Goggle-eyed comedian Mantan Moreland is most famous for his role as chauffeur “Birmingham Brown” in the Charlie Chan movies. for his supporting role as one of Satan’s “idea men” in the all-black musical Cabin in the Sky, and for his role as the hapless mailman in the “sick humor” cult favorite, Spider Baby. You know how some people are just so funny that the minute you see them, you’re primed for laughter? Mantan Moreland has always had that effect on me.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I have inflicted King of the Zombies on unsuspecting friends in the 1980s.

The Beastie Boys must be Mantan Moreland fans, too, as there is a particular punch- line from one of his rude-n-crude “party records” of the 1970s sampled in a song called “B-Boys makin’ with the Freak Freak” from Ill Communication. The line—“Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I’m gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes”—is hilarious on its own, but I’d never heard the entire routine until yesterday, despite having the album (That’s Not My Finger!) in my collection for over 20 years.

It starts a bit slow, so stay with it.