Looking Good – Freddie Prinze

Looking Good confirms Freddie Prinze's comedic talent. Starting with his riffs on growing up Puerto Rican, his mixed heritage, and life in his rough inner-city projects, Prinze sails along, easily one of the most commanding standup comics of his day. From his description of his run-in with a Southern sheriff while driving with his friend Nat ("Come back here, pig! Don't mess with my friend when he's been drinking!") to his jokes about the monkeys mating at the zoo, Prinze displays a willingness to discuss anything, no matter how edgy or risqué (though never profane or crude). Comparisons to Richard Pryor are conceivable, but where Pryor seethes with rage and paranoia, ironically enough (given his tragic end) Prinze comes off as cheerful even when describing his run-ins with a bully and his illegitimate childhood. The attempts at political humor on the second half are the album's weakest -- Prinze's strengths aren't given to rants, and too much of it is badly dated, especially an extended routine on then-Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Prinze really shone at slice-of-life comedy, and his description of his dad's outrageous attempts to cheat his local bartender is typical of his gifts. Looking Good demonstrates Freddie Prinze's talents superbly, and fans of '70s comedy should definitely seek it out. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide