The Stripper was a musical based on the book of the same name, by Carter Brown. Richard provided the lyrics for the piece, teaming again with Richard Hartley, who wrote the music.

Of all the songs that appeared in the musical, the one known best to TRHPS fans, particularly now that there is the Internet and CD-Burners, Is Man of Steel, a highly perverted come-on of a song, with the singer describing in great intricate detail what exactly he'd like to do to the object of his affections.

"You make me feel like a Man of Steel- Baby, You give me a hard-on"

Richard's penchant for verbal acrobatics is easily seen in these songs, not least of which in Steel.  The opening line for instance, is a perfect example of getting the point across without having to SAY anything. (Although, considering the rest of the lyrics in the song, it seems almost like testing the water for a reaction to the perversion to follow)

"So I hope I don't cause friction. If I reveal my swollen dic- tion"

This song ranks among other O'Brien songs in that you may only truly realize the lyrical content and what is being said, once, maybe twice. After that you're singing along and not understanding why everyone is looking at you funny. The songs on Stripper possess this quality to a higher degree than TRHPS in many cases, as references are more simply alluded to in Rocky than they are here.

Not that the score is a sexual dredgefest, it's not. There are a few ballads here as well, notably The Lonely are Legend. It isn't your normal O'Brien, but then again, it isn't your normal content for a musical, either.

The musical itself was performed in Australia in the early eighties, shortly after Shock Treatment. But the show didn't last long at all, and it's somewhat surprising to me that a cast album was made of it.

The Songs

These song lyrics were taken from Shawn McHorse's section on the Stripper, if you'd care to know where HE got them, just click the grey text that is his name and find out.

Falling /  Deadpan Dolores / The Lonely Are Legend / Men Like That /  
Hearts And Flowers / The Strip / Man Of Steel /  Cry On  / Begging The Question
Man Of The People /  I Confess / There's Many A True Word Said In Bed
De Noche Todos Los Gatos Son Pardos (In The Night All Cats Are Brown)
Nobody's Fool /  Sarah Sings / Planning My Big Exit / Trouble In Pine City

Related Links:

-For those of you more interested in the technical aspects, availibility and so forth, I highly recommend Kev's site on it.

- For sound files from The Stripper, please refer to Shawn McHorse at this link