Dear Friends (Firesign Theatre)
Encyclopedia
Dear Friends is The Firesign Theatre
's fifth album to be released on Columbia Records
. It is a compilation album, collecting the best bits from the group's nationally syndicated radio program, also titled Dear Friends.
The dates following the track listing for the tracks on this album indicate the date of the live show at which this track was recorded.
performed a one hour live show on radio station KPFK
in Los Angeles
titled Dear Friends. These live shows were recorded by the group and then edited into a slightly shorter shows which the group syndicated to radio stations across the country on 12 inch white label LPs.
The group later collected what they thought were the best segments from the Dear Friends radio program
and compiled this double album from those selections. The tracks on each side were selected thematically and each side was given its own sub-title.
, cassette, 8-track
, and reel-to-reel
.
It has been reissued on CD
at least twice
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
's fifth album to be released on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. It is a compilation album, collecting the best bits from the group's nationally syndicated radio program, also titled Dear Friends.
Side One - “A Properly Religious Opening”
- Toad Away – 3:19 - 12/9/70
- Sodom And Jubilee – 3:15 - 12/9/70
- Freezing Mr. Foster – 2:38 - 11/8/70
- I Was A Cock-Teaser For Roosterama! – 3:05 - 11/8/70
- Deputy Dan Has No Friends – 2:28 - 11/8/70
- The Someday Funnies – 1:56 - 1/10/71
- A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Inquisition – 1:42 - 10/18/70
Side Two - “The T.V. Set”
- The T.B. Guide – 5:50 - 11/1/70
- 40 Great Unclaimed Melodies! (Live From The Ash Grove 11/15/70) – 2:27 - 11/15/70
- The Chinchilla Show – 2:39 - 10/11/70
- Live From The Senate Bar (If You Call That Living) – 2:55 - 10/4/70
- Minority Street – 1:11 - 12/9/70
- Dr. Whiplash – 3:24 - 1/24/71
Side Three - “Animals Vegetables and Minerals”
- Echo Poem – 2:02 - 1/17/71
- The Small Animal Administration – 1:54 - 11/1/70
- The Giant Toad – 1:04 - 11/1/70
- The T.V. Glide – 3:34 - 12/9/71
- Balliol Bros. – 0:45 - 11/8/70
- Poop's Principles – 2:25 - 11/1/70
- International Youth-Sex On Parade – 1:41 - 10/18/70
- Brickbreaking – 2:03 - 1/24/71
- Coal! – 3:00 - 11/1/70
Side Four - “It's Sure Realistic!”
- Duke Of Madness Motors – 1:23 - 1/17/71
- Mark Time! – 3:52 - 11/1/70
- Driving For Dopers – 4:29 - 1/10/71
- Praise The Hoove! – 2:22 - 12/9/70
- Bob's Brazerko Lounge – 0:57 - 1/24/70
- $100.00 Ben – 3:19 - 1/24/70
- Sleep – 1:07 - 1/24/70
The dates following the track listing for the tracks on this album indicate the date of the live show at which this track was recorded.
Information about this LP
Between September 9, 1970 and February 17, 1971 The Firesign TheatreThe Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
performed a one hour live show on radio station KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
titled Dear Friends. These live shows were recorded by the group and then edited into a slightly shorter shows which the group syndicated to radio stations across the country on 12 inch white label LPs.
The group later collected what they thought were the best segments from the Dear Friends radio program
Dear Friends Radio Program (Firesign Theatre)
Between September 1970 and February 1971, The Firesign Theatre performed 21 episodes of a live radio program titled Dear Friends on KPFK radio in Los Angeles. These programs were recorded and later edited into one hour shows for national syndication....
and compiled this double album from those selections. The tracks on each side were selected thematically and each side was given its own sub-title.
Issues and reissues
This album was originally released simultaneously on LPGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, cassette, 8-track
8-track cartridge
Stereo 8, commonly known as the eight-track cartridge, eight-track tape, or simply eight-track, is a magnetic tape sound recording technology. It was popular in the United States from the mid-1960s through the late 1970s, but was relatively unknown in many European countries...
, and reel-to-reel
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording
Reel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
.
- LPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
- ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KG-31099 - Cassette - ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
GA-31099 - 8-Track8-track cartridgeStereo 8, commonly known as the eight-track cartridge, eight-track tape, or simply eight-track, is a magnetic tape sound recording technology. It was popular in the United States from the mid-1960s through the late 1970s, but was relatively unknown in many European countries...
- ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
GT-31099 - Reel-to-ReelReel-to-reel audio tape recordingReel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
- ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
GR-30199
It has been reissued on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
at least twice
- 1992 - Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-758 - 2001 - Laugh.com LGH1074
Personnel
- Firesign Theatre – Composer, Producer:
- Philip Austin – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Liner Notes
- Peter BergmanPeter BergmanPeter Bergman is an American soap opera actor best known for his portrayals as Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children, as well as Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless.-Biography:...
- David OssmanDavid OssmanDavid Ossman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre.-Career:...
– Percussion, Vocals, Liner Notes - Phil Proctor – Flute, Violin, Vocals, Liner Notes
- Phil Cross – Engineer
- Bill Driml – Engineer
- Vaughn "The Live Earl Jive" Filkins – Engineer, Improvisation
- John Fresno – Bass, Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
- Anne Garner – Cover Tinting
- Bill McIntyre – Producer
- John Rose – Photography
- Phil Yamamoto – Design, Photo Tinting