Little Falls, NJ (PRWeb) November 22, 2006 -- The classic radio work of humorist and monologist Jean Shepherd returns with the release of two new audio CD collections from Radio Again; "Jean Shepherd: Life Is" (8 performances on 8 audio CDs), and "Jean Shepherd: Security Blankets" (4 performances on 4 audio CDs).

In "Life Is" (8 CDs), Shepherd contemplates life in his inimitable way. The eight performances included ponder such topics as forbidden magazines, a wonderful reminiscence of playing tuba in the school band, his old man's love of Oldsmobiles, chauffer-driven Ferrari's, home in Hammond, the insidiousness of public relations, and much more.

"Security Blankets" (4 CDs) finds Shep expounding on the joy of working in radio, monster movies, the beauty of the kazoo, his quick-change artistry as a theater performer, and on human illusions, foibles, and impenetrable human complexity. This is vintage Shepherd -- humorous, serious, witty, clever and silly - often all in the same show.

Each collection is digitally remastered and restored, and each includes liner notes by Eugene B. Bergmann with excerpts from his book "EXCELSIOR YOU FATHEAD! The Art and Enigma of JEAN SHEPHERD" (Applause Books, 2005).

The radio programs in these collections, long lost and forgotten until rediscovered during a warehouse inventory, were created in the mid 1960's by Shepherd for radio and television syndicator Hartwest Productions in the format heard on Shepherd's WOR shows of the day, right down to his familiar theme music.

"We're very pleased to be offering these two new Jean Shepherd audio CD collections," said Joe Barth, Product Manager of Radio Again. "Like "The X Random Factor" and "Don't Be a Leaf", our first two Shepherd releases from earlier this year, these collections feature previously uncirculated programs sure to please both ardent listeners and those new to his radio work."

About Jean Shepherd

Best known today as the creator and narrator of "A Christmas Story", the holiday movie favorite about a boy's quest to obtain a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, Jean Shepherd spent the first half of his career on the radio. He was heard most days from 1955 through 1977 on WOR radio in New York, a clear-channel station broadcast along the Eastern seaboard and points west, and later aired on CBS and National Public Radio.

Shepherd's radio work was fervently followed and influential to many who heard it. He was both a unique and transitional figure in the development of today's talk radio. Shepherd could talk, and talk he did, touching his listeners intimately as if speaking to an audience of one. Shepherd was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2005.

Shepherd was also a writer of articles and short stories for publications such as the Village Voice, Car & Driver, Playboy and more, and author of numerous books including "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash", and "The Ferrari in the Bedroom". A successful live standup performer, Shepherd also produced several television series and movies for PBS, including Jean Shepherd's America and Phantom of the Open Hearth, and was the creator of the movies "A Christmas Story" and "A Summer Story" for MGM.

About Radio Again

Radio Again, a division of Choice Ventures LLC, is devoted to presenting quality editions of the finest in classic spoken word radio broadcasts from the 1930's to present. More information can be found by visiting www.RadioAgain.com.

Product Information

Jean Shepherd: Life Is, ISBN 0978997301
8 Original Radio Performances on 8 Audio CDs - approx. 6 hours
SRP $28.95

Jean Shepherd: Security Blankets, ISBN 097899731X
4 Original Radio Performances on 4 Audio CDs - approx. 3 hours
SRP $16.95

Publisher: Radio Again

The collections are available for purchase at www.RadioAgain.com or by calling 1-800-344-5085 daily between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, and at select booksellers.

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