The Credibility Gap
The Credibility Gap | |
---|---|
Medium | Radio |
Years active | 1968-1979 |
Genres | Satire |
Former members | Lew Irwin, John Gilliland, Thom Beck, Richard Beebe, Len Chandler, Harry Shearer, David L. Lander, Michael McKean |
The Credibility Gap was an American satirical comedy team active from 1968 through 1979. They emerged in the late 1960s delivering comedic commentary on the news for the Los Angeles AM rock radio station
Founded as a loose collective centered on KRLA staff members Lew Irwin, John Gilliland, Thom Beck, Richard Beebe, and folk singer Len Chandler, the group is chiefly remembered today for its 1971–79 lineup, comprising Beebe (though early 1975), Harry Shearer, David L. Lander and Michael McKean.[1]
History
Lew Irwin and The Credibility Gap
The Credibility Gap grew out of a company formed by
The Credibility Gap
In 1969, The Credibility Gap performed on KRLA's
[I]n late 1968, Thom Beck left the group, and Lew Irwin followed in early 1969 ... . Joining the Credibility Gap in their absence were Harry Shearer ... and David L. Lander... . By 1970, Len Chandler and John Gilliland had drifted away from the Credibility Gap, and ... Michael McKean, had joined the team, though the troupe's relationship with KRLA had soured and their show had been shrunk from 15 minutes to a mere 180 seconds. However, after Shearer landed a side gig as a disc jockey on an FM "free form" outlet, KPPC, the Credibility Gap found a new home on the station, and the group's satire gained both sharpness and depth.[5]
The Credibility Gap followed up this recording with the 1974 album A Great Gift Idea, which mixed satirical sketches with musical parodies. McKean and Shearer played guitar and keyboards, respectively, on the album, augmented by members of the band Little Feat.
Beebe left the Gap in 1975, remaining in radio news.
Shearer became a writer/performer on Saturday Night Live in September, 1979. This necessitated Shearer's move to New York and essentially brought The Credibility Gap's activities to a close.
After The Credibility Gap
The group disbanded in 1979, but the members have had occasion to work together since—notably the pairings of McKean and Lander as Lenny and Squiggy on the situation comedy
Discography
Lew Irwin and The Credibility Gap
- An Album of Political Pornography (Blue Thumb, 1968)[6]
The Credibility Gap
- Woodshtick and More (1971)
- A Great Gift Idea (Reprise, 1974)
- The Bronze Age of Radio (Waterhouse, 1977)
- Floats & A Great Gift Idea (Double LP) (Sierra, 1979)
References
- ^ a b c "Projects : Radio". Harry Shearer. Archived from the original on 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Page, Don (December 14, 1969). "Grist From the Radio's Rumor Mill". LA Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Alt URL
- ^ "~Los Angeles Radio People, Q&A 3rd quarter 1998". www.laradio.com.
- ^ a b "Lew Irwin Sets Record Straight on Origins of 1110/KRLA Credibility Gap" (PDF).
- ^ AllMusic. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
- ^ a b "Magic of JuJu: Political Porno". Magicofjuju.blogspot.com. 2006-12-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ^ Hopkins, Jerry (October 4, 1969). "'Pop Chronicles' Chronicle Pop". Rolling Stone. No. 43. p. 34.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Index to "Pop Chronicles"" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ "Show 34 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: American musicians respond to the British invaders. [Part 2] : UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. 1969-08-03. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
- ^ "X-Files chief not moving". Vancouver Sun. April 20, 1998. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
- ^ "The Paley Center for Media". Paleycenter.org. 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
- L.A. Weekly. November 12–18, 1999. Archived from the originalon January 17, 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- The Los Angeles Times. p. F18.
- The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b "Albums by The Credibility Gap". Rate Your Music. 1971-10-23. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- ^ Plume, Kenneth (2000-02-10). "Interview with Harry Shearer (Part 1 of 4)". IGN. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ Plume, Kenneth (2000-02-10). "Interview with Harry Shearer (Part 4 of 4)". IGN. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ Club Review: Credibility Gap, Buchanan at Roxy
- ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
- ^ mjmckean (2016-06-01). "THE REALITY BUILDING: Some Words on The Credibility Gap – flotation device". Michaelmckean.com. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
- ^ Lloyd, Robert (1999-11-18). "Film+TV - Sketch Artists". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
External links
- Credibility Gap History and Audio from the official Harry Shearer website.
- The Credibility Gap at AllMusic
- Robert Lloyd, "Sketch Artists: The Credibility Gap's one-night stand", L.A Weekly, November 10, 1999, L.A. Weekly]
- IGN interview with Harry Shearer
- Biography and discography
- Len Chandler discography
- The Credibility Gap performs (audio) on the Pop Chronicles (1969).