
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Lily Tomlin, This Is a Recording (1971)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 15
Notes: In this groundbreaking album, Lily Tomlin showcases her iconic Ernestine character, originally created for Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. This album was particularly significant as it won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album, marking Tomlin as the first woman to win in this category on her own. Now 85, Tomlin has received six Primetime Emmys and was nominated for an Oscar for her brilliant role in Nashville.
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George Carlin, Class Clown (1972)
Image Credit: Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images Billboard 200 peak: No. 22
Notes: This influential album features George Carlin’s famous routine “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” which has become a cultural touchstone. Although this album narrowly missed the top 20, Carlin achieved top 20 status with two other albums in the 1970s—FM & AM and Toledo Window Box. Carlin, a master of language and humor, won five Grammys and was the first host of the premiere episode of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975. Carlin, known for his brilliant observational humor, passed away in 2008 at the age of 71.
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Groucho Marx, An Evening With Groucho (1972)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 160
Notes: This remarkable double album features the witty performance of Groucho Marx, a beloved member of the iconic Marx Brothers. He earned a Primetime Emmy as the most outstanding personality in 1951 and received an honorary Oscar in 1973 for his exceptional creativity and the unparalleled contributions of the Marx Brothers to the art of motion picture comedy. Groucho Marx passed away in 1977 at the age of 86.
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Richard Pryor, Wanted (1978)
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images Billboard 200 peak: No. 32
Notes: This double album marked Richard Pryor’s fourth entry into the top 40 on the Billboard 200, following the success of his previous albums That Ni–er’s Crazy, Is It Something I Said?, and Bicentennial N—er. Pryor later returned to the top 40 in 1982 with Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip. Over his career, he won five Grammys and one Primetime Emmy, the latter for co-writing a 1973 special featuring Lily Tomlin. In 2006, he made history as the first (and currently the only) comedian to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy. Pryor passed away in 2005 at the age of 65.
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Steve Martin, A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 (six weeks)
Notes: This album earned Steve Martin his second consecutive Grammy for Best Comedy Album, following his previous win with Let’s Get Small. A Wild and Crazy Guy features the hit single “King Tut,” which made its way into the top 20 of the Hot 100 chart. At 79, Martin has won five Grammys (two for comedy and three for his music), showcasing his diverse talents. Remarkably, he has only won one Primetime Emmy, awarded for his writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1969, and in 2013, he received an honorary Oscar.
