Live on the Sunset Strip

AMG Review of Live on the Sunset Strip

Matthew Greenwald
All Music Guide

One of Richard Pryor's finest records, this album was recorded live (as almost all of them were), which is really the only way to make a comedy record that gives you the full effect of Pryor's genius. The thing that makes this record a bit different is that it was recorded shortly after his near-fatal cocaine freebase accident. Of course, nothing is sacred with Pryor, and his routine on the subject ("Freebase") is one of the funniest of his career -- it finds Pryor at his most outrageous. The good thing about this (and the entire record) is that although Pryor is a bit more in control, the accident didn't diminish his overall, nearly out of control, and often filthy (in the best possible way) delivery. A real classic.