Fighting Clowns is a 1980 album by The Firesign Theatre

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...

. It is unique among Firesign Theatre albums by virtue of the fact that it is primarily made up of song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

s rather than the group's usual audio theater or sketch comedy

Sketch comedy

A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...

 pieces. Many of the songs on this album were recorded live in front of an audience while some of the songs and much of the linking material was recorded in the studio.

Side one

1. "The Bozos Song"
2. "The Four Gobs"
3. "The 8 Shoes"
4. "In The Hot Tub"
5. "Hey, Reagan"

Side two

1. "In The War Zone"
2. "Oh, Afghanistan"
3. "In The Alley"
4. "Violent Juvenile Freaks"
5. "In The Hot Tub Again"
6. "This Bus Won't Go To War"

Performers

• Phil Austin
  Phil Austin
  Phil Austin is a comedian and writer. He was born in Denver, Colorado and later grew up in Fresno, California, attending Fresno High School...
  
   — Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
• Peter Bergman
  Peter Bergman (comedian)
  Peter Paul Bergman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Lt. Bradshaw in the Nick Danger series....
  
   — Vocals
• David Ossman
  David Ossman
  David Ossman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre.-Career:...
  
   — Vocals
• Philip Proctor
  Philip Proctor
  Philip Proctor is an American actor, voice actor and a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Rocky Rococo and Nancy in the Nick Danger series. He is from Goshen, Indiana...
  
   — Vocals
• Richard Parker — Keyboards
• Jeff Baxter
  Jeff Baxter
  Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s...
  
   — Lead Guitar
• Tim Emmons — Bass
• Ed Roscetti — Drums
• John Mitchell — Tenor & Baritone Sax
• Dick Spencer — Alto Sax & Clarinet
• Richard Cooper — Trumpet

• Phil Hartman  Album Cover Illustration

Issues and reissues

There have been numerous issues and re-issues of this album (and excerpts from this album) in a variety of formats including a one-sided picture disc.

• LP - Rhino
  Rhino Entertainment
  Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
  
   RNLP-018 - 1980
• Cassette — Rhino RNC-018 - 1980
• Picture Disc — Rhino RNPD-904 - 1980
• CD Mobile Fidelity
  Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
  Mobile 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-748 - 1993
• CD Firesign Theatre Records (distributed through Whirlwind Media) - 2001
• CD Firesign Theatre Records / Lodestone Catalog 2006

Citations

1. Smith, Ronald L. The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide
   The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide
   The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide is a 1996 book by Ronald L. Smith. Smith, who has written several books about comedy recordings and comedians, offers 1996 market prices for hundreds of albums ranging in date from 1915-1996. Smith also includes biographical information about the artists...
   
   . Iola: Krause, 1996.
2. Carruthers, Sean. "Fighting Clowns > Overview." Allmusic. 04 Mar. 2006 .
3. Firesign Theatre. Fighting Clowns. Mobile Fidelity, 1993.

External links

• The Firesign Theatre's Official Website
• FIREZINE: Linques! (A Firesign Theatre FAQ)