Rodney Finally Gets Some Respect

Rodney Dangerfield - Greatest Bits (Shoutfactory.com)

Eternally Cool, Rodney Dangerfield Took Low Self-Esteem to New Heights

The aptly titled, “Greatest Bits” consists of six of Rodney Dangerfield’s best live bits including the songs “Finiculi Finiula” and “Rappin’ Rodney.”

Starting out as a comedian in vaudeville, Rodney Dangerfield worked his way (doing both comedy shows and actually working at clubs) through the Dinner Club Circuit, Vegas, talk shows (Ed Sullivan-16 appearances, The Tonight Show 70-plus), and also movies like Caddyshack and Back to School. As the life-of-the-party golf club owner, or school Dean, respectively, he endlessly honed his comedic act. What made Rodney such a good comedian was, you could almost picture that his one-liners were a part of his life. “My old man, he carries around the picture of the kid that came with the wallet.”

One of the few times Rodney sang, he did it without shtick. “Finiculi Finicula” is Louis Prima/ Keeley Smith- worthy, a traditional Italian standard that Rodney does old-school.- Hey, The Dropkick Murphys might want to turn this one into live show rebel-rouser, like they did with The Kingston Trio’s “Charlie and the MTA” or Woody Guthrie’s “Blackout Tonight!”

“Rappin’ Rodney” was put out in the 80’s capitalizing on Caddyshack and Back to School. Chock full of his “I get no respect” bits, he still feels out of place with the times musically, as he yearns to hear “Stardust” while watered-down, drum machine-driven rap beat drive him crazy. As he yearns for the bygone standard, and cries about “getting no respect” throughout the album, you know he’s actually laughing all the way to the bank!

Rodney was the Everyman of comedy. You could see yourself not only in his jokes (“I went to look for a used car and found my wife’s dress in the backseat”), but in his appearance, as he’d start to get jittery, and nervous, adjusting his tie, eyes (“You know what the trouble is with me? I appeal to everyone who can do me absolutely no good“) - sending laughter reverberating around the club.

Rodney passed away in 2004. Like Roy Orbison - who was constantly in search of getting the girl in his songs like “In Dreams,” or “Pretty Woman” - Rodney was constantly seeking respect - especially From his wife, Joan Dangerfield (the brunt of endless jokes), who wrote a loving tribute to Rodney in the liner notes. Whether he was dealing with kids or doctors (the infamous Vinny Boombots- I’m not sure of the spelling of the good doctor’s name,) Rodney’s one liners were fast, hit-and-run, barnstorming, laugh-a-minute belly laughs. He epitomized the guy with the black cloud over his head, always with a sadder story than yours, using the response, “you think you got problems, buddy?”

“Every time I do something it never comes out right. That’s how I got my name, Rodney Dangerfield. When I went into show business, I wanted to better myself. I saw an ad in the paper it said, ‘Improve your personality.’ So went to see the man, and he told me my personality was ok, but my name was my problem. I said to him, ‘My name?’ Well, how can a name be a problem? Even William Shakespeare said, ‘What’s in a name?’ He said, ‘Who?’ (everyone laughing). I said, ‘WILLIAM SHAKESPEARRE!’ He said, ’Look you wanna listen to me or you wanna listen to your friends?’ ( HUGE laughter)! - from “What’s in a Name”).

In his endless search for respect, he brought us along for the ride, showing us our faults, shortcomings, and how to laugh at ourselves along the way! In the end, Roy got the girl, and Rodney got his well deserved respect. - Phil Rainone