There are only 3 cds and 4 videos by Sam Kinison. But he packed a punch. He will always be an icon of the 80's. I remember listening to these cds on cassette in high school. I can listen to the same clip again and again and laugh just as hard each time.
Have You Seen Me Lately?

Kinison's first release back in 1988. The "rock against drugs is like Christians against Christ" bit starts off this powerful cd. The show here was recorded in Orlando. The cd ends with Kinison and the band singing Wild Thing.

Leader of the Banned

Its 1990 and time for Kinison's next gift to the world. Just as powerful as his first cd. The Phone Call From hell is great. Leader of the Banned finishes with 4 songs - Gonna Raise Hell, Mississippi Queen, Under My Thumb and Highway to Hell. Leslie West plays on Mississippi Queen (he and his band Mountain originally wrote that song - this means Kinison is playing with a guy who performed at Woodstock!)

Breaking The Rules + Family Entertainment Hour

Two Kinison videos from 1987. Breaking the Rules is from his HBO special - the first time the US saw Sam on tv. If you think he's good on cd, you should just see him on video. Wow. This is comedy nirvana. I won't waste words - just get these 3 videos. These 3 + the Valby video are the best shockers for friends to watch.

Banned!

Live at the Felt Forum, New York in 1990. Kinison does something nice for Sally Marr (Lenny Bruce's mother). We get to see 3 videos too - Under My Thumb, Wild Thing and Mississippi Queen.

Why Did We Laugh?

A documentary on the life of Sam Kinison. Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield (who discovered Sam in a Houston comedy club), and Dennis Miller all say nice things about my hero.


Kenny Sahr
kenny@sahr.com