Vaughn Meader: The First Family, Vol. 1, Part 1/5

1. The Experiment
2. After Dinner Conversations
3. The Malayan Ambassador
4. Relatively Speaking
5. The Astronauts
6. Motorcade

[@GregDad100]

my mother had this in her collection (along with a lot of jazz LPs, pop albums and even some blue Redd Foxx records). I must have listened to it 1,000 times in the mid-1970s. I miss those days. Man, what memories.

[@eltigre249]

What I miss is the innocence. Today everything is so mean-spirited.

[@budgiekiller2]

Tears to my eyes! I remember this from '62 as a kid. My sister and I laughed and laughed. Poor LP was scratched to the point we could play only a minute or so without it skipping or repeating. Thank you!

[@Jeff-gi6dh]

At my urging, my parents bought this record when it first came out. We played it over and over till it was almost worn out! One of the funniest satires ever recorded. After JFK's assassination, it was never played again, and was probably thrown out. Finally, after over 50 years, I can laugh at Vaughn Meader's JFK once more.

[@65motowngirl]

What memories. This was such a fun and innocent time .

[@chuckgreen2453]

My parent loved this album. I’ve heard it 50 times at least…. 59 years ago… hearing it again is amazing

[@palisadesk]

Great to hear this again, a fond childhood memory. One striking thing -- it is *very* funny, but the humor is never mean-spirited. That's a change in our culture that is not really progress.

[@WDRowlett]

This is hilarious. And whatever happened on November 22, 1963, it remains funny. It's not disrespectful. It's just funny.

[@Anjuli50]

When I was a child, we were not allowed to listen to this record, because my mother thought it was disrespectful after the assassination. Finally, after about 10 years, she let me listen to it -- and I have loved it ever since! I still have a copy of it in my collection.

[@daviddiscenza3187]

We had this album and nearly wore it out ...until 11/22/1963. It was years before I could listen to it again.

[@MCO18]

Best part is at 3:50, "The rubber swan is MINE." lol

[@alicelam3334]

My Dad had this album when I was a kid...and He would have friends over for martini's out on the patio with the white xmas lights strung . He would also play that Jonathon Winters record after Vaughn. Great times. Thanks for the blast from the past.

[@wilmcnam]

I haven't heard this album since I was 11 in 1963. Thanks so much for posting this. I brings back fond memories of President Kennedy when things were happier before 11-22-1963. Cleveland Ohio

[@hibob418]

I can only echo the great bit from the 'Press Conference' sketch... Q: "Sir, when we will we send a man back to the moon?" A: "Whenever Governor Romney wants to go!"

[@josephvirgilio4984]

"because its my ball, that's why!" I never forgot that line and still use it when the situation calls for it. :)

[@inkey2]

I remember the nuns actually played this in the classrooms for us to listen to. Being the first Catholic president was a real big deal to us

[@krystallamp]

Thanks for the memories. Meader was hilarious without the malice of many of today's impressionists.

[@michaelbelfer1069]

Like so many others I grew up listening to this wonderful, hilarious record. I was two months short of my tenth birthday (in the fourth grade) when JFK was murdered. The best and worst of times but unforgettable for sure.

[@janicefraisse2308]

we had this when i 6 or 7 when we had this LP, it was so funny at that time in the 60's,

[@OforOboe]

Audrienne, thank you so much for posting. My late father was a huge fan of this LP, and we got to love it as kids, in our holiday home in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. Superb sound quality, great nostalgia. Wonderful. KJ.

[@Soulthinker2007]

The funny side of Camelot. The good nights reminded me of the Waltons years later.

[@surferpam1]

Hearing this again makes me feel such sadness and such joy at the same time.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

This was in my dad's album collection. It always revives fond memories of him. My family listened to that album so much, is ended up with tons of scratches. Nice to hear it ins pristine condition. Thank you.

[@hibob418]

I was 3 when JFK was assassinated, and didn't understand why nobody played this record when I was young. I listened to it incessantly, however, and even met Vaughn Meader in the late 90's when he was playing at this little dive bar down in Gulfport, Florida. Mimicing all the parts and characters of this record as a kid led me to a career as a voice actor. Didn't hear the follow-up record to this until years later. Thanks for posting!

[@firestar1075]

The Maylaian ambassador for "Dinnh"..TOO FUNNY!!!

[@caw1]

We had this album when I was a kid. The whole family enjoyed it. Thank You for posting it.

[@YouzTube99]

Meader really 'got' JFK. And beyond the obvious humor inherent in the distinct characters who skyrocketed in public sphere during the Kennedy presidency, this is pretty funny material. Meader was clearly very talented so his 'fall' after JFK's assassination may be related more to the anguish so many people felt that was transferred, unfairly, to Meader. Sad, sad, sad, all around. Thanks for posting this trip down memory lane.

[@eltigre249]

Kennedy's New England accent is not terribly hard, Afriker, Ameriker, etc. The phrasing is more difficult.

[@snoops71]

This is pretty funny, and fun to listen to. I was born in the early '70s, but my family adored JFK. They passed that admiration down to me. For an album of this nature to have been so very popular, and to have won a Grammy for album of the year, speaks volumes, both about the times, and the affection the country had for the Kennedys.

[@TheSnackinShack]

I don't know why, but i love this. I bought the record too. :3

[@rraab]

I haven't heard this LP in years...thanks for posting.

[@mk41794]

My parents had this album. I listened to it in the 70s when I was a kid and didn't get most of the jokes. It's really interesting to hear it now, after having learned about the Kennedys in school. The jokes make more sense now. Great stuff.

[@nealbfinn]

Indeed he was. Meader's career went in the tank when JFK died and he spiraled down into depression and drugs. His son, Darmon, is a jazz vocalist and saxophonist and songwriter in NYC....very talented musician.

[@markhoh]

I was just telling somebody about the skit "Tell him ... it's tomorrow night." Then I found this ... the old brain cells recalled it pretty well (though I'd forgotten it was Caroline who makes the final announcement), considering I hadn't heard it in 48 years! Thanks for posting it.

[@whobyfire]

On 11/22/1963 JFK was assassinated and comedian Lenny Bruce had a show. That night the show went on. Bruce stood silent on stage and after a while approached the mic and said, "Boy, is Vaughn Meader f#cked."

[@johnnydunmire]

Oh, effn FANTASTIC! I have both of these on vinyl - still have the original scratchy Vol 1 from when I was a kid and never knew there was a Vol 2 til long an adult. . A few years ago I found BOTH in mint condition at separate used record trips... but in the age of iTunes, I wanted this on my Mac SO BAD! Been searching the torrent sites and nothing. Thank you so much!

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

My dad had this album. Thanks for sharing this. George Vreeland Hill

[@marcostar57]

Well, I'a always liked imitating Vaughn ...ah JFK ....and I'a memorized the lines from this a' album..which my'a parents had. Unfortunately, thee'a album is now'a rather scrathy. So I am'a happy to find it here'a on KZbin.

[@Mooncalf2012]

I just found this album at Goodwill for 50 cents!

[@WDRowlett]

My Dad bought this album before JFK's death on 11-22-1963. And it was just as funny as it always has been.

[@WDRowlett]

WDRowlett The 60's had some great times. Johnny Carson ...

[@arnoldmiranda7943]

This is a fantastic album

[@jward199]

I remember my parents playing this album. Maybe two or three times total. I found an almost pristine copy in my album collection. I had forgotten it entirely. I imagine that after Kennedy was killed my parents just never got it out again. I have no way to play it now, so thank you for posting this! It really is funny, even today.

[@poppaD75]

My father had this album!

[@eltigre249]

I have this album. It is good natured unlike today's "comedians". My favorite is The Malaysian Ambassador for Dinner."

[@hibob418]

Everything I know about early 60's politics and world leaders, I learned from this album. I was born in '60, and didn't realize that people stopped listening to this record after Dallas. I knew this album cold, along with David Frye's "I am the President," which took Richard Nixon to task. Multiple listenings and mimicry got me started as a voice actor. If you listen to Mayor Quimby on "The Simpsons," Dan Castellaneta is basically doing Vaughn Meader doing JFK, which I think is just brilliant.

[@spyone4828]

My parents had this album, and had shard it with my older brothers, but by the time I came along it was too fragile to be played. Thanks for sharing this influential album that is just 7 years older than I am bt virtually impossible to find.

[@hibob418]

Vaughn Meader pretty much pledged not to do the JFK bit after Dallas, but he did have his picture and an article in Rolling Stone in '78 as he started to play small clubs again. (He was a very talented musician) He was doing a song called, "Gettin' Ready for Teddy," as the younger Kennedy was thought to have a shot at the White House during that particular era. A friend of mine later saw him play a little Florida club in the Tampa area during the late '90s.

[@jonbaker4040]

So funny!!! I only recently found out about it. I am so happy I found it.

[@arricammarques1955]

classic comedy album! purchased 2 copies of this album for $1.00 good condition no scratches! these are sadly not produced these days great collection of voices, on this record!

[@Janadu]

"Widdy waddy woo!"

[@IwshIcldstrtover]

ROFL at 4:44! When he does RFK's voice, I thought I was going to fall off this chair!

[@arhuxtable]

This album,on the Cadence record label,was removed from retail outlets after JFK's assassination,by order of the album's two producers and the label's president. They all ordered all unsold copies destroyed. Many believed the album would mock the memory of JFK,including your parents,supposively. I was born after JFK's death(in 1971),I have this album myself which originally was my late maternal grandfather's. I kept it because not only is it obsolete,but to remember him.

[@robschoufour4825]

I never knew this even existed but I was watching Sunday morning on CBS and they were talking about it it was amazing too bad at all ended

[@airdriver]

I just read on Wiki that this album was recorded the night where Kennedy gave his Cuban Missile Crisis speech. Meader later said that he doubted the audience would have reacted the way they had on the album had they known what was going on.

[@eddiebruv]

We've still got this somewhere in the house! A brilliant record.

[@gerardeummelen5357]

Prachtige parodie op John F Kenndey en Jackie. Ik heb de lp nog steeds, ik denk al bijna 50 jaar oud. De stem van Vaghn Meader is meesterlijk!

[@drslash33]

Brings back memories. I had the original I bought from a thrift store.

[@jamesfrie7905]

I grew up listening to this album. Hilarious.

[@davidhubbell1687]

I remember this from my childhood. It is the funniest of all of the similar albums which were released with impersonations of presidents. The second funniest albums were the ones by David Frye of Richard Nixon.

[@MCO18]

“Now let me make a judgement on thaat”

[@dh1267]

Such great fun! I wish that we could have fun parodies like this today of Bush or Obama. This is funny and not mean in anyway.

[@mitchellcolen6765]

"erra Let me say this about that"

[@HeartInThe60s]

There is also a second album that many people don't know about. This is funny, I absolutely love it. 5 *****!!!!

[@mikegallant811]

My pepre let me listen to this record when I wanted....a laff riot every time!

[@AccentLoverBritish]

Bought this original album which came out October 22, 1962. Spoof on JFK which is a riot and just love it. Wondering if there is any value to this album.

[@freak49]

Boy, the things you find on KZbin...we used to have this album. I haven't heard this since I was 9 years old

[@johnvalmas5663]

My parents had this record in their collection, I thought it was very funny when an adolescent.

[@crusader1954]

Week of December 15, 2012 - Right now is the 50th anniversary of when this album hit its first of 12 consecutive weeks as the #1 album in the nation.

[@jjgriffinjr]

I still have my original LP

[@yajustgotaloveit]

I liken Jack Kennedy to Mitt Romney. Both came from wealth and politics. Both made sacrifices to serve the public with good intent. Neither one of them had to do this, but love of humanity made these men men!

[@senorkaboom]

On the day of JFK's assassination, we were, of course, shocked and saddened. In an attempt to help lighten the moment, my dad put comedy records on the player. I, of course, said he missed The First Family. As my dad laughed out loud, my sister broke down and sobbed. True story.

[@MBFLA45]

@Jeff98177 This LP's been a staple of garage sales and flea markets for years. You can pick up a copy almost any weekend for $1 or less. Ebay usually has a load of them. I was lucky enough to sell volumes 1 & 2 for $10 on Ebay a few years back.

[@nealbfinn]

Wow I haven't heard this this since 63. After JFK died, my parents removed it from our house, saying it was in bad taste to listen to it again. I remember hearing the JFK heard this record and liked it. You never could do anything like this today.

[@Fersomling]

Hey! The Waltons stole their "Good night, John-Boy" shtick from this album!

[@MFPhoto1]

Can you imagine the reaction if this was done to Donald Trump? Oh, wait. . . .

[@mstax]

Back then, a lot of people who did "Kennedy" impressions were really doing "Vaughn meader doing JFK" impressions...

[@MrRJMGREEN]

Kevin Cook's book, Kitty Genovese, and The Ed Sullivan Show brought me here.

[@gotch09]

I remember this album. I've read somewhere that after the assassination they would not play this album. Hell, they couldn't even give it away.

[@Jeff98177]

I found this record in an antique store several years ago. I imagine a lot of people got rid of their copies after the assassination.

[@MCO18]

Jackie hated this, but JFK at the least was amused by it.

[@ronaldt491]

I also had and still have this album. Mine, however, would not be pleasant to listen to due to excessive scratches. How did you keep yours so clean for over 40 years? There are no scratches to be heard.

[@MCO18]

The JFK assassination also killed Meader's career.

[@HesitantEvil]

Mayor Quimby!

[@bobzani]

I'm old enuff to remember him- he was huge 61-63; when JFK was killed, he was never heard of again.

[@silvereagle2061]

I think I still have this record somewhere.

[@SpartanOmega360]

Where can I find the breakfast with the U.N. members?

[@babyshamblesx]

i've had several copies of this album pass through my hands, but i don't own one at the moment. many thanks for uploading it! is there somewhere i could get the audio as mp3s?

[@drohegda]

@AmberDelta i liked when David Frye would do LBJ . He would do him in a speech saying " and my two semi-beautiful daughter. i still have the album he has headphones on. Drohegda

[@beatlejim64]

When it came out in late 1962...it was the fastest selling record in US history...finally selling over 7,500,000 copies...and when JFK was murdered in Nov.1963...his career was over...he died in his native Maine in 2004...

[@cottodabodykill]

lenny bruce did a show like either the day of the assassination or very shortly after with in days so everyone was really sensitive right? ... well he walked out everybody was quiet ...all of the sudden ... lenny lets go with "Vaughn meader is fucked!" ...LOL he gave relief in a time of great tragedy

[@danielphanover3261]

My dad had this album when I was a kid, like 9 years old I was, but I was too young to understand satire.

[@deepfreezevideo]

@nealbfinn You must be joking, the entire presidential parody business launched from this album. The sad part is that Vaughn Meader hardly ever worked again, his career was destroyed after the assassination.

[@darylj5596]

hilarious

[@coololds85]

Can you buy this on cd?

[@WhiteCamry]

What wasn't then publicized about this album was that it was recorded on October 22, 1962 - the same day the real JFK announced the Cuban Blockade.

[@sce2aux464]

It's interesting then that this album - just the record cover - is shown in the movie "Matinee" which is set in Key West during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[@winfordlewis2596]

I had the album. It seemed to be funnier before 11/22/63.

[@sveatch40]

In order to finally get to the president and make the simple announcement that the Malayan ambassador was at the door, it took 5 to 6 messengers. Now, the same messengers will have to go back again with a simple message. I suppose there is an ounce of humor in that JFK doesn't go and greet the ambassador himself. Now that I explained it, it isn't funny anymore. Oh well.

[@cbak12sg]

"Jackie" sound dangerously like Marilyn Monroe, so the comment "Would you stand, please?" has sexual undertones. I don't know much about this guy, as I'm a Brit, but I bet he felt a bit more than just grief on 22 November 1963. He must have been really pissed at losing his meal ticket.

[@eltigre249]

Sexual undertones? Only in the mind of the listener. We hadn't had the communists making everything dirty in those days as they do today.

[@AmericanPie37]

"tell him it's tomorrow night"- I don't get it.

[@eltigre249]

After all the servants relaying the message, it turns out that he came on the wrong night and that message will have to go back through all the same people. Sort of a verbal slapstick. I thought Carolyn at the end was a touch of genius. JFK having his brother as AG didn't raise the calmor Trump's appointments do.

[@michellewaldrop3081]

Jackie Kennedy said she didn't like this album,she had no sense of humor

[@eltigre249]

References to it in the album, PT-109 really helped Jack get elected. He was a war hero in the thoughts of many. One thing everyone is missing, is that Jack was criticized for being Catholic. "He will follow the Pope's orders," was one of the criticisms.

[@jward199]

I remember my parents playing this album. Maybe two or three times total. I found an almost pristine copy in my album collection. I had forgotten it entirely. I imagine that after Kennedy was killed my parents just never got it out again. I have no way to play it now, so thank you for posting this! It really is funny, even today.