Garrison Keillor - The Family Radio (1982) Vinyl LP • A Prarie Home Companion

Catalog Number:

PHC-606

Musical Styles:

1980s, American Folk, Bluegrass, Comedy/Novelty Music, Folk Revival, Interview/Dialogue, Radio Play/Show, Storytelling, Traditional Folk

Sleeve Grade:

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Record Grade:

Excellent (EX)

Condition Details:

Vinyl plays nicely; a few light hairlines (play-graded). Double LP. Gate-fold cover has a few creases; discoloration with darker spots (front/back/inner-gate); scuffing, surface abrasions (front/back); Name written near top-right of front. Inner-sleeves are original (generic white). Spine is mostly easy-to-read with mild-wear. Some shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Split near center of bottom and from right corner on top. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. World Theater, Here We Come!
2. Powdermilk Biscuits
3. The Family Radio
4. Bertha's Kitty Boutique
5. Lifestyle Waltz
6. Fearmonger's Shoppe
7. As We Get Older
8. Jason's Song
9. Dave's Harmonica
10. Porch Song
11. News From Lake Wobegon
12. Ballad Of The Autoharp Man
13. Meatballs
14. News From Lake Wobegon
15. The Song Of The Exiles (The Lake Wobegon Anthem)
16. News From Lake Wobegon
17. Why Must The Show Go On?
18. Hotel Minnesota
19. O Father Dear Why Did You Roam?
20. Obedience
21. The Whippets Rag
22. News From Lake Wobegon
23. Ajua!
24. Hot Stuff

About The Record:

^ i^The Family Radio by Garrison Keillor, is a delightful double album sampler of crowd-pleasing segments drawn from live broadcasts of the beloved radio variety show ^ i^A Prairie Home Companion, featuring four cherished ^ i^News from Lake Wobegon monologues that capture the gentle humor and nostalgia of small-town Midwestern life alongside witty fake commercials such as ^ i^Bertha's Kitty Boutique and the ^ i^Fearmonger's Shoppe. The recording stands out for its unique blend of spoken-word storytelling, satirical sketches, and live acoustic music performances including pieces like ^ i^Jason's Song, ^ i^Dave's Harmonica, ^ i^Porch Song, and ^ i^Ballad of the Autoharp Man, all preserved directly from the show's early years in a format that evokes the warm intimacy of old-time family radio listening. Historically, it offers a time capsule of the program's growing popularity in the early 1980s, reflecting Keillor's skillful weaving of folksy tales with musical interludes that helped define public radio entertainment, with fan-favorites often including the evocative ^ i^News from Lake Wobegon stories, the ^ i^Song of the Exiles (The Lake Wobegon Anthem), and playful commercials that highlight themes of aging, passage of time, and everyday absurdities, making the album a nostalgic treasure for longtime listeners.