Amazon.com
When Stan Freberg released The United States of America in 1961, it was one of the first comedy concept albums … and perhaps the funniest musical comedy never performed onstage. With a cast that included Jesse White and June Foray (as well as a dead-on Orson Welles impression by voice-over master Paul Frees), Freberg presented a madcap version of history that began with Christopher Columbus’s insistence that “It’s a Round, Round World.” His crew, however, was unconvinced:
Crazy kind of scheme
It’s a cockamamie dream
If we don’t sight land we’re gonna scream.
Later, a cautious Ben Franklin would express suspicion of the declaration Thomas Jefferson brought by for him to sign: “You go to a few harmless meetings, sign a few harmless petitions, and forget all about it…. Ten years later you get called up before a committee. No thank you! I’m not going to spend the rest of my life writing in Europe!”
For decades, fans were frustrated by the lack of sequels that would carry the story beyond the Revolutionary War. (After attempts to turn the material into a real Broadway musical were ruined by heavy-handed producer David Merrick, Freberg went on to a lucrative career in advertising.) Finally, in 1996, Freberg went into the studio with the surviving members of his original cast–as well as stars David Ogden Stiers, Sherman Hemsley, Tyne Daly, Lorenzo Music, and John Goodman–with a new batch of songs and skits that covered the period from the founding of the United States government in 1789 to the end of World War I.
Volume 2 is not quite as strong as volume 1, but that’s like saying that Babe Ruth didn’t hit as many home runs as Hank Aaron. There’s still plenty of great material in “The Middle Years,” like Francis Scott Key’s first draft of his most famous composition: “Rumplemeyer’s horseshoes are the best you can use, what so proudly he’s nailed onto all kinds of horses.” Or Ulysses S. Grant demanding a drink so he can keep on…
Pursuing the South
Over the hills
Fearless and brave, minus a shave
And crocked to the gills.
The two-CD set includes the original liner notes from the 1961 release; a 1989 CD reissue of the first volume; and the notes by Freberg, Dr. Demento, and Ray Bradbury for the sequel. It also contains a complete lyric sheet. Although some of the jokes on the first CD may be too arcane for younger listeners, The United States of America can still be called, without overstatement, a work of genius. –Ron Hogan
All of our titles are listed as Used, though some may still arrive sealed in their original packaging. Each item is carefully reviewed before being made available:
Disc Quality & Inspection: Every disc is individually hand-inspected for surface imperfections. We look closely for scratches, scuffs, and other visual flaws to ensure it meets our quality standards.
Case & Packaging: Cases may show signs of wear from normal use, such as scuffs, shelf wear, or stickers from prior ownership.
Effort & Care: We dedicate time to cleaning and inspecting every item to help ensure it arrives ready to enjoy.
New-In-Package Items: Some items are still new and factory-sealed, even though they are included in our “Used” category for consistency.
Our goal is to provide you with used media that looks great, works as intended, and is backed by our careful inspection process.
We ship all of our products via USPS Media Mail. Our handling time is in most cases 1-2 business days and transit time can range from 2-10 business days.
![Law & Order: UK, Series 5 [Region 2]](https://lovedagainmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/B005GDHXGA-0-300x420.jpg)
