National Lampoon April 1973

National Lampoon

April 1973

Let's take another trip back in time, fifty years ago, to April, 1973 and the latest issue of the National Lampoon. Like many of these 1973 issues,the April issue is not very good: still overly reliant on lengthy, boring text pieces. But it's also true that, with the collapse of the underground comix industry later in 1973, the Lampoon was one of the few outlets where comix artists could publish their work (and be paid for it).

The April issue is devoted to the theme of 'Sweetness and Light', and has plentiful advertisements for newly released LPs from various artists, some of whom were rather obscure.........I have to say, I never heard of Doug Sahm, back in the 1970s. He apparently was a Country and Western singer / songwriter.

One LP ad is for a new artist from Asbury Park, New Jersey, a guy named Springstein, or something. 

A guy who, in the era of glam rock, very much was trying to portray himself as a working-class poet, what with his scruffy beard and proletariat clothing (no polyester and sequins here !) Certainly, something of an odd duck...............

Don McLean, who had a massive hit with his album and single 'American Pie' in 1972, released an eponymous album in November of that year. It suffered somewhat from not having a hit single.

Chris Miller, who normally could be relied upon to create something funny and offensive, has a rather tame piece, 'Pharmocopoeia', that presents vignettes of drug use by various personages.

Well, at least the Foto Funnies gives us what we always hope to see: a glimpse of boobies !!!!!

Mary K. Brown provides a comic, done in her usual quirky style:

In the early 70s, there was considerable interest in the occult and the supernatural, and there was a book club that could supply you with necessary tomes on these topics.

Edward Gorey, someone who perhaps was a little too highbrow for the Lampoon, nevertheless had a lengthy portfolio in this April issue.

We'll close with some recurring feature cartoons: a 'Trots and Bonnie' comic from Sherry Flenniken, and a new installment of 'Cheech Wizard' from Vaughan Bode. It's vintage early 70s humor, rendered in black and white............