Cassius Clay: I Am The Greatest

Originally released in 1963 to coincide with his now-legendary title bout with Sonny Liston, the onetime Cassius Clay's modestly titled novelty-album debut I Am The Greatest is an endlessly fascinating time capsule that captures a young Muhammad Ali in peak form—funny, furious, and superhumanly arrogant. Part press conference, part vaudeville act, part stand-up routine, and part radio comedy, I Am The Greatest is an ungainly but endlessly entertaining reminder of an era of unbridled optimism for both the nation and a frighteningly young Clay, who sounds prepared for the legendary status he would soon earn. Even as a cocky 21-year-old, Clay didn't just seek attention and adoration; he demanded it. Co-written by Clay and Carol Burnett Show gag writer Gary Belkin, I Am The Greatest is superbly, unrelentingly silly, wallowing in goofy puns and cut-rate Borsht Belt shtick that would embarrass Henny Youngman and Milton Berle. But through it all, Clay maintains his dignity and composure, overcoming the ridiculousness of his material through sheer force of character. Recorded in front of an audience so over-enthusiastic that it might as well have been imbibing tanks of laughing gas, I Am The Greatest positions Clay as a sort of missing link between Sammy Davis Jr. and Rudy Ray Moore, effortlessly exploring the meeting point of poetry, pugilism, and populist entertainment. Augmented by new liner notes and three bonus tracks—including a shaky and abbreviated cover of "Stand By Me"—I Am The Greatest is a treat for pop-culture addicts and Ali fans alike.