Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Anthology

Disc 1
1	Abe Lincoln Vs. Madison Avenue
2	The Cruise of the U.S.S. Codfish
3	Merchandising the Wright Brothers
4	Driving Instructor (Pilot Script for a New TV Series)
5	The Grace L. Ferguson Airline (And Storm Door Co.)
6	Bus Drivers School
7	Retirement Party
8	Ledge Psychology
9	Rocket Scientist
10	The Uncle Freddie Show
Disc 2
1	Introducing Tobacco to Civilization
2	The Siamese Cat
3	Defusing a Bomb
4	A Friend With a Dog
5	The Expectant Father
6	On Poodles and Planes
7	The Man Who Looked Like Hitler
8	King Kong
9	Returning a Gift
10	Buying a House
11	Ben Franklin in Analysis
12	Daddy of All Hangovers
13	On Trains and Planes
14	Modern Witch Doctor

Barnes & Noble

Best known as the star of several hit television shows, including The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, the "Duke of Deadpan" first made a name for himself as a radio sketch comic who was the guy next door. The antithesis of the profanity-laced, nothing-sacred school of modern comedy, Newhart used his uniquely dry "everyman" persona to turn out a succession of million-selling albums in the early '60s, including Grammy winner The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, the first comedy album ever to hit No. 1 on the charts. The well-chosen two-CD Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Anthology collects the comic's most inspired routines. Among the sidesplitting vignettes here are "Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue," "Introducing Tobacco to Civilization," and "Driving Instructor," in which he presents a TV series pilot by simply -- and hilariously -- talking his way through a driving lesson with a lethal student. This trio of skits shows why Newhart was the biggest comedian of his time: He's a master craftsman able to transform everyday situations into sublimely funny slices of life. Something Like This is filled with the droll, "clean" humor of a genius who was able to integrate his own straight-and-narrow personality into his act. It is a marvelous testament to an American comedic treasure. Eric Lowenhar

All Music Guide

It's a testament to Bob Newhart's considerable talents that his TV shows, particularly his '70s classic The Bob Newhart Show, overshadowed his comedy records which were trailblazers in their own accord. His first album, The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart, became the first comedy album to ever reach the top of the charts, and it did so in 1960, when there were scores of other comedians, singers, rockers, and Broadway soundtracks vying for the coveted pole position. Newhart succeeded then, and his records remain fresh, because they were elegantly written, easily delivered, perfectly formed sketch comedy, the kind of routines that could appeal to all audiences, yet still contained twists and asides that proved how hip and clever Newhart was. This is the same trait that fueled his television shows, and while certain particulars of both the show and the records may have dated, the routines remain uproariously funny because of their construction. Newhart created a setting and existed within it, letting little details speak large volumes. This is apparent throughout Rhino's splendid double-disc set, Something Like This: The Bob Newhart Anthology, which contains 24 tracks from his eight albums for Warner Brothers. Since most of these records are out of print, this is a blessing for Newhart fans, but anyone with even a passing interest in comedy should check this out, because there are few comedy records that ever transcend time like this. Stephen Thomas Erlewine