BILL HICKS - The Essential Collection in stores September 14th

N.B.: You may remember that on season 2 of the Insomnia Cafe podcast we had an exclusive early play of Bill's song 'Moon Is Smiling'. That song, and 10 others (making up the album 'Lo-Fi Troubadour') will be available in this set via a special download card.

Ryko is proud to announce the release of The Essential Collection, a four disc set (2 CD/2 DVD) - out September 14th, 2010 on Ryko - that encompasses Bill Hicks’ short but influential career as a satirist, social critic and stand-up comedian.

The package contains double DVD discs with over five hours of footage from Bill Hicks’ personal archives including rare, never-before-seen performances from the early 80’s, the cult short film Ninja Bachelor Party (starring Bill Hicks, Kevin Booth and David Johndrow), in-depth interviews with Hicks and a photo gallery from his family’s keepsakes.

The 2 CD discs offer over two hours of his best stand-up material with never-before-released performance pieces from a San Ramon , CA show recorded by Bill Hicks that was found in his archives. The box set also features new liner notes written by family members as well as renowned figures (including Henry Rollins, Eric Bogosian, noted UK author Paul Outhwaite, and UK journalist/tv personality, Clive Anderson), and a download card containing original song recordings by Hicks (that were mastered at Abbey Road Studios - London, England) entitled, Lo-Fi Troubadour.

Tracklisting (selections marked with an asterisk are previously unreleased):

Disc One (CD):

1. Fevered Egos
2. I’m Talking To The Women Here
3. My Favorite New Kid
4. Marketing & Advertising
5. Artistic Roll Call
6. Orange Drink
7. Save Willie
8. Menu?
9. A Killer Idea
10. Goodbye You Lizard Scum
11. Summertime
12. Elvis*
13. The News
14. Confession Time (Cops)
15. Please Do Not Disturb*
16. Spectravision & Housekeeping
17. Girl Of Your Dreams
18. Clam Lappers & Sonic The Hedgehog TM
19. What Is Pornography?
20. Renting Pornos & Girlfriends*
21. Name & Address Not Withheld*
22. Beelzebozo*
23. Pussywhipped Satan
24. I Love My Job
25. Audience Member / Old Folks Home Manager*
26. Worst Audience Ever
27. The F Word
28. My Parents

Disc Two (CD):

1. Drugs Have Done Good Things
2. Rockers Against Drugs Suck
3. We Live In A World
4. Drugs Have Done Good Things Part 2*
5. Ding Dong
6. Gays In The Military
7. Speaking Of Homosexuality
8. Children On Airplanes
9. Your Children Aren’t Special
10. Pro Life
11. Non-Smokers
12. Audience Member / Dental Assistant*
13. Smoking
14. Smoking Tastes Great*
15. Yul Brynner
16. Smoking In Heaven
17. Flying Saucer Tour
18. Burning Issues
19. Odd Beliefs
20. Kennedy & The Warren Commission
21. Handguns – UK vs. USA*
22. The Vision

Disc Three (DVD):

The Early Years – Stand Up
Houston, TX – 1981*
Houston, TX – 1984*
Indianapolis, IN – 1985*
Houston, TX (Part 1) – 1986*
Houston, TX (Part 2) – 1986*

The Early Years – TV Interview

The Outlaw Comics
Outlaw Comics Performance
Origins Of The Outlaw Comics*

Extras – Photo Gallery

Disc Four (DVD):

Ninja Bachelor Party

About Ninja Bachelor Party

Austin Bootleg Series
November, 1991*
December, 1992*
June, 1993*
October, 1993*

About The Austin Bootleg Series

Download Card:

Lo-Fi Troubadour
Original Songs* – Written & Performed by Bill Hicks

1. Introduction
2. She’s A Woman
3. Hey Mama
4. The Road Can Be Hard
5. Jazz Instrumental
6. The Moon Is Smiling
7. Turn Your Mind Over To Your Heart
8. No Music In My Soul
9. Waiting To Meet You
10. I Never Really Cried For You
11. Outro Instrumental

In stores September 14th.