Peter and the Commissar cover

Peter and the Commissar

Allan Sherman · 1964

45 min · 4 tracks

A whimsical blend of comedy and classical music, intertwining narrative and melody with sharp wit and playful irony.

Spotify Apple Music
Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Peter and the Commissar — The title track masterfully blends a retelling of Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' with witty commentary on Soviet bureaucracy, exemplifying Sherman's unique narrative style.
  • →
    Variations on 'How Dry I Am' — This track humorously plays with musical variations while touching on themes of sobriety, showcasing Sherman's clever wordplay and musical prowess.
  • →
    The End of a Symphony — In this piece, Sherman cleverly juxtaposes the formalities of classical music with comedic elements, creating a humorous commentary on both genres.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

54 /100
Foothills
Higher than 43% of albums we've rated

Allan Sherman blends comedy and classical music effectively, creating a unique listening experience.

What we noticed

  • The title track features a spoken narrative interspersed with musical interludes, blending storytelling with classical motifs.
  • The second track serves as an introduction, setting the stage for the comedic elements that follow.
  • The final track concludes the album with a playful twist on symphonic conventions, reinforcing the humor throughout.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Peter and the Commissar 24:31
  • 2 Introduction 3:02
  • 3 Variations on 'How Dry I Am' 9:44
  • 4 The End of a Symphony 8:08

What to play next

For Swingin' Livers Only
Listen next

For Swingin' Livers Only

1964
Allan in Wonderland
Go back to

Allan in Wonderland

1964
Full Allan Sherman discography Artists like Allan Sherman

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata