06/30/2008
Music: Soundtrack:: 0 comments: by George Thompson
Campy.
My Granny could crack a few wise jokes with a straight face and so can this endearing 88-year-old “Nana” from Nashville. It’s difficult to be a comedian, but Gladys has made it.
There’s a track at the beginning of the album with Gladys talking by phone with Ellen Degeneres and making wise cracks and comments on many things. She broke up the audience when asked if she was religious and replied, “I love Jesus, but I drink a little.” The crowd roared and applauded the comment.
Most of the tracks on the CD are telephone calls either Gladys has made or someone calls Gladys. We just happen to be privy to the conversation. The track called “Delter” is of Gladys calling the airline to make sure her reservation is in order. She calls 411 to get the number for Delter and the operator puts her through to Delta Airlines. Hilarious!
Just let your mind wander at some of the titles: “Sweet Baby Jesus,” “Dead Possum,” Senor Moments,” and “WWGD,” a talk radio program during which Gladys is interviewed by the two DJs.
I thought of Lily Tomlin as I listened to each of the 24 tracks on the CD. Gladys is nothing like Tomlin although her comments are just as funny and often dig at people while making general conversation. “Grace” is a track of Nana Gladys and friends sitting at table getting ready to eat a home prepared meal and Gladys remembers they have to say Grace before they can eat. Of course, Gladys says Grace and blesses just about everybody she knows before the final word, “Amen.”
Gladys has a hit on her hands. She tells it like it is and makes things seem so simple. It’s as though none of the routine are scripted but ad libbed. She’s truly funny and I was laughing throughout the entire album. I wished some of her skits were longer and others shorter than they turned out to be. She’s not Joan Rivers or any other comedienne; she’s just plain Nana Gladys.