Was talking about Bill Hicks the other day and I recalled a great comedian of a similar ilk from the 60s called Murray Roman.
There were two albums of his that I used to listen to as a stoned 16 year old hippie acid head: Blind Man’s Movie and You can’t beat people up and have them say I love you.
He also did a lot of live gigs in the late 60s (think he supported the Doors once) backed by a fantastic soul band whose name unfortunately escapes me.
Anyway, a friend of mine was searching for some downloadable stuff of his (preferably free) so here it is:
YOU CAN’T BEAT PEOPLE UP AND HAVE THEM SAY I LOVE YOU
Enjoy!
Galloway 
I hadn’t heard of the blind movie album, but spent many hours listening to ‘can’t beat people up.’ I’d be very interested in getting copies of these, too. Would you let me know if you get any resources?
That is what I am doing and how I got here. I had a promo copy of “No Deposit No Return” that I received in the spring of 1973. That was the first and only time that I heard him or of him for that matter. I did not no that he died that same year until I searched for him online several years ago. If you have any luck let me know…and vice versa.
“Did not no”…what the hell am I smoking?
Don’t Know, John, but it’s looking good.
I believe all the vinyl output’s been deleted but I’m really interested to know if there’s any stuff been put together on CD; if there isn’t then I reckon it’s about time there was.
If nobody else has thought about doing it yet then perhaps it’s a project worth looking at mysef, as it happens…
I have both records, one of which was found for me by a friend afew years ago at a record fair. There was another album released about 1973/4, when I was in South Africa, called ‘Busted’. Murray recorded this after being busted for dope or coke. I seem to remember that it was live and that some of the material was repeated from the first two albums. One track I remember was ‘Chicken and the Bear’ about a couple of cons in a boxing match in the jail.
Mr. Sargent,
Any chance of you burning those albums to MP3?
I have searched long and hard for the You Can’t Beat People Up Album and it appears to be rare as hen’s teeth.
Hi, Michael, have been in touch with John Sargent re. that possibility.
He’s agreed to lend me the albums, which I intend to convert and share on a blog dedicated to Murray, his antecedents and his successors.
If you want to get involved in any way please get in touch.
Cheers, Galloway.
Murray Roman (one of the writers for the “Smother’s Brothers Comedy Hour”), recorded three albums on vinyl…
The Murray Roman Show (the cover showing him smiling, wearing a blue Hawai’ian shirt, and sunglasses), A Blind Man’s Movie (black cover with white writing), and Busted! (showing a manila file folder; front and back; with the back listing the track in a typewriter font)…
I don’t remember much about the first album, but; A Blind Man’s Movie, is memorable for several standout routines: a rountine on World War Two (using Chinese restaurant owners in place of Japanese, smoking, and heroism! ((John Wayne, having charged the beachhead, stands with several bullet holes in him, lights up a cigarette, and says: “I need to give these up. Smoking could kill me!” Then charges some more, yelling: “Kill a gook for god!” )), and, a “visit” to Gov. George Wallace’s house at Christmas time, by a black choral group (“Guvnoh, there’s some negro’s at the front door, singing Christmas carols… Kill them!) and, the memorable side comment: “You can’t beat people and say I love you!” On the last album: “Busted”, the standout routine concerns him touring with the Baja Marimba Band (and their drummer, Billy Carl Black)… the routine is called: Mrs. Mable’s Boarding House… “Billy was a snake for chicks… while the other band members were concerned about checking into their rooms, putting their instruments away, and setting up a sound check; Billy would be out on the streets, with record albums and flyers, yelling… “I’m Billy Carl Black. I’m the drummer with the Baja Marimba Band. We’re only going to be in town for the night.” Finding a girl, he would ply her with albums and flyers, then follow her to where she was staying, then; while they where having sex, she would yell so loud, that they would get busted!”
To make a long story short, the Smother’s Brothers Show got cancelled, and Murray disappeared from the scene!
And we mourn him. Great memories you bring
back, man.
Hello to all,
I came across this website today ,looking for my dad on my 52nd birthday, I am Robin and Murray is my father.He never got a chance tomeet his 2 grandsons now 22 and 25. one is named after him.I am very grateful to you for remembering my father.
I miss him still………………..
He was an amazing man. Feel free to contact me..I have all of the albums…
Hi Robin,
I would love to hear from you. I often wondered what happened to you and Shari. It sounds like you are doing well. I have some pix of you and Shari as babies that I would like to send to you.
Penny
I still have the Album ‘You Can’t…” which I bought brand new in 1969. I have not ever gotten tired of listening to it and I am of the belief that it still is pertinent today (2015).
Hi Robin, I’m doing some research and I’m interested in getting in touch with you over email. Do you have an email I can contact you at? Thanks so much. All the best, Katie
Hi again Robin, adding onto my message above, here is my email address if that is easiest way to connect: researcherkatie@gmail.com. Thank you again so much.
All the best,
Katie
I’ve contacted Robin by email…
No-one mentioned Black Sambo Pancakes? Great stuff not heard for too long (all my MR albums were stolen by some ‘friend’ at university in ’75…).. If anyone’s into burning mode, please include me in.
Lovely to see the mesage from the man’s son. Fine thing the internet when it achieves linkages like that.
g
Hi, Graham, great to hear from anyone who’s into Murray.
Have so far been unable to get hold of anything of sufficient quality to convert but still looking. You’re on my alert list.
P.S. Robin is his daughter.
Hi
I have been into Murray since I first heard his “You can’t beat people up and have them say I love you” on the Backtrack 13 label in the early 70’s I bought the album new for 99p! I believe the label was owned by Pete Townsend of The Who at the time. I have copies of the above album and Busted both were new and I have only played them once each. I got both albums on e-bay recently so they are out there in good condition!
Chris L
I have for years treasured my Murray Roman records. I had the opportunity to meet Murray when he MC’d a concert I promoted in 1970. Great. I would love to know about your Murray Roman postings. Bruce Leventhal
Bruce, Is That YOU?
I have all three of Murry Roman’s albums including the last one called “Busted” about his arrests.. Hilarious.. and I met him also before his car accident and death in 1972.
Hi . I had two albums at one time . I think they were both released on the above mentioned ‘track’ records, I listened to them allot but never really knew anything at all about the man himself. There was one gig i remember about a dope high guy, a juicer (booze) high guy, and an acid hi guy and how they all responded to the ‘groovy chick’ .All i can remember is the acid high guys’ response. “Hey are you a guy or a chick” Those were the days huh !? So if it’s possible to get an mp3 from someone on here I’m very into that . or any other suggestions.
i got “cant beat people up” in 1969. i still have it memorized. i’d love to get the other 2.
I too was a huge Murray Roman fan back in the late 60s. Unfortunately my two vinyls have deteriorated due to excessive use and are now almost unplayable. Can’t help wondering if you guys managed to convert the audios as I’d love to have a listen again.
Was happy to come across this thread. I was a big Murray Roman fan (especially in 1968 – 70). I used know some Murray Roman bits by heart (note the term ‘ used to …’)
Questions: Would love to know if Robin had anything to share with the rest of us, so please let us know if possible, Mr. Galloway. Would like to email her best regards if it’s ok.
I found that Kim Gottlieb-Walker may have some professional photos of Murray,
http://www.lenswoman.com/subjects.php#sixties
but haven’t seen anything yet.
Also, I have searched high & low on ‘net for a complete Bio of Murray Roman, and have found nothing. Some entries about performances on IMDB, etc, but nothing else. Could someone who may have a bio please contact me through this site by email and share any information you may have.
I can find almost all his stuff (vinyl) on eBay and comedy album places, but count me in … it would be great if anyone has some mp3 as well.
My thanks to all who posted & shared here, and to the webmaster as well.
daveq
____________________________________________________
” Helloo … I’m Billy Carl Black, I’m with the Baja Marimba band … I LOVE you … “
Hey Galloway, Robin,
In desperate need of Murray Roman audio. Is it happening. The digital fix. I need this, so bad. I live on this planet and I need Murray Roman. I’m 57 years of age and I’m miserable at the thought of not hearing Murray again. Please someone take this serious. This means SO MUCH TO ME. I don’t care if I sound like a freak. I need to hear MURRAY ROMAN. Real soon. i’m crying at the moment.
I first heard “you can’t beat people up..” in Dundee, Scotland about 15 years ago. I was somewhat “Enhanced” at the time, it has to be said, but what a wonderful experience listening to this man. I’ve subsequently read that he was just a poor man’s Lenny Bruce, but I’m not going there..the man was hilarious and that record has to be one of the funniest and grooviest comedy records I have ever heard. Of course, it’s completely of its time. But for weeks after listening I’d still be thinking.. “you should be a butterfly and a lucy(?) and do anything you want to” “I’d like to ball your friend herbie” “well fuck him”
Pure class.
Someone needs to introduce this sadly deleted stuff to a wider audience.
All the best to you murray roman fans
first came upon murray roman about 20 yrs ago , my first thoughts were how political he was the gag about the banannas rotting on the port seemed so true at the time , my copy of you cant beat people up is a reissue on the polydor backtrack label, the theory about controlling the riots is superb, as a dundonian with a knowledge of northern soul and mainsteam soul the music ticked all the boxes, i have a vague memory of busted ,but dont remember it being funny at all , its real sad he is not remembered i feel lucky to have heard him in my life , yeah there are similarities with lenny bruce , what comedian is truly unique , if your into S@M you can beat people up and have them say i love you.
My dad had “A Blind Man’s Movie” LP back in the 70’s when I was a kid. I haven’t heard it in years, but I can still recall many of the lines from the album to this day. I’ve searched for it online over the years and have had little luck. If anyone has transferred a copy to cd, I’d be very interested.
I’ve got a very poor quality minidisc copy of you can’tbeat people up. I found you cos I was looking for a better copy.
Yes, I do have a couple of photos I shot of Murray Roman. His daughter contacted me recently, searching for pictures, and I found them, scanned the negatives and sent them to her. Would you like to run one on your site?
Has anyone put some of the above material online? Would love to hear “you can’t beat people up..” again. I lost my vinyl to cassette copy some years ago and would be grateful for the chance to hear it again
I know I’m about a year late in replying, but I have “A Blind Man’s Movie” on DVD (audio of course), a very clean copy from a friend who bought a copy off ebay. I’m sure the admin of this site can see my email, so feel free to drop me a line
WOW!!!
so many fans… that STILL remember murray!
i hope somebody’s able to “transfer” all of the albums to cd!!!
i’d buy ALL of them… just, so that i could share the “magic” that was murray… with others… who are clueless… about what a truly fine writer of comedy material he was!!!
i miss him too!!!
I’ve tried some file sharing sites but no sign of Mr Roman anywhere. Any ideas out there?
Hello
I just wrote a whole long thing to Kim Gottlieb-Walker re Murray and lost the damn thing. I can’t even find how I got onto the place where I was leaving her a message, let alone remember the details of all I was busy saying, so I’ll just have to start over here.
My name is Shannon forbes and I was David Briggs’ old lady during the making of all of Murray’s albums. I have quite a bit of bio info on him, if anyone’s interested. I would love to be in contact with Robin, since I may have photos of Murray (outtakes from the album covers, etc.) that she’d like to have. I got to see one of Murray taken in MacArthur Park by Kim Gottlieb-Smnith (before I fell off her site) and I remember the day. If fact, I remember when Murray bought the shirt he was wearing. Kim, write me,with your e-mail address, if you see this, please.
We spent months on end at Wally Heider’s studio recording Murray’s albums. What a scream. I could go on and on, but would like to get my thoughts on Murray a little more together before I do. I loved Murray dearly. I’d like to contact his second (or was it third?) wife, Michelle to see if she still has a couple of the artworks I did for Murray. Their daughter would be about 35 now. Murray was killed in an auto accident on the Pacific Coast Highway shortly after she was born. Anyone interested in Murray, or with old Murray stories or photos is welcome to contact me at forbes82604@aol.com. I have always wished more people knew about Murray, and now I find he still has fans! Attaboy, Murray – I KNEW you were so funny you had to be immortal. well, through recordings and photos and memories, MURRAY LIVES!
I could go on, but will wait until I swee if I get any response.
Peace and Love,
Shannon Forbes
Sorry – It’s Kim Gottlieb-Walker, not Smith,right? Sorry for getting your name wrong. Anyway, I’d love to see your Murray pictures. I have a couple, too.
Shannon
something seminal about the people who were into MR – you could always tell who you were really going to get on with, or off with, if they picked up on the albums – I mean cancer will kill you but crabs’ll drive you crazy. I found a good copy of BMM a while back but would love to hear ‘You cant beat people up’ once more – I think the band were called the MarKeys, still one of the tightest soul sounds from that time. I must have bought it at least four times – one copy I think from Richard Branson’s first shop in Notting Hill – people kept walking off with it. I didn’t know he’d died so early, big shame, big loss; someone ought to do a proper biog – feels like a movie to me –
best
k
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/10/the-forgotten-m.html
Recent article all about Murray Roman – click the hyperlink.
Awriiiggghhhht!
Thanks for the download…scratches and all. Sounds great and what a buzz to hear it again. It’s on my hard drive and on a CD, so it will be available on various file sharing networks as well. Spread the word.. I’m all for the movie too
Love spreads
Steve
I remember Blind Mind’s Movie and Busted. In high school I got suspended for memorizing one of his bits (see the blind walk see the lame walk 2:30 30:30 its showtime) and performing it on our Cable TV channel at school. God he was hilarious, also anyone remember the Nutrino News Network. The early 70’s had some ace comedy albums/
That Murray Roman Article from a couple weeks ago continues to be updated as new information comes forward. A Blind Man’s Movie is now included in the article, in its entirety, for download. Also comments from several comedy writers/performers who worked with Roman have been added.
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/10/the-forgotten-m.html
Hi
Back in 1972, I was at Track Records in Soho, it was the most fun place I have ever worked. To this day I have remembered how much I enjoyed Murray’s work, I even learned to make a noise like a creaking floorboard and and experienced what’s good for General Motors at first hand.
i asked why we didn’t make any more records and got told that that the economics of backing a comic with the London Symphony Orchestra, didn’t really stack up. I think this was the only time I was ever aware that anybody at track worried about how much money was spent, we seemed to operate an Open Safe policy.
Track really wanted to record more stuff, and ther may be the odd tape around, if so I would guess that Penny Gilman would know where it is.
Robin
Re: Furry Roman
I’ve tried that above link for “A Blind Man’s Movie” without success..has it been deleted. Anyone out there have a copy?
Best Wishes
Steve
Steve, BMM is here:
http://tinyurl.com/3bchhd
Regards,
Don.
Thanks for that Don
And thanks for initiating this whole thing. Great to hear the stuff again and know there’s a community out there.
Aw the best
Steve
Hi, Don
I just like to check in from time to time to see how the Murray-tree grows.
Shannon
I knew Murray’s daughter Sherri in LA about 15 years ago. She was a friend, neighbor and fellow writer and we talked about her dad a few times. Would love to find out what happened to her. I assume Robin knows.
Thanks so much for this. My dad has been looking for this for many years. I think the last time I saw it, it was on an 8-track in his car. He probably had it on vinyl, too. Now, thanks to your kindness, I’m able to put this on a CD he can listen to at home again. You rock! Thanks.
“Busted” : anyone have a link where it can be found? My vinyl is long since trashed. Whould just love to hear the “hot roasted peanuts” bit and the “blacksambo pancakes” bit again.
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