Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs releases the Firesign Theatre album Dear Friends, a compilation of highlights of the radio comedy troupe’s stream-of-consciousness improvised radio shows of the same name originally broadcast in 1970 and ’71. 
This was my first real exposure to Firesign Theatre, and it’s still my favorite. In a way, though, it is a very misleading first date with these clowns, as it is a Pythonesque collection of improvised sketch comedy rather than the longform, very concentrated scripted comedy which is more common for the Firesigns. But if nothing else, Dear Friends demonstrates that the fellows may have missed their calling – their improvisational skills are to the fore on this album, and the shortness of the chunks of material is welcome. I can’t speak highly enough for this wonderful morsel of insanity.
written by and starring Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Phil Proctor and David Ossman
- Toad Away (3:20)
- Sodom and Jubilee (3:15)
- Freezing Mr. Foster (2:38)
- I Was a Cock-Teaser for Roosterama! (3:05)
- Deputy Dan Has No Friends (2:28)
- The Someday Funnies (1:56)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Inquisition (1:40)
- The T.B. Guide (5:54)
- 40 Great Unclaimed Melodies! (2:27)
- The Chinchilla Show (2:39)
- Live from the Senate Bar (if you call that living!) (2:55)
- Minority Street (1:11)
- Dr. Whiplash (3:24)
- Echo Poem (2:02)
- The Small Animal Administration (1:54)
- The Giant Toad (1:04)
- The T.V. Glide (3:34)
- Balliol Bros. (0:45)
- Poop’s Principles (2:29)
- International Youth-Sex on Parade (1:40)
- Brickbreaking (2:04)
- Coal! (3:03)
- Duke of Madness Motors (1:24)
- Mark Time! (3:54)
- Driving for Dopers (4:31)
- Praise the Hoove! (2:23)
- Bob’s Brazerko Lounge (0:59)
- $100.00 Ben (3:21)
- Sleep… (1:09)
Released by: Mobile Fidelity
Release date: 1972
Total running time: 73:08
1999 audio review by Earl Green