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BOB EARLL - LAS VEGAS, NV 5-30-96
Bob Earll, from Los Angeles, CA delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Intergroup End of the Month Speaker Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 30th, 1996. He was 33 years sober at the time. Bob tells some of his story. He talks about anxiety and how his thought process quite often creates it. He reflects back to the effects of growing up in an abusive household and feeling like an outcast before he ever drank. Bob also shares bits of his experience with therapy and how it has helped him in sobriety. He feels he’s one of those recovering alcoholics who need more help then others. Bob believes that surrounding yourself with God is the solution and shares his experience with a simple message about it. “Go thru the open doors.”
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 72 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - MOVING RECOVERY INTO THE LIGHT (2 CDs)
Well-known recovery speaker, Bob Earll from Santa Fe, New Mexico recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk on August 7th, 1991. At that time, Bob had been sober for 29 years. This is an extremely good talk about feelings and the appropriate ways of dealing and displaying them. Bob talks about learning how to deal with these feelings with the "supportive" people. He says, “Stressing our feelings are our only connection with our human-ness.” He discusses dealing with a spectrum of different aspects from worry to serenity. Bob stresses "living in the moment and learning that discovery is a process,” not a destination. The last portion of this recording has a very informative question and answer period. Bob is very thorough and candid with his answers. Review written by Stan K of Springfield, MO.
Content – 21 Total Tracks
Total Length – 100 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - PALM SPRINGS GARDEN, FL JULY 1995
Bob Earll was residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the time he delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk. This was recorded at the 39th Florida State Convention in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in July of 1995. Even though Bob says this talk is about "Miracles," it is actually more about "Feelings.” Bob grew up in a dysfunctional family. He was very angry and rebellious even as a teenager. Like a lot of the rest of us, he found that alcohol and drugs helped the feelings go away. Even though he did a lot of service, he found that with the way he worked his program, he was falling short in recovery. He had to learn how to deal with feelings. This is an excellent talk about feelings; both positive and negative.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 63 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - PALM SPRINGS, CA SEPTEMBER 2001
Bob Earll recorded this talk in Palm Springs, California in September of 2001. Bob introduces himself as an alcoholic/addict. At the time, Bob had been sober for 39 years. He says that for years in recovery, anxiety was his drug of choice. Bob tells some rather lengthy stories, one in particular about a car accident he had. He goes on to talk about some spiritual revelations he had while recovering. Bob uses some vulgar language on this recording.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 61 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 8-7-98
Popular Alcoholics Anonymous speaker, Bob Earll recorded this AA talk in Rancho Mirage, California on August 7th, 1998. Bob was 26 years old when he got sober and at the time of this recording he had 36 years of sobriety. He says his mother was a child batterer and his father was an alcoholic. Bob says he was extremely troubled as a child and he was asked to leave the Los Angeles school system. He feels that he stopped growing emotionally when he had his first drink. Bob goes on to tell a great story of recovery.
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 69 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - SAN ANGELO, TX 5-23-92
Bob recorded this talk at the 5th Annual Concho Valley Conference in San Angelo, Texas on May 23rd, 1992. Sometimes Bob’s talks are a little hard to categorize. He does talk about alcoholism on this recording but also speaks quite a bit about his childhood as well. Bob was raised by an alcoholic father and a mother who was a child beater. The idea of suicide never occurred to Bob while he was still drinking but he contemplated it several times after getting sober. He believes very strongly that good nutrition should be a part of recovery. Bob talks quite a bit about his young daughter and his observations on how he’s inspired by the simple way she deals with life.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 55 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - TUCSON, AZ 3-14-92
Bob was nearly 30 years sober at the time that this recording was made. He recorded this non-typical Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Tucson, Arizona on March 14th, 1992. It’s not typical because Bob doesn’t really talk much about his drinking. He does talk quite a bit about his childhood and the problems he had growing up. When he was sober for 17 years he finally decided to see a therapist and to deal with some of the problems from his childhood. An interesting talk.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 56 Minutes
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BOB EARLL - VULTURE ON THE BEDPOST OCTOBER 1979
This is a well known talk recorded in California by Bob Earll. It’s also known as “Head Trips.” Bob begins this talk by asking the crowd if they would mind if he goes over the agreed time with his talk. The audience makes it clear that that is no problem. He then proceeds to relate that his thinking is sometimes not right and it feels like a vulture sitting on his bedpost waiting for him to wake up. The vulture is continually trying to take him down the wrong path. He goes on to explain that there is a big difference between the soul and the mind. Bob tells us that he has always had problems with his inner voice. Now that he’s sober he knows that his mind can be his worst enemy. He tells us how we have to listen to our higher power and not to our negatively thinking minds. He goes on to tell us what brought him to Alcoholics Anonymous. Bob’s basic message in this talk is, “Don’t take yourself too seriously”
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 62 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - DEERFIELD, FL 2005
Popular circuit speaker Chris Raymer, from Texas, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Deerfield, Florida in 2005. Chris is a very opinionated speaker and it’s obvious in this talk as well as his many other AA recordings. Right from the start, Chris has the crowd roaring with his quick wit and great sense of humor. He began drinking in high school, in 1971. His drink of choice back then was Boone’s Farm Apple Wine. Chris was in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous for seven years before he sobered up and got serious about the program. Once he was in the middle of a suicide attempt and he heard a voice that told him to, “Go back to AA.” Chris is not a big believer in going to the doctor and taking medications for depression. He is a big believer in the newcomer jumping into the steps right off the bat. Chris definitely has his own way of looking at things.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 59 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - HOUSTON, TX 11-9-02
Chris recorded this AA talk at the Spirit of Houston Conference in Houston, Texas on November 19th, 2002. Chris states that he is asked to speak quite often at AA events. This is not because he’s a great speaker, but because he’s very controversial and makes people think. Some people love him and some people hate him. At the time of this talk Chris was had 15 years of continued sobriety. Chris is adamant that the purpose of an AA group should always be to try to help the newcomer stay sober. He says that the 12 steps were intended to be worked rapidly. If you’ve got a sponsor that is allowing you to drag along slowly through the steps, “Get another sponsor.” Chris goes on to give a very good talk as always and near the end he says, “For everyone of you guys who continue to take a Big Book into the meetings, I love you. For every one of you old coots who keeps hanging around, if you ever hear someone going off on their own tear, you shut a meeting down if you have to, but please get the meeting back on track for the newcomer.”
Contents - 10 Tracks
Length – 48 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - NEW YORK, NY 7-27-01
Chris recorded this AA talk at St John’s University in New York City. The main topic of this talk is about determining the difference between doing twelfth step work and telling your own story. When you first hear Chris speak, he sounds like he’s angry but actually he’s just got a lot of passion for the AA program. Chris says he’s a very quiet guy most of the time until the topic of AA is brought up and then he’ll go wild. Chris believes that therapy and rehab centers are great but they will not remove the obsession to drink; only AA can do that. At the end of his talk Chris says, “In AA meetings, we try to help someone not drink today. Isn’t that cool? I love every one of you, Thanks.”
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 63 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - PONCA CITY, OK 1-31-04
Chris recorded this talk at the Twelfth Step and Sponsorship Workshop in Ponca City, Oklahoma. In this recording, Chris talks about the format of the AA meeting itself. He believes that the AA meeting should not be a forum for everyone’s personal problems. He believes those issues should be discussed before or after the meeting. Chris says that for the newcomer to be successful, he must become active in the program as soon as possible. If not, he’s not likely to stay around. At the end of his talk, Chris says, “Nobody can understand the alcoholic like another alcoholic. Nobody can understand abuse unless you’ve been abused. Nobody understands what it’s like to be in Vietnam except for those that have been in Vietnam. We’ve been given a gift. Let’s not louse it up.”
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 74 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - ST CLOUD, FL 2005
Chris Raymer, an extremely passionate and opinionated speaker, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Big Book Study Group in St Cloud, Florida in 2005. Chris had 18 years of sobriety at the time this recording was made. Chris said he spent seven years going in and out of AA. He says that when his drinking was at its worst, he felt like he was in the movie, Ground Hog’s Day; everyday he woke up expecting something different, but it turned out the same every time. He’s very upset with the current success rate in AA; it’s only about 8 %. A very strong message that Chris tries to convey in this recording is that, “The AA meeting is not the place for war stories. The message at an AA meeting should be one of recovery and of passing along the spiritual message.”
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 70 Minutes
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CHRIS RAYMER - WEST ORANGE, NJ 8-1-02
Chris recorded this AA talk at the Carry the Message Group in West Orange, New Jersey on August 1st, 2002. Chris’ sobriety date is November 13th, 1987. He tells a very funny story about how he was able to buy urine to pass a drug test. Chris says that the biggest group of people that die from alcoholism are women. The reason for that is that there are not enough women in the fellowship to carry the message to other women. At the end of the talk Chris says, “In this fellowship we need spiritual giants, we need spiritual mentors, we need teachers, we need people that are going to stand for something. Bless every one of you. Thank you.”
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 48 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - ALCOHOLISM, THE DISEASE OF PERCEPTION
This is one of the better Alcoholics Anonymous talks that Clancy Imislund has ever given. He recorded this talk in Santa Ana, California on April 16th, 1983. He shares some very profound insights into how the disease of alcoholism is viewed. Clancy also humorously goes over a lot of the historical "cures" for alcoholism. Towards the end of this talk Clancy explains quite a bit about the mission in California that he is involved with. A very powerful AA talk.
Contents - 16 Tracks
Length - 78 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - BELLEVUE, NE 1-29-83
This talk by Clancy is also known as THE INVISIBLE BOAT Talk. It was recorded in Bellevue, Nebraska on January 29th, 1983. Clancy, sober since October of 1958, spends the first several minutes joking with the crowd and then begins to tell his story. He tells of how a neighbor once rescued him from his garage after a suicide attempt. He tells of the terrible time he once woke up in a Phoenix drunk tank with all of his teeth kicked out. Clancy says that the big misconception with alcoholics is that, “Someday we will be able to control and enjoy our drinking.” This is just one of many great talks by Clancy Imislund where he shares some of his AA wisdom attained after being in the program for many, many years.
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 67 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - BRISTOL, ENGLAND 10-16-04
Well-known Alcoholics Anonymous speaker, Clancy Imislund recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Bristol Reunion in Bristol, England on October 16th, 2004. He was just shy of 46 years of sobriety when at the time of this recording. Clancy begins this message by talking about the different types of alcoholics, those who can stop after a traumatic experience and those who keep on drinking no matter what. He gives a little bit of the history of AA. Clancy makes it very clear that the problem with us is not alcohol, it’s alcoholism.
Contents – 16 Tracks
Length – 78 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - CRESTED BUTTE, CO AUGUST 1991
In this talk, Clancy first talks about some of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, from Rowland Hazzard through Dr Bob. He then talks about how AA spread throughout the world. Clancy share a lot of his insights about the AA program. He believes that no matter how hard you work the program, you’re never going to rise above the level of human being, so when you make a mistake, deal with it then move on. Clancy concludes his talk by saying, “Because of the power of this simple program, it has not been necessary for me to drink any alcohol, or take any mind sedating or tranquilizing medications since October the 31st, 1958, and for this I am truly grateful.”
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 73 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - EUREKA, CA 1976 (2 CDs)
Clancy does a very thorough telling of his story in this 2 CD recording. He tells us that at one time, alcohol was the best friend he ever had. Women came and went, houses came and went, and jobs came and went but alcohol was always there for him. Clancy tells a humorous story about his job resume. All of his long-term drinking periods are listed as “self employment.” Clancy got his teeth kicked out wile he was passed out in a jail cell. After determining that he had been incarcerated at least 32 times, Clancy stopped counting. “Being sober is not the goal of AA. Being sober is the doorway to AA that eventually will lead to a better way of life.” At the end of his talk Clancy says, “AA will teach you how to get through life’s painful times. Once you do that, you’ll realize that it was worth everything it ever took to get there!”
Contents – 20 Tracks
Length – 98 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - FORT WORTH, TX 2-4-01
This is definitely an Alcoholics Anonymous Talk but Clancy is giving it at an Al Anon convention. On this recording, Clancy tells his story. He says that from a very early age he felt that there was something missing either in his life or his personality. After his young son died, he swore at the casket that he would never take another drink of alcohol. He eventually did, which then led to a suicide attempt in his garage. On this CD Clancy delivers another one of his very dynamic AA Talks about his personal tragedies and eventual sobriety.
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 70 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - HOUSTON, TX 11-13-93
Clancy recorded this AA talk at the Ninth Spirit of Houston Conference in Houston, Texas on November 13th, 1993. At the beginning of this talk, Clancy has quite a bit of fun poking fun at the other speakers at this convention. When he first entered AA, Clancy says that he had a very big problem accepting the fact that he was one of these people in the rooms. He later learned that the people in these rooms represent only a small portion of alcoholics in the United States. After reading many book about alcoholism, Clancy says that the best thing he has ever read was the first three pages of chapter three in the AA Big Book; that obsession that we all have in common, that someday, somehow we will be able to control our drinking. This is another great talk by Clancy I.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 73 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - KANSAS CITY, KS JUNE 1986
This recording was made at the First Pockets Full of Enthusiasm Convention. When Clancy is first introduced, the crowd has some fun with him by playing, “Hail to the Chief.” Then they begin to chant the Mickey Mouse theme song. Clancy says that enthusiasm and action go hand in hand. Sometime you’ll do some things that receive disapproval but as long as you get the approval of the people who you respect then you’re doing alright. Clancy says that in his experience, the most enthusiastic people are the people who have been sober for about 3 to 4 years. They finally see a very bight future ahead and want to get more involved in the AA program. Clancy also says that he finds the more serene people in AA are the active people. He says that his sobriety depends on the maintenance of his spiritual condition; be in good spiritual shape to ward off any “weird thinking” when it comes along. Clancy ends his talk by saying, “I hope our great blessings will never spoil us, and that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of he who provides over us all, Thank you.” This recording has a slight “hiss” in the background, however all words are easily understandable.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 56:00
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CLANCY IMISLUND - LAS VEGAS, NV 6-15-00
Clancy first talks about the time he was recently interviewed for an A & E TV special on Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the more difficult questions that he was asked was, “Why is it that some alcoholics need the help of AA and some do not?” He answered the question by stating the alcoholics that cannot do it alone are alcoholics “of our type.” Some heavy drinkers may quit drinking after some traumatic experience, such as the death of a loved one, but the majority of alcoholics, the “real” alcoholics cannot quit drinking without the help of AA. Clancy says that he was a failure for many, many years in AA but finally started getting sober for good the day that he was thrown out of a skid row mission. Only a year before that he had been on the faculty of the University of Texas. During his later drinking years his life was governed by his extreme fear of everything. At the end of his talk, Clancy says, “When you walk out of these rooms, you can walk into a world that is not fearful to you, you can walk straight, you don’t have to afraid of meeting anybody in the room, you can walk with dignity, and you can thank your lucky stars that you found Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 58 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - MY CASE IS DIFFERENT 10-10-98
This AA talk titled “My Case is Different” was recorded by Clancy at the 47th Southern California Convention on October 10th, 1998. The topic of this meeting is “Feeling Different.” Clancy says he really loves this type of marathon meeting because they always seem to work out so well. He thought he was different because of all the really nasty things that he had included in his 4th step. Clancy feels that alcoholics are different in the specifics of their stories but in general they are very similar, low self worth, etc. He feels that he will never get completely over the feeling of being different but with AA, he does have a way to cope with it now.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 57 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - NAPLES, FL 7-16-03
Clancy recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the 47th Annual Florida State Convention in Naples, Florida. Clancy tells of one of his first drinking experiences at the age of fifteen with three hard-core sailors on a ship to the South Pacific that he just boarded. He drank a lot of whiskey, threw up, drank more, threw up, etc. He talks about the three most lethal emotions listed in the Big Book. Those are resentment, self pity, and feelings of being different. They are lethal because they will justify every drink you take until you die from drinking, and it will never have been your fault. Clancy tells a very touching story about a promise he made to his dead son while at his funeral. Clancy shares about a time that he committed suicide in his garage but was revived because a neighbor had found him in time. At the end of his talk Clancy says, “May we forever live in thankful contemplation of him who presides over us, Thank You.”
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 65 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - NEW YORK, NY 2001
This Alcoholics Anonymous talk was recorded in 2001 at the Atlantic Group’s Ninth Anniversary in New York City. Clancy gives a little bit of AA History at the beginning of this recording. Clancy then begins getting into his own story. He tells how his son had died when he was out drinking. He later made a vow at his son’s casket that he would never drink again. It didn’t work. He attempted suicide. Clancy describes how alcohol addiction is different from alcoholism. He finishes his talk by saying, “The difference between a sober alcoholic and drinking alcoholic is that the drinking alcoholic is not willing to take actions that they don’t believe in.”
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 53 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - PALM BEACH, FL AUGUST 2005
This AA talk was delivered by Clancy Imislund at the Way of Life Conference in Palm Beach, Florida in August of 2005. Clancy tells the crowd that he “reluctantly” began working the steps after just a few days of sobriety. “When somebody relapses, it’s not because they’ve done something bad, it’s that they’ve failed to continue to do the things that have kept them sober.” Clancy also talks about the mission that he runs in Los Angeles.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 75 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - PHOENIX, AZ 7-25-86
Clancy recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Phoenix, Arizona on July 25th, 1986. In this AA talk, he “fondly” reminisces to an earlier time he was in Phoenix. This is the town where he got his front teeth kicked in after being thrown in jail for drunkenness. Clancy was almost 28 years sober at the time of this talk. He says, “I’m not a drinker, I’m a feeler.” This is a great talk as most Clancy talks are, however he still has a problem with arrogance. On more than one occasion he “disciplines” members of the crowd that are either whispering or not in their seats while he’s speaking; something that really doesn’t seem necessary. He goes on and talks about his suicide attempt. Clancy says, “Stopping drinking has no significant effect except to make your life more painful – little by little, by little.” He has had a bad year; his father died, his mother died, and his sponsor died.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 56 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - RICHFIELD, OH OCTOBER 2006
Clancy, from Los Angeles, California delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the 2nd Annual Greater Cleveland Conference in Richfield, Ohio in October of 2006. On this recording, Clancy delivers a great message on alcoholism. “We alcoholics drink our problems away to preserve our sanity.” He says that alcoholics eventually come to know is, “Not only is Reality unbearable but Drinking becomes unbearable.” “We share our Experience, Strength, and Hope to stay Safe, Sane and Sober.”
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 70 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - ROCHESTER, MN JANUARY 1986 (2 CDs)
On this double CD set, Clancy speaks on the topic of sponsorship. Clancy says that having a good sponsor is very vital if you want to be a successful member of AA. Your sponsor will get you active in the program. When you ask someone to be your sponsor, you’re basically giving them permission to supercede your opinions with their opinions. Clancy is not a big believer in having more than one sponsor. This tends to give the sponsee the option of selection the answer that he likes more. Clancy refers to Doctor Bob’s last talk when he said not to forget to give the guy a pat on the back every once in a while when he’s been doing a good job. He says the door on an alcoholic always has the lock on the inside and it’s the sponsor’s job to persuade him to come out into the open. Clancy talks quite a bit about his own sponsor, Chuck Chamberlain. Near the end of this talk, Clancy says that if you ever get a chance to sponsor someone, do it. If you put your heart into it, it will be a good experience for your sponsee but it will be an even better experience for you.
Contents – 21 Tracks
Length – 96 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SAN ANTONIO, TX 4-17-93
Clancy reminisces about his earlier days in Texas when he was admitted as a “Psychopathic Suicide” to Big Spring State Hospital, a mental hospital. Clancy also talks about the danger of “comparisons” in AA. He says that’s dangerous because you’re always comparing your insides to another person’s outsides. Clancy talks quite a bit about the topic of “Fear.” The toughest surrender you’ll ever make is to give up your right to believe what is best for you. Clancy tells about how he was by his son’s side when he passed away and how glad he was that he had found a higher power by that time. Another great Clancy AA talk.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 75 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SAN ANTONIO, TX 6-5-98
This talk was recorded at the 53rd Texas State Convention. Clancy tells about being raised in Wisconsin and having a strict Norwegian Lutheran upbringing. In this talk Clancy also reflects back on his days in Texas when he had entered a treatment center and received his electric shock treatments. Clancy also talks a little about his sponsor, Chuck Chamberlain. Even though he knew many of the popular speakers in AA such as Wino Joe, Clancy says that sobriety is not about celebrities, it’s about going to meetings week after week, month after month, and year after year and to keep the doors open and the fires burning. At the end of this talk, Clancy says, “My name is Clancy Imuslund and I’m an alcoholic. Through the grace of God and the power of this simple program it has not been necessary for me to drink any alcohol since October the 31st, 1958 and for this I am very grateful.”
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 65 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SAN DIEGO, CA 4-11-99 (2 CDs)
On this recording, Clancy is speaking at The Old Town Speaker Meeting in San Diego, California. He talks about many jobs he’s had and lost over his career. Clancy believes that his problem was never alcohol, because when he gets cleaned up and sober, that when his problems really began, he was always very unhappy at those times. This is a hilarious talk by Clancy. His talk is funny and thought-provoking, and a true Clancy Classic.
Contents – 18 Tracks
Length – 90 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SAN DIEGO, CA JULY 1984
The event was the Traditions Breakfast. In this talk, Clancy talks about the AA traditions and the need for them. Clancy says that no matter how noble our goals and our efforts are, we in AA are still human beings and we need the traditions to hold everything together. In Long Beach, California in 1955 Clancy who was just a few years sober, wanted to hear Bill Wilson speak at the International AA Convention very badly but because of the huge crowd, it didn’t look like he was going to be able to get in. He volunteered to be an usher, took an elderly woman to a seat in the front row, sat down beside her and got to listen to Bill after all. He talks about how tough the sponsors were in the early days of AA. The sponsors would says, “Do it this way or get out!” Clancy ends the talk as he sometimes does, “May we forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.” This recording has a slight “hiss” in the background, however all words are easily understandable.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 56 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SAN JOSE, CA 9-19-82
Clancy recorded this AA Talk at Day of Sobriety in San Jose, California on September 19th, 1982. Clancy says he feels that all Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are spiritual meetings. He clearly explains the difference between spirituality and religious. Clancy explains how it was when he went to his very first AA meeting in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He also talks about the time he went into psychoanalysis. He says all that it did was to “fertilize his paranoia.” He began coming up with weird ideas that he never had before psychoanalysis. Clancy believes that a common misconception among active alcoholics is that somehow, someday they will be able to control their drinking. About 95% of them pursue this belief until death. At the end of his talk, Clancy says, “I am glad that I am involved with you and let’s do the best we can to get those fools (active alcoholics) straightened out. Thank you.”
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 68 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SEATTLE, WA 8-30-02
Clancy recorded this AA talk at the 10th Sponsorship Convention in Seattle, Washington on August 30th, 2002. In this talk Clancy shares his wisdom about the AA program. He says that even with the existence of the AA program for all these years, 90% of alcoholics in the United States will still die drunk. He feels that the fact that Bill Wilson wrote the Big Book after being sober only three months is indeed a miracle. Clancy says that after taking a good look at himself after being in AA for a short time, he realized that he had broken all Ten Commandments. Toward the end of his talk, Clancy tells us that he feels that are many aspects to the AA program but the real core of the fellowship is the same as it was in 1935, “One alcoholic talking with another.”
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 74 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - SINGLENESS OF PURPOSE (2 CDs)
This double CD recording by Clancy titled, “Singleness of Purpose” was recorded in Toronto, Canada. He begins this talk by saying that’s it’s nice to see a lot of people here but it’s a real shame that the people who need us the most are not here. That’s why we have to maintain our singleness of purpose – to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Clancy talks about the 19th century group called the Washingtonians and why there movement quickly failed after an initial period of rapid growth – they decided to get into areas other than alcoholism. He talks about the AA Traditions and how they relate to the AA singleness of purpose. Clancy says that the First International AA Conference held in Cleveland, Ohio in 1950 was the direct result of Bill Wilson’s desire to hold AA together by introducing the traditions. The most effective treatment for alcoholism is one alcoholic talking to another alcoholic and that’s the way it should remain. The second CD in this set is Clancy’s question and answer session on the same topic, Singleness of Purpose. This recording is a good, thorough coverage of the concept of one alcoholic talking to another.
Contents – 23 Tracks
Length – 108 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - TACOMA, WA 1-15-83
Clancy does his usual joking around with the AA crowd at the beginning of this recording. He goes on to say that the only thing that just STOPPING THE DRINKING ever did for him was to make him realize how crappy things really were. So, as a result he always started drinking again. His drinking got so bad at one point that he ended up playing piano in a San Francisco whorehouse. He tells his invisible boat story. He also explains his, “disease of perception” idea. Clancy says that there are only two times in Alcoholics Anonymous when you have to be very careful; one is when you’re first sober, the other is all the time after that. He sums up this talk by stating that to be successful in AA, you must stick with the winners.
Contents – 16 Tracks
Length – 79 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - THE HISTORY OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 2-4-90
This is a great recording of well-known, dynamic speaker, Clancy Imislund. Clancy speaks in-depth about the entire HISTORY OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. Clancy recorded this talk on February 4th, 1990 in St Lucia, British West Indies. These are just some of the topics he covers: Rowland Hazzard, Dr Carl Jung, The Oxford Groups, Ebby Thatcher, Calvary Mission, Ebby Testifies To Bill Wilson, Bill’s Spiritual Experience, Bill Joins The Oxford Groups, Bill Goes To Akron, Reverend Tunks, Henrietta Seiberling, Anne Smith, Dr Bob, The AMA Meeting In Atlantic, City, NJ, Dr Bob’s Last Drink, Akron City Hospital, Bill Dotson, Hank Parkhurst, Early Group Problems, First Convention In Cleveland, Bill’s Last Talk In Miami.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 59 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - THE THREE LITTLE CHRISTMAS STEPS
Popular Alcoholics Anonymous speaker Clancy Imislund from Venice, California recorded this talk on December 22nd, 1990 in West Covina, California. The full title of this talk is, “The Three Little Christmas Steps and How They Grew.” This was the 30th straight year that Clancy gave this Christmas talk in West Covina. He speaks of his pleasant memories of Christmas as a child. He tells how he tried to recreate those pleasant memories for the next 40 years. This talk concentrates on the first three steps of the AA program.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 76 Minutes
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CLANCY IMISLUND - WASHINGTON, DC 3-2-87
This recording was made at the Foxhall Group in Washington DC. Clancy begins this talk by telling about some of the earliest days of AA. Then he talks about the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. Clancy says he truly believes that this book was divinely inspired. This book becomes, “truer, and truer, and truer the longer you stay sober.” He says, “Can you imagine writing a book that has had that much impact on the world when you are only three years sober, like Bill Wilson was?” Near the end of his talk, Clancy’s gratitude shows as he talks about how lucky we are to be part of the less than one percent that have made it into the rooms of AA. That’s what makes AA such a miracle. It’s easily available, but we better really cherish it!!
Contents - 13 Tracks
Length – 65 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - COVINGTON, LA JUNE 2004
Earl Hightower, from Studio City, California recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk in Covington, Louisiana in June of 2004. He says that as a young child of twelve years old he felt dumped and alone with no tools for living. From his first experience with alcohol and drugs he felt a buffer from him and the real world. Earl explains the three stages of alcoholism: Fun, Fun with Problems, and Problems. Earl never developed any communication skills and was fearful that someone would ask him a question he couldn't answer. When he came to AA he was 28 years old and he had drank and used drugs for 16 years. Don Madden was his sponsor. Earl shares a lot of his first direction from Don: Meetings... "The purpose of meetings is for a newcomer to get a message of hope and to find someone to connect with." In this talk, Earl shares a lot of humor but his story is also full of hope for everyone.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 61 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - ERLANGER, KY 8-10-01
Earl, from Studio City, California, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Rule 62 Roundup in Erlanger, Kentucky on August 10th, 2001. At the time of this talk, Earl had about 21 years of sobriety. Earl says that as a kid, even though he was restless, irritable and discontented, he was able to hold off his drinking until he turned twelve. His drug of choice was, “What do you Got?” At age 16 people were referring to him as an alcoholic and his response was always, “What’s your Point?” Earl’s actual drug of choice was alcohol but he took a lot of drugs to keep him awake long enough to continue drinking. He went into his first mental institution at the age of 16. In his early 20s, Earl was diagnosed with malignant cancer. He tells of losing all of his faith in a higher power after a very tragic plane crash. Earl describes how he felt at his first AA meeting and also does a very funny fast-speed description of a newcomer’s impression of their first meeting. This is a really great, humorous talk by a man who has been through quite a bit.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 64 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - HILTON HEAD, SC 1-19-01
Earl Hightower, from Studio City, California, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at the Mid-Winter Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina on January 19th, 2001. He was 20 years sober at the time of the talk. Earl became a drug dealer in college. At 20 years old he was diagnosed with malignant cancer. He believes he beat the cancer because his body had become so toxic with alcohol and drugs that the cancer just “gave up.” He was drunk or drugged almost all the time. He finally realized his life wasn’t going too well when the ambulance drivers began to recognize him and call him by his first name. Earl lost his family in a plane crash in Mexico. At that time he turned against God and man. His drinking then became so bad that he began coming out of blackouts while in conversations with the police and the FBI. Earl was waking up in different cities. He joined AA and never had another drink. Earl quickly covers all twelve steps in this talk. Near the end of the talk, Earl has a good message for the newcomer, “Buckle your Seatbelts because you’re in for the Ride of Your Life!”
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 61 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - LAGUNA BEACH, CA 2-22-95
Fantastic AA speaker, Earl Hightower delivered this Alcoholics Anonymous talks at the South Coast Speaker Meeting in Laguna Beach, California on February 22nd, 1995. We feel it’s the best Earl Hightower Alcoholics Anonymous talk we’ve heard. It’s full of very natural humor. He had been sober for 14 years at the time of this recording. Earl tells how his world was filled with fear until he took his first drink at age twelve. At 15 years of age, he was already a raging alcoholic. After losing his family in a bad airplane crash, he pretty much gave up on life. Earl has a fantastic, humor filled story of recovery and a great, self deprecating way of sharing it on this recording.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 66 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - NEW YORK, NY 9-14-02
Well sought after Alcoholics Anonymous speaker, Earl Hightower delivers another great and inspiring AA talk, this time in New York City. Earl is just full of quick-witted lines, such as, “My story is, I drank and it didn’t go well.” He said when he was young he held off for as long as he could but at age twelve he broke down and began to drink. After alcohol became a regular part of his life, his motto became, “When frightened,…attack!!” Earl says his drug of choice was, “Whattya got?” His talk is very humorous as well as really inspiring. His final words of wisdom are to the newcomer and they are, “Do this thing. You’ll be no longer a slave to drugs and alcohol. It’s a beautiful path. Thanks. Peace.”
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 60 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - REYKJAVIK, ICELAND 9-13-03
Earl, from Studio City, California, recorded this Alcoholics Anonymous talk at The Road to Recovery Convention in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 13th, 2003. Earl says he was a child of the 60s. His journey started when he was twelve years old and his parents dropped him off at boarding school. Everyday for the next 16 years of his life he used some mood alternating drug, which he calls, “fear killers.” Earl talks about the different types of members of AA: One is the member active in the Fellowship of AA, and the other is the member active in AA Program. He was taught early on from his sponsor to Trust God, Clean House, and Help Others. Years later while talking to his grand sponsor, he learned that Bill Wilson had passed those same words down to those men, Trust God, Clean House, and Help Others. Earl does a good job in keeping this recording full of knowledge, facts and humor.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 76 Minutes
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EARL HIGHTOWER - SONORA BAY, MEXICO MAY 1996 (2 CDs)
This is a great combination Alcoholics Anonymous talk by speaker, Earl Hightower, from Studio City, California. On the first CD, Earl tells his story. On the second disc, Earl covers the 12 Steps of the AA program. Earl, sober for 15 ½ years at the time of this talk, says he began drinking at age twelve. He then goes on to tell a humorous yet serious history of drinking and drug using history. He has had some very bad consequences as well as just plain bad luck, such as his cancer diagnosis, and losing his entire family in a plane crash. Earl’s recovery story is equally interesting.
Contents – 20 Total Tracks
Total Length – 98 Minutes
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JOHNNY HARRIS - AKRON, OH 1976
This is one of Johnny’s earlier Alcoholics Anonymous talks. He recorded this during the Founder’s Day celebration in Akron, Ohio in 1976. He was sober for 18 years at the time of this talk. Johnny speaks about his early days growing up in a house around his father, a hardcore alcoholic. He swore he’d never be like him until the day Johnny stole some of his father’s “Hooch” and found out that it was “Magical.” He never drank normally after that – he was a hog drinker when he started and a hog drinker when he quit – with a whole bunch of madness in between. Johnny had always wanted to be a gangster but his drinking always interfered, “I was going to go rob Charlie but I ended up puking on him.” He ended up doing some hard time in prison. Johnny eventually found the rooms of AA and his life has been great ever since. He ends his talk like he does quite often, “I would like to thank God for Alcoholics Anonymous and I would like to thank Alcoholics Anonymous for God.” He’s truly one of our better AA speakers.
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 69 Minutes
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JOHNNY HARRIS - AND THIS IS AA (2 CDs)
This recent Alcoholics Anonymous recording by popular speaker, Johnny Harris is titled, “AND THIS IS AA.” It was recorded in Chicago, Illinois on January 15th, 2005. This recording is divided up into three sections. In the first two sections, Johnny talks about his life both in and out of AA. In the third section, he speaks on AA’s Twelve Traditions. Johnny’s got a lot of passion when he talks and as a listener you can’t help but have a greater appreciation for the AA program after listening to him.
Contents – 25 Total Tracks
Total Length – 125 Minutes
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