Comedy Dynamics is releasing Jonathan Winters LP box set on Record Store Day

Exclusive: The late, great Jonathan Winters is getting a new vinyl box set as part of Record Store Day.

Comedy Dynamics has partnered with the Jonathan Winters Estate and Dan Pasternack’s Obsessive Comedy Disorder to release a new 3 album posthumous box set titled Jonathan Winters: Unearthed on June 12th.

“This first posthumous release since his passing in 2013 is entirely built from Winters’ personal stash of tapes and acetates and is focused on a specific, narrow window of time from 1958 to 1960,” the press release states. “It includes Winters’ first two classic albums as they’ve never been heard before as well as a third LP of unreleased demo recordings and other rare material. The contents of the audio collection are contextualized by an essay from Dan Pasternack which draws heavily upon Winters’ personal writings. The package is further enhanced by many photos, clippings and other personal ephemera from Winters’ private scrapbooks and liner notes especially composed for the package from Billy Crystal, Jimmy Kimmel, Carol Burnett, and Patton Oswalt.”

Featured in the collection are his first LP for Verve, The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters, as well as his complete uncut performance at the famed Hollywood nightclub the Crescendo in 1960, which was edited to become his second Verve LP, Down To Earth, both from Winters’ own master tapes. In addition, the collection features Winters’ 1958 novelty record for Coral Records Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu; five recently discovered demo tracks Winters recorded for Verve and two never before released “audition” episodes of a proposed comedy radio series entitled Winters Wonderland.

“I am overjoyed that my dad’s work will be discovered and re-discovered through this collection. And that it is being presented in a way to also tell his story. While aspects of his life were difficult, I am so proud that he was able to overcome adversity, leaving behind such a rich legacy of laughter,” said Lucinda Winters.

“It was one of the great privileges of my life to have Jonathan as my friend. And it is one of the great honors of my career to be able to take part in preserving the memory of his genius. I felt a tremendous responsibility in getting everything right. Both in relation to his comedy but also in sharing his brave battles during a time when there was much less public awareness or understanding about mental illness,” said Dan Pasternack.

“This box set will serve as a reminder of why Jonathan is one of the most revered comedy legends of all time. We’re honored to be partnering with Lucinda Winters and Dan Pasternack to celebrate Jonathan’s life’s work,” said Brian Volk-Weiss, Founder and CEO of Comedy Dynamics.

The Grammy winning Winters – who sadly passed away in 2013 – has long been highly regarded for his sharp and unmeasured wit. This very wit went onto influence those who came after him including Robin Williams, Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Tracey Ullman, Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, and Jimmy Kimmel, just to name a few.

This is the latest in a line of collections that Comedy Dynamics has been doing. Other comedians to get their box sets released include Eddie Izzard, Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce and Sam Kinison. And we’re happy to see the time has come for Winters’ renowned, unmatched genius to be captured all on one box set.