Eddie Murphy is the debut solo album by Eddie Murphy. It was released on November 6, 1982, on Columbia Records. It was certified as a Gold record and received a Grammy Award nomination. The album drew ire from the gay community, Asian-American groups and women's groups for some of the humor.
In terms of material, the release draws upon Murphy's work on the program Saturday Night Live. The recording took place from April 30, 1982 to May 1, 1982, capturing some of Murphy's routines at the New York City venue The Comic Strip. In addition to the comedy tracks, the album contained two songs, including the parody hip-hop song "Boogie in Your Butt", which became a minor hit on the R&B charts.
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, critic Bret Adams wrote, "Despite Murphy's gifts, his first standup comedy album, 1982's Eddie Murphy, is uneven despite containing some classic routines." In The Boston Phoenix, Joyce Millman said that "Judging from the angry-young-black routines on his album, [Murphy] seems to feel that silliness isnâÂÂt enough. And these bits fall flat because he sounds uncomfortably like a Richard Pryor impersonator, funkying up his articulate, nice-boy voice."
All tracks by Eddie Murphy, except where noted.