Dear Friends (Firesign Theatre album)

Dear Friends
Studio album by The Firesign Theatre
Released	1972
Recorded	September 1970 - February 1971
Genre	Comedy
Length	74:07
Label	Columbia
Producer	The Firesign Theatre
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The Firesign Theatre chronology
I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus (1971) Dear Friends (1972) Not Insane or Anything You Want To (1972)

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.

Track listing

All tracks by The Firesign Theatre

Side One - “A Properly Religious Opening”

1. Toad Away – 3:19 - 12/9/70
2. Sodom And Jubilee – 3:15 - 12/9/70
3. Freezing Mr. Foster – 2:38 - 11/8/70
4. I Was A Cock-Teaser For Roosterama! – 3:05 - 11/8/70
5. Deputy Dan Has No Friends – 2:28 - 11/8/70
6. The Someday Funnies – 1:56 - 1/10/71
7. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Inquisition – 1:42 - 10/18/70

Side Two - “The T.V. Set”

1. The T.B. Guide – 5:50 - 11/1/70
2. 40 Great Unclaimed Melodies! (Live From The Ash Grove 11/15/70) – 2:27 - 11/15/70
3. The Chinchilla Show – 2:39 - 10/11/70
4. Live From The Senate Bar (If You Call That Living) – 2:55 - 10/4/70
5. Minority Street – 1:11 - 12/9/70
6. Dr. Whiplash – 3:24 - 1/24/71

Side Three - “Animals Vegetables and Minerals”

1. Echo Poem – 2:02 - 1/17/71
2. The Small Animal Administration – 1:54 - 11/1/70
3. The Giant Toad – 1:04 - 11/1/70
4. The T.V. Glide – 3:34 - 12/9/71
5. Balliol Bros. – 0:45 - 11/8/70
6. Poop's Principles – 2:25 - 11/1/70
7. International Youth-Sex On Parade – 1:41 - 10/18/70
8. Brickbreaking – 2:03 - 1/24/71
9. Coal! – 3:00 - 11/1/70

Side Four - “It's Sure Realistic!”

1. Duke Of Madness Motors – 1:23 - 1/17/71
2. Mark Time! – 3:52 - 11/1/70
3. Driving For Dopers – 4:29 - 1/10/71
4. Praise The Hoove! – 2:22 - 12/9/70
5. Bob's Brazerko Lounge – 0:57 - 1/24/70
6. $100.00 Ben – 3:19 - 1/24/70
7. 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 Theatre 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.

Issues and reissues

This album was originally released simultaneously on LP, cassette, 8-track, and reel-to-reel.

• LP - Columbia KG-31099
• Cassette - Columbia GA-31099
• 8-Track - Columbia GT-31099
• Reel-to-Reel - Columbia GR-30199

It has been reissued on CD at least twice

• 1992 - Mobile Fidelity MFCD-758
• 2001 - Laugh.com LGH1074

Personnel

• Firesign Theatre – Composer, Producer:
• Philip Austin – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Liner Notes
• Peter Bergman
• David Ossman – 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

References

• Firesign Theatre. Dear Friends. Columbia Records, 1972.
• "FIREZINE: Linques!." Firesign Theatre FAQ. 23 January 2006 <http://firezine.net/faq/>.
• Marsh, Dave, and Greil Marcus. "The Firesign Theatre." The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Ed. Dave Marsh and John Swenson. New York: Random House, 1983. 175-176.
• Smith, Ronald L. The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide. Iola: Krause, 1996.