Radio Theatre

Radio Theatre

Radio Theatre

ASIN: B000008K0A

Track Listings
 
1. Scene
2. Riders Radio Theme
3. Chant of the Wanderer
4. Udder Butter on a Rope
5. Trail Traffic Report
6. Sagebrush Sports Report
7. Cattle Call
8. Bio Feedbag
9. Trail Traffic Update
10. Call of the Wild
11. Triple X Stock Report
12. Sundown Blues
13. Riders Radio Theme (Reprise)
14. Pops
15. Saddle Whiz
16. Meltdown on the Mesa
17. So Long Saddle Pals
18. Long Shot

Radio Theatre,Riders in the Sky,Mca,Childrens,Country,Cowboy,Traditional Country,Western Swing Revival
Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • More coffee, warden?
  • functiional brain required
  • Hubba hubba George, what a suit!
  • On a Scale of 1 to 5, This is a 27!
  • Everything You Know Is Wrong
 Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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  1. How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
  2. Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
  3. I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus
  4. Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death
  5. The Bride of Firesign

ASIN: B00005T7IS
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

  1. This Side
  2. The Other Side

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars More coffee, warden?.......2007-05-13

If you have time for only one Firesign album before you die, make sure it's this one. A prescient, strangely psychedelic (no drugs involved) dissection of America & life in general that will leave you awake all night wondering about who or what's really in charge of this whole peculiar shebang anyway? But of course all their albums are like that. Must be those Canadian writers. The Firesign Theater is the closest thing America ever had to Monty Python, and we owe them a LOT for holding up an unflinching mirror to our loony culture.

5 out of 5 stars functiional brain required.......2007-03-31

this is possibly the best comedy cd of all time. if one wishes to experience a delightful active mental journey as opposed to a more passive "the guy tells a joke and i listen to it" comedy club performance, this is the correct choice.
if you don't have the adventure gene in your body, you might find the performance to be scattered, difficult to follow, and more weird than funny.
one more thing. don't try to listen to this while driving. you will either miss the good stuff on the cd, or miss something important on the road. it would be a waste either way.

5 out of 5 stars Hubba hubba George, what a suit!.......2006-08-28

Firesign Theater has been dismissed as a 60s relic, but listening to DCTD,HMTP repeatedly made me realize it's about the members' nostalgia for the pop culture of their childhood (the Henry Aldrich radio series, Archie comics, Korean War B-movies, etc.)rather than drugs and hippies. Little wonder that at the end of the second side, George Tirebiter reverts to a child running after an ice cream truck. It's also incredibly funny and compulsively quotable, their best sustained effort.

5 out of 5 stars On a Scale of 1 to 5, This is a 27!.......2006-08-14

Being their third release, and the first three albums being their tightest work, Dwarf is often misunderstood. Disjointed snippets? Not in the slightest! Dwarf is the story of an aging George Leroy Tirebiter sitting in front of the television, flipping through the channels only to find each station is showing a story about different phases of his life (complete with commercials). I'm uncertain if George was about to die and this is how his life flashed before his eyes. Regardless, this fine piece of work is often quoted, including an apartment complex near a freeway in Indianapolis posting a sign stating, "If you lived here, you'd be home now." Some material has dated better than other, but still an album that bears repeated listening in order to "catch" half of the jokes, puns, and one-liners that are woven into the text of the album. Buy this album, it is a requirement of the (aptly named) Department of Redundancy Department.

4 out of 5 stars Everything You Know Is Wrong.......2006-07-15

OK. For the uninitiated, apologies for the arcane Firesign reference in the title. As for Dwarf, this is a fabulous CD. It is funny. It is smart. It is subtle. It is stupid. It is arcane. It is endlessly self-referential. It is nonsense.

Here's the problem with translating Dwarf to 21st century sensibilities: nobody has the time to figure out a 45-minute comedy routine that requires repeated listening. And yes, it requires figuring out.

I love this material, as obviously dated as it is. But if you don't have the patience to go with it, if you're looking for easy laughs, it's probably not for you. If you loved it once and aren't sure if you're going to love it again, you might find it ages as well for you as Pixie Stix. (Gak.) But if you got below the surface the first time, or you're willing to spend time with it now, go for it. Go back and don't crush that dwarf one more time.

And just for the record, it would've been five stars--if only this weren't a CD. Part of the original joke was the vinyl medium.
How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • another classic firesign theatre
  • Masters of Their Universal Whatchamacallit !
  • I like this record as much as my dad did.
  • Clever and intellegent.
  • Orgin of the high test sales pitch
 How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
  2. Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
  3. I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus
  4. Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death
  5. The Bride of Firesign

ASIN: B00005T7K4
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

  1. The Ralph Spoilsport Mantrum
  2. Zeno's Evil
  3. The Land Of The Pharoahs
  4. Vacancy - No Vacancy
  5. The Lonesome American Choo-Choo Don' Wan' Stop Here Any Mo'
  6. Babes In Khaki
  7. TV Or Not TV
  8. The Further Adventures Of Nick Danger

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars another classic firesign theatre.......2007-07-09

If you are not familiar with these guys, they are a irrational comedy group that played on the radio in the late sixties(?) Therefore they lend themselves well to audio cd. You got to imagine these guys were smoking the good stuff when they wrote these albums. It takes a little concentration to catch all that is going on, but it absolutley hilarious and well written and performed. If you like this one,order the others...have an adult beverage or two or whatever and temporarily enter the world of firesign theatre. You'll want to share with your friends.

5 out of 5 stars Masters of Their Universal Whatchamacallit !.......2007-04-25

Dear Friends, in the long time ago a quad of superior beings from the Dogstar left their humor, in the form of
insight, funny names, scatological jokes and drug references on vinyl in an abandoned auto in East LA. This is
not that collection.

This is a magical journey through American history, F Scott Fitzgerald, Jack Poetland and Raymond Chandler-
on acid. It is addictive, it is tobacco, it is powerful comedy that will infest your dreams, your speech patterns
and make your common-law family members consider you "weird!".

Beware but taste the rapture. This is Book 2, Sides 3 & 4 of the Book of Firesign-CONSUME !

4 out of 5 stars I like this record as much as my dad did........2007-02-03

When I was a child, my father and his brother used to listen to this record all the time. I thought it was sort of amusing then, but he insisted that it would be much funnier when I got older, and that it got funnier to him every time he heard it.

I didn't understand that logic then. I get it now.

On the surface, "How Can You Be Two Places At Once" is genuinely funny comedy, but with every additional listen, it actually gets funnier. Their are subtle jokes laced within jokes throughout the record, my favorite of which is a pizza order attempt in one skit that is tied into the Nick Danger piece later on.

Also, "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger," the longest installment of this character on record, is over 12 minutes of absolute rediculousness, in the best possible way.

Although some bits are less funny for those such as myself, who weren't alive when it was recorded, it is an excellent buy. I recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars Clever and intellegent........2006-07-17

This is one of the group's best efforts. The Nick Danger Skit IMHO is a classic. Also is Ralph's Spoiled Sport Motors.

4 out of 5 stars Orgin of the high test sales pitch.......2006-02-19

Firesign Theatre makes you believe that "zany" is the color of modern life. This album is a brilliant and funny mix of overlapping realities (much like life). I heard it 30 years ago and it's just as bizarre and entertaining today.
Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Turn off your mind
  • Nice Paisley Horsie
  • Best Firesign performance ever BUT BEWARE...
  • Eastern Europe: Home of Your Inner Child!
  • Good Stuff!
 Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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  5. The Bride of Firesign

ASIN: B00005T7K3
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

  1. Temporarily Humboldt County
  2. W.C. Fields Forever
  3. Le Trente-Huit Cunegonde
  4. Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Turn off your mind.......2007-06-30

Turn off your mind relax and float downstream. Entertainment for the mentaly enhanced. The words describe the words as you find a dark room and a few hours with the phone unplugged and doors locked. The fine woven gears of Firesign theatre transport you to forbidden places and celestial visons.

WARNING::::
When played backwards you will see God.. Mirror required incense and padded cell optional. Management not responsible for lost mental abilities.

5 out of 5 stars Nice Paisley Horsie.......2006-06-21

I remember listening to "Waiting for the Electrician" when it came out. Earphones. Sunshine LSD. What's not to like. I lost my vinyl of all the Firesign guys and got replacements recently. Listening 38 years later, it has excatly the same effect. Must be flashbacks. Satire is beyond time. Each self standing one act play defines the language of the piece so that the 60's and 70's lingua via is accessible. The title auditory show is more powerful now than then because they got it all right.

5 out of 5 stars Best Firesign performance ever BUT BEWARE..........2006-04-13

For those of you who know and loved this originally as an LP, you will be disappointed to learn that sony messed up the remix BIG TIME by deleting important dialog at the beginning of the second side of the album (of course, on the cd it would be the second segment). The beginning of the second side IS CRITICAL to the subject of the performance and as best as I can recall, should have begun something like this:

"Welcome to side 4. Please follow along as we learn 3 new words in Turkish.
Towel, Bath, Border...may I see your passport please..." ...
(someone could please tweak this for I know this is not EXACTLY the dialog).

Anyway, you get the idea. The beginning is suppose to be as if you were listening to one of those "Berlitz" language records. Just wish/ hope sony would rectify this REAL SOON!

4 out of 5 stars Eastern Europe: Home of Your Inner Child!.......2005-08-18

Oh - it's the Ice Show!

The spy has been in deep cover behind the Iron Curtain. He has just received his hurried direction in clipped sentences, has checked into the Hotel Kafka, and has been intercepted, probed, scoffed at, ignored, and wiretapped.

Then for no reason at all, he goes through a door, and is on the ice at the Berlibber Ice Palatz, to see the Gunatzis Brothers, Hans and Junni, shoot it out with weapons of increasing caliber and fierceness...

It was their first album, and thus one of their more transparent. But side two (sorry, Side Five), remains a masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars Good Stuff!.......2005-08-04

This is one, if not my favorite of the Firesign I've listened to. If you like history you'll love this one. And if you don't, no problem, you'll still get a kick out of it. Lots of great lines, word play and sound effects. A must have!
I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • From one Bozo to another
  • Fudd's Law
  • Stuck in my head
  • Standard Firesign Fare
  • Fourth Firesign album
 I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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  1. Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
  2. How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
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  4. Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death
  5. The Bride of Firesign

ASIN: B00005T7IT
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Tracks:

  1. Side .001
  2. Side .002

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars From one Bozo to another.......2007-05-15

I heard this one back in 1977 - 78. It brings back a lot of great memories. At that time, the use of Stereo and special sound effects is what made Firesign Theatre so unique and funny. You can close your eyes and be right in the middle of the action. I recommed it to help relief some stress.

4 out of 5 stars Fudd's Law.......2006-10-19

The first side/track of this album is hilarious, but it starts to slacken a little on side/track 2, because the material is more suited to visual than aural presentation. Recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Stuck in my head.......2005-09-12

I don't think I've heard this album from top to bottom in 20 years but barely a week goes by when some line or other from it doesn't pass through my head and often out my mouth without my even realizing the source. Firesign's take on the "Brave New World" future was--like nearly everything they've done--a bit too accurate as prophesy. The world we live in today, from Bush to Wal-Mart to Prozac to what today is the anniversary of, comes straight out of this album and it's a wonder back then that more of us didn't see this as inevitable. This work predates a movie actor as President by many years; Arnold as governor of California was a foregone conclusion to these guys in 1970; Most cable TV and film look like Firesign pieces.

Some smart arse once said that in decadent and declining times the only job left for intelligent people to do is satire. No, this album isn't a laugh riot, and it's not intended to be. It's a very humorous, witty, and often brilliant commentary on the end of an era. This group will be remembered in the distant future as one of the best chroniclers of the Fall.

4 out of 5 stars Standard Firesign Fare.......2005-08-04

Probably the geekiest of the Firesign material I've listened to. The story line has a futuristic setting, so computers, holograms and such play a role. While not quite up to pare with "Everything you know is wrong", its interesting and should be part of every Firesign fan's collection.

4 out of 5 stars Fourth Firesign album.......2004-11-15

Most Firesign albums, and especially this one, are layer-ed and require multiple listenings to actually understand the plot. I cannot agree more with the reviewer who said that their albums play out like movies.

I tried this album out on a friend yesterday. I tried to get him into Monty Python by buying him their albums 2-4. I t didn't really work. Then I tried Cheech and Chong because who doesn't understand their plots. That pretty much worked. Then I tried this album. We listened to 7 minutes of the first side and all of side two. He didn't really laugh much, and being a 14 year old, and not to mature, he stop really paying attention. Maybe I should just give up.

As for the album, it's pretty confusing the first time (like all the Firesign work) but overall the 2nd side is much better than the first. Ther first one isn't really trying to be funny, but I use some of the computer- President's ramblings for my away messages. Ovrall, not as good as the first 3 but right behind them. Now, I have to get "EYKIW".
The Great War: Classical And Popular Selections From The Time Of World War I (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Music and the Great War
  • How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War
  • Excellent Recording!
  • Good music, bad title
 The Great War: Classical And Popular Selections From The Time Of World War I (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

SeptetsSeptets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BergAll Works by Berg | Berg, Alban | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by CoplandAll Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ElgarAll Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Ravel, MauriceRavel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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All Works by StraussAll Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by StravinskyAll Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by DebussyAll Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000HXKX
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

  1. Military March No. 1 In D Major, Op. 39: Pomp Ad Circumstance
  2. Waltz Fom Der Rosenkavalier Suite
  3. 'Von der Schonheit' From Das Lied von der Erde
  4. 'De l'aube a midi sur la mer' From La Mer
  5. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 'Classical Symphony': III. Gavotta. Non troppo allegro
  6. L'histoire du soldat Suite - IV. The Royal March
  7. L'histoire du soldat Suite - V. The Little Concert
  8. Le tombeau de Couperin - V. Menuet
  9. Le tombeau de Couperin - VI. Toccata
  10. Sinfonia From Pulcinella Suite
  11. Walzer From Funf Klavierstucke, Op. 23
  12. Interlude From Wozzeck, Act III
  13. Prologue From Music Ffor The Theatre
  14. 'Shine On Harvest Moon'
  15. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' - Irving Berlin
  16. 'Over There'
  17. 'How You Gonna Keep'em Down On The Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?'
  18. 'The Man I Love' From Stride Up The Band
  19. 'West End Blues'

Amazon.com

The first two-thirds of this disc is a fascinating cram course in concert music around the time of World War I. The programmer has put together some fascinating juxtapositions--for example, Strauss's Rosenkavalier leads almost seamlessly into Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, and Schoenberg sounds out of context with everybody (including Berg). The selections are all short, and performance quality runs from great to mediocre, but this is still a thought-provoking educational experience, even though Bartók and Ives are conspicuously missing. The popular selections are less interesting, often campy, and although vintage recordings are used, they aren't always the right vintage. And someone missed a point by separating Copland's jazzy "Music for the Theatre" from Louis Armstrong, who could have followed immediately. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Music and the Great War.......2007-05-14

This is a fascinating compendium of popular and classical music from the World War One period. It evokes all the turmoil, anguish, and also humor, of the age, and is a vital CD to own if you have an interest in the Great War and the music it inspired or was inspired by.

5 out of 5 stars How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War.......2005-10-29

War. Tough subject these days - tough subject since the beginning of time. Yet Americans tend to mend wounds and gradually allow the atrocities of yesteryear to fade into coated cases that signal more memories of 'how things used to be' rather than learning from the tragedies with which war has scarred the planet. National Public Radio issued this excellent memoir at the turn of the millennium and one wonders if it now has the same response that greeted it in 1999.

Linda Kobler reconstituted this mix of classical and popular music with a keen sense of history. The CD is twice divided (in both the classical and the popular music) into 'Before the War' 1901 - 1917, 'During the War' 1917 - 1922, and 'After the War' 1922 - 1928. In the first era are the works of Elgar ('Pomp and Circumstance'), Strauss (a waltz from 'Der Rosenkavalier'), Mahler (excerpt from 'Das Lied von der Erde'), and Debussy ('La Mer') joining the songs 'Shine On Harvest Moon' and 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. The War period is represented by Prokofiev's 'Symphony No. 1', Stravinsky's 'L'histoire du soldat', and Ravel's 'Le tombeau de Couperin' in tandem with 'Over There'. After the war include Stravinsky ('Pulcinella Suite'), Schoenberg (Waltz from 'Five Piano Pieces'), Berg (excerpt from 'Wozzeck') and Copland ('Music from the Theatre') with popular songs 'How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm', 'The Man I Love', and 'West End Blues'.

The excerpts selected for this survey are exceptionally good: orchestras include NY Phil, LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra, London Symphony, and the Columbia Symphony under such batons a Ormandy, Bernstein, Salonen, Tilson Thomas, Schippers and Stravinsky; soloists include Glen Gould, Robert Casadesus, Lili Chookaskian, Louis Armstrong, et al. The sonics are very fine and the performances are each from significant full recordings remaining in the catalogue.

The booklet accompanying this concert of memories is written by Linda Kobler who uses each selection as a pivotal point in the atmosphere of the globe that accompanied the Great War: it is very well written and informative. This is one of those recorded collections that goes far beyond an accumulation of bits and pieces and instead gives food for thought about how our political and social actions intertwine with the arts in a prophetic way. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Recording!.......1999-03-13

(It was called The "Great" War, because nobody knew about WWII at the time and it was the biggest war anyone had ever seen.)

I think this CD may be a bit choppy to "easy" listeners, but for anyone who has a sincere interest in delving into the musical senses of earlier generations it's VERY good! I recommend the entire NPR Milestones of the Millennium series to such aficionados.

5 out of 5 stars Good music, bad title.......1999-02-11

Since when is war great? Life in the trenches waiting for the germans to attack you worrying about whether mustard gas is gonna loft your way isn't exactly like sipping chablis.
Shoes For Industry! The Best Of The Firesign Theatre
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • What Kind of A Chump Do You Take Me For?
  • He's no fun - he fell right over
  • Pass this by-get the uncut albums here & at laugh.com!
  • Clever, but not very funny
  • Dogged nerve and rubber determination
 Shoes For Industry! The Best Of The Firesign Theatre
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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  5. Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death

ASIN: B0000028OU
Release Date: 1993-09-07

Tracks:

  1. Temporarily Humbolt County
  2. Beat The Reaper!
  3. I Was A Cock-Teaser For Roosterama!
  4. Ralph Spoilsport Motors
  5. The American Pageant
  6. The Chinchilla Show
  7. The Further Adventures Of Nick Danger
  8. Stab From The Past
  9. Ersatz Bros. Coffee
  10. 'High School Madness!'
  11. Napalmolive
  12. Shoes For Industry!
  13. 40 Great Unclaimed Melodies!
  14. Station Break

Tracks:

  1. Forward Into The Past
  2. The Holygram's Song (Back From The Shadows Again)
  3. The Breaking Of The President
  4. Deputy Dan Has No Friends
  5. La Bomba Shelter
  6. Young Guy, Motor Detective
  7. Toad Away
  8. Not Quite The Solution He Expected
  9. Bear Whiz Beer
  10. Happy Hour News
  11. The Golden Hind
  12. The Army Training Film
  13. Police Street
  14. Communist Love Song
  15. C'mon Jesus
  16. Nasi Goring
  17. Give Up This Day

Amazon.com

Take some remarkably prescient plotting (1974's Everything You Know Is Wrong works as a parody of today's paranormal craze) and add absurdist wordplay ("May I take your hat and goat?"). Factor in a fertile social and political milieu courtesy of always-good-for-a-yuck Richard Nixon (like our erstwhile president, they began campaigning in late '67 and by '74 were truly hysterical, albeit in a profoundly puzzling manner). Voil&aagrave; The Firesign Theater, the only comedy group that took full advantage of the recording studio and the long-play record (they aspired to be the Beatles of comedy, but it was the Beatles of "Revolution 9," not "Love Me Do"). Here is the fundamental overview of humorists who made mirth "with your mind in mind." --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars What Kind of A Chump Do You Take Me For?.......2005-09-20

"First class."

It goes without saying that any attempt to do a "best of" Firesign Theatre is going to disappoint someone, as the reviews here indicate. But, let's face it: the culture's attention span keeps getting shorter and shorter.

Firesign's oblique references and literary depth are not for everyone. The rewards of listening to their work are not unlike reading James Joyce. In addition to the sheer musicality of their work itself, they delight in language and obscure references. And, as they say in a cut here, you have to understand how radio works: audio-only feed stimulates centers of the brain which create imagery.

OK - take the Firesign test: get this CD and then wait for some long trip in a car when it's dark out. Preferably on a fairly deserted road; at least try for easily-flowing traffic.

Pop it on and, if you're not completely satisfied, it's because you did not buy the whole versions of these inimitable classix...

3 out of 5 stars He's no fun - he fell right over.......2002-09-24

I have heard (and commited to memory) pretty much everything Firesign ever did and it's a shame to excerpt it. Don't be cheap. Buy them all and in order. Listen in order. You would not read the last book in a series first, would you? Picking bits and pieces of Firesign is the equivalent of reading the last page first.

I am waiting for "The Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra" now that I have read the entirety of Sir A.Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. Giant Rat was excellent before but now I expect it to be even richer.

Do what I say: I'm not hotdoggin' ya.

2 out of 5 stars Pass this by-get the uncut albums here & at laugh.com!.......2001-12-14

Make no mistake about it: the Firesign Theatre are brilliant. Then you may ask, why do you rate this CD only two stars? Well, they're so brilliant that it does them quite an injustice to clip excerpts of their classic albums (which were all conceived to be whole, full-length pieces) and construct a "greatest hits" from them. Taken as small pieces, these cuts, while still very funny, aren't quite as amazing as they would be if heard within the context of the album from whence they came. Until recently, nearly all of the Firesign's classic LPs/CDs were out-of-print and this collection was the best you could do if you wanted to hear stuff from their "golden" age. But now, the first four albums ("Waiting for the Electrician...," "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once...," "Don't Crush That Dwarf...," and "I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus")have been re-released on CD by Sony Legacy and the other titles from their '70s heyday ("Not Insane," "Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra," "Everything You Know Is Wrong," & "In the Next World, You're On Your Own") - not previously available on CD - have been re-released exclusively through laugh.com. Get those instead. They're all great and, to re-iterate, these mere "pieces" make much more sense when heard along with the "greater puzzle." The only cuts this collection offers which are not available anywhere else are some bits from their now-out-of-print collection of bits from their old, live radio show, "Dear Friends," and a couple of things from their "solo" albums (recordings consisting of only one or two of the members). So, unless your a real completist, pass this title by and acquire the complete, uncut albums from this site or laugh.com.

1 out of 5 stars Clever, but not very funny.......2001-12-05

This album was my first exposure to Firesign Theatre after hearing about them from many friends. A "best of" collection seemed a good start. Alas, I was disappointed. While some of their wordplay was quite clever, none of the first CD was *funny*. Perhaps it has nostalgia value for some, but for a thirty-something like myself, give me Monty Python or Tom Leaher any day over these guys.

4 out of 5 stars Dogged nerve and rubber determination.......2001-07-10

That most of their Columbia work is out of print while the mediocre latter day Rhino CDs are readily available is a disgrace. That far too much of the unlistenable solo stuff is included here - - - to the exclusion of many other fine bits - - - is a shame. Still, this is essential comedy, a sampling of the most ambitious group of laffmakers in history. Not as consistent as Monty Python, but easier to take over repeated listening, because the stuff is so damned layered and rich. This will tide you over until someone reissues more of the complete albums, or until free hands on both sides of the big ditch can press the same button at the same time.
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I waited for this for five years
  • Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE!
  • ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS
  • SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!
  • A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans
 Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
  2. The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
  3. Evita (Original London Cast)
  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
  5. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masterpiece (Collector's Edition) (Bonus CD)

ASIN: B00005R5UJ
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

  1. Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  2. Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
  3. Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
  4. Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
  5. Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
  6. Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
  7. Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
  8. Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
  9. Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
  10. Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
  11. Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
  12. Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
  13. Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
  14. Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
  15. Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
  16. Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
  17. Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
  18. Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
  19. Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  20. Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tracks:

  1. Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
  2. Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
  3. Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
  4. Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
  5. Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
  6. Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
  7. Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
  8. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
  9. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
  10. The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
  11. The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  12. The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
  13. The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
  14. Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
  15. Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
  16. Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
  17. Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
  18. Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
  19. Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman

Tracks:

  1. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
  2. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
  3. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
  4. By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
  5. By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
  6. By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
  7. Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
  8. Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
  9. Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
  10. Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
  11. Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
  12. Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
  13. Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
  14. Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
  15. Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
  16. The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  17. The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
  18. The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
  19. The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
  20. The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir

Tracks:

  1. Oh What A Circus - David Essex
  2. Memory - Betty Buckley
  3. The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
  4. All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
  5. Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
  6. Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
  7. Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
  8. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
  9. The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
  10. With One Look - Petula Clark
  11. You Must Love Me - Madonna
  12. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
  13. A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
  14. Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
  15. No Matter What - Boyzone
  16. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
  17. Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
  18. Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

  1. Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
  2. Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
  3. I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
  4. Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
  5. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
  6. Try It And See - Rita Pavone
  7. Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
  8. Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
  9. John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
  10. What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
  11. Disillusion Me - Gary Band
  12. The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
  13. Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
  14. It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
  15. It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
  16. Magdalena - Tony Christie
  17. Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
  18. Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  19. Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
  20. I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
  21. I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
  22. Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers

Album Description

Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and Dance

Disc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love

Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game

CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church

Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30

Between Amazone, Ebay and Napster, I don't usually buy CDs anymore, and I usually wait till I can buy them cheaper "new and used". When this set came out, I was excited, mainly by Disc 5, but wasn't going to spend $70 on it. I waited till it was cheap enough, and got it for Father's day this year.
It was worth the wait.

The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.

I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.

There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."

But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.

First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.

Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?

On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?

The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).

There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.

With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?

Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.

In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10

Please beware they made a mistake on this. It's actually the shortened Ray Shell version of STARLIGHT EXPRESS from the original 1984 London cast - NOT the El Debarge single from 1987 like it says on the box. I don't know how they let that goof pass. Sorry to Ray Shell. Having said that, this is an outstanding compilation of Lloyd Webber's greatest hits.

4 out of 5 stars ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21

Regardless of the fact that some of his latest efforts (most notably, The Woman in White) are disappointing, there can be little doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the greatest composers ever to work in the musical theatre. Ever since his "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the stage in the early 70-is, it was clear that the conception and perception of musicals are never going to be the same again. Many of his songs became standards not only in the theatre history, but also as tops on the charts. Even though he's British, his influence on the shape of the modern musical theatre expanded over the West End boundaries long ago and has thus made an enormous impact on Broadway. Two of his shows ("Cats" and "The phantom of the opera") hold the record as two the longest running shows in the history of Broadway. He has also been the only composer to have three of his shows running at Broadway concurrently. Some of his awards include three Grammies, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a bunch of Tony awards. But perhaps most of all, Lloyd Webber is responsible for bringing the musicals and the theatre appealing to the wide audiences, who in different circumstances would not consider seeing a musical. The secret of his success is probably the mixture of beautiful and catchy melodies, interesting subject matter (though some, like Starlight Express, are too thin) and grandiose staging.

Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.

Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:

* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.

* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.

* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.

* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.

* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.


Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.

5 out of 5 stars SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19

"Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.

4 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21

This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
The Bride of Firesign
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Note for newcomers
  • Retro Recapture
  • Sweet misery of wife alas I've lost you.
  • Buy This Record Or We'll Shoot This Dog!
  • A postmodern return to classic (and yet new) material
 The Bride of Firesign
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Rhino RecordsRhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
  2. How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
  3. All Things Firesign
  4. Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
  5. Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death

ASIN: B00005NQK4
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Tracks:

  1. Pulling It Off As A Man
  2. Whaz Reeaal!
  3. Nick Danger's 'L-O-S-T G-A-L-S'
  4. The Bride Stripped Bare
  5. Low-Glow Land
  6. Xeno's Paradise
  7. The Haystack In The Needle
  8. Dr. Fireside's Plastic Beauty Saloon
  9. The Graverobber's Roadshow

Amazon.com

During the freewheeling 1960s, the Firesign Theatre's brand of surreal, stream-of-consciousness humor was as much a part of the psychedelic landscape as acid rock. Blending puns, non sequiturs, and literary allusions, the heady and often absurd narratives were rife with multiple interpretations, depending on the listener's degree of altered consciousness. Bride of Firesign reunites the original members--Phillip Austin, Phillip Proctor, David Ossman, and Peter Bergman--in a program equally divided between "Something Old, Something Nude" and "Something Buried, Something Rude." The first section brings back Firesign Theatre stalwart Nick Danger in a noirish, tongue-in-cheek "L-O-S- T G-A-L-S" and opens with a lengthy paean to the male appendage, entitled "Pulling It Off As a Man," which accounts for the parental advisory warning. The second section takes on contemporary subjects like biogenetics and stem-cell research, giving them an appropriately ghoulish and paranoid spin on "Dr. Fireside's Plastic Beauty Saloon" and "Low-Glow Land." The Firesign Theatre's gift for creating offbeat characters expounding absurdist points-of-view is as evident as ever, though their radio-show format necessarily relegates them to another era. --Wally Shoup

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Note for newcomers.......2005-09-08

As the gentleman below sez, don't start here. Also, don't get too caught up in that "hippie" thing. The only thing hippies discovered was amnesia. Folks sometimes forget history existed before hippies--there were plenty of cool, weird, creative people before the Summer of Love and many of them belonged to no known trend. Firesign vibes heavily and purposefully off of Ernie Kovacs, the Goon Show, Mad Magazine, and ESPECIALLY Bob and Ray who are gods to those who love radio wackiness, and a lot of pre-flower power humor that was often more bizarre than anything some pack of potheads could ever come up with. Few have any concept of how utterly kooky creative people could be pre-1967. Think of Tex Avery or the Marx Brothers or Salvador Dali, or look up some of the stuff Ward Kimball did for Disney in the 50's, then think of a roomful of giggling stoners with crayons. See what I mean? There are good arguments (good arguments, not necessarily popular arguments) that the hippie years actually represent a serious decline in quality of creative weirdness and creativity as a whole. Criticism barely existed and standards were astonishingly low. Think of all that hippie art that eventually (and effortlessly)morphed into crappy New Age art--dude, it's like this, uh, celestial pyramid with this, like, energy aura around it radiating peace and love to the whole planet, man. That sort of thing.

I write this because although many have a certain nostalgia for those ancient times of sitting around the dorm late at night stoned to the gills and listening to Firesign Theatre, the group's work is far more timeless and universal than any of those retro allusions would indicate. (Actually all the hippies I knew back then didn't like Firesign but the Physics grad students loved them). This isn't Cheech and Chong. If anything, they have the feel of cubist Shakespeare--the Bard would've loved these guys.

4 out of 5 stars Retro Recapture.......2005-08-21

The essence of Firesign's appeal was a lampoon of the era that preceded the one of their greatest popularity: the hippie time.

Now we make fun of the hippie era. Where does that leave Firesign Theatre?

Why, this album explains it perfectly. In response to sentimental pent-up demand, we realize that we've become the thing we were satirizing, and dive right into the pool. Shameless and commercial as anything.

Is it good? Well, you be the judge. I thought it was a rehash, certainly not real original, and not terribly funny. But it's sure nice to see the boys again; it's been such a long exposition, you know.

5 out of 5 stars Sweet misery of wife alas I've lost you........2005-06-30

Review of the Bride of Firesign, 5 stars, meaning "If you like clowning around and aren't afraid of "cloning around" then you MUST buy Bride of Firesign." But what of clones. First, you must realise there is a "bawdy" track at the start of the album, which might have been better at the end of the album, as a reprise take off on "live" appearances by the funny four, like at the end of How Can You Be, etc...., fans know, maybe you don't, or aren't yet, however, Bride of Firesign will turn you into a Firesign fan, and, although it seems a trifle self conscious from a writer's standpoint, borrowing from past work and cloning your own characters into spinoffs of their former adventures, that's what Firesign fans have requested and demanded, and they won't be disappointed to find that this album, Bride of Firesign, revives many of the Firesign Theatre standards, and in a very conscious effort NOT TO LOSE the original savoire faire of the first effort, you hear me, Waiting For the Electrician Or Someone Like Him. Bride takes off like a rocket to the top of the charts, in comic composition, in my opinion, after the "adult" intro sketch, where the reality shows of the present day, like Survivor, are left tossed into the mud with a tribute to sex manuals around a lonely campfire, "Pass me the talking stick it's my turn.", hilarious, and so true. Porgy and Mutthead are grown up and virtual at the second track, and later also, on this album, this COMEDY album. They are in their, er Porgie's, swell virtual room at his apartment and living the driving life of those two roadsters, Sal and Dean, from Jack Kerouacs 'On the Road'. Coincidently, as a suggestion, if anyone from their production company is listening, they do "On the Road" very well, and ought to compile an album of more "Road" moments, like with Jon Kerry at the wheel and young guy George Bush, his companion touring America for all its worth. It's like Thelma and Louise for men, yet far more insightful than just driving along and pondering the swift plunge off the edge of the canyon. Back to "Bride of Firesign". Bride of Firesign turns into a Nick Danger Detective Adventure right in front of the two pals Porgie and Mutthead as they view this album on a virtual computer worthy of Ray Bradbury, the science fiction genius. You can even visit Radio Now with out leaving this album, right along with "Driver Porgie and Driver (Mutt) Head." Yes, old fans and new fans and even curiosity seekers who want to, perhaps, NEED, to laugh at old CBS comedians who can't click their ruby red slippers and return home again will enjoy Bride of Firesign. And remember, it's the best, perhaps the ONLY, now that I think of it, Firesign Theatre album you would not be surprised to find being sold at one of those porno book and movie and adult sex toy stores along with Debbie Does Dallas, or I Am Curious, Yellow, or Blue. It is adult. So is wearing a tee shirt that says, Dude your Mom is HOT!, or WILD THING. That doesn't make it bad or sad, just, "unfamiliar" perhaps, or overly familiar, but does it really breed contempt? NO! Pass me the talking Dick, er STICK. The Firesign Theatre has come full circle on Bride of Firesign. In a nice way, I mean, my little man. You are all grown up now. I could cry, but I'm too mature for tears right now. It isn't just welcome to the future, it IS the future, right now. As Rocky Rococo, who is in this story might say, "Look into my EYE, you must have your friends and this album too!"

5 out of 5 stars Buy This Record Or We'll Shoot This Dog!.......2002-03-17

...So here's the deal. Yes, they basically take existing characters and put them in new situations. Yes, the first segment (a satire of the Men's Movement, by the way) was a surprise the first time. And... it all works! It's freakin' hilarious!

They obviously knew what they were doing when not creating all brand new characters, and don't be concerned about them reaching a creative dead-end, as opined by some reviewers herein. Remember, Give Me Immortality introduced a whole new set of folks in a format that is extremely flexible (yes, I know Ralph Spoilsport isn't new...), and that was just 2 years ago.

You'll love things like the Mobius Strip, Unca Pharoah's, a club called The Haystack in a building called The Needle (666 stories tall? Interesting reference). Porge and Mud are at it again, but they aren't the main thrust here.

Very well done. And, nice liner notes from the troup.

4 out of 5 stars A postmodern return to classic (and yet new) material.......2002-01-15

Very aptly named. This one is a real treat for the serious die-hard FST fans in particular, as this album references many of their earlier works, often in amazingly subtle ways (i.e. sometimes a single word or phrase said just the right way, etc). Especially impressive to me is how characters from previous albums are revivied and synthezied into new characters. For example, Bebop Loco from "Give Me Immortality" merges with Laura from "Eat or Be Eaten," a trick that is possible only in FST-land, where characters are defined by their rhetoric rather than by their inner nature. A dizzying ride overall, but probably not the best one to listen to before you check out their earlier works.
Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • comparable to the golden age
  • If you like Firesign Theatre you will like this...
  • Nihilism
  • Back in the shadows again
  • Still Tops In The Satire Game
 Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death
Firesign Theatre
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Rhino RecordsRhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!
  2. How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?
  3. Waiting for the Electrician Or Someone Like Him
  4. I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus
  5. The Bride of Firesign

ASIN: B00000AG7T
Release Date: 1998-09-08

Tracks:

  1. Unconscious Village: Wake up
  2. Eyeballs In The Sky
  3. Us Plus: Pork
  4. The Celebrity Stalker
  5. Sports In Your Shorts
  6. Ralph Spoilsport's Going Out Of Body Sale
  7. The News Drought Continues
  8. Goddess Air Presents 'Hullo, Don't Worry!'
  9. A Developing Chase Situation
  10. Pull My String
  11. Princess Goddess Escapes The Celebrazzis
  12. Chump Takes Some Hits
  13. Polar Pro: Texas Trots
  14. Miss Shelob's Feelin' Poorly
  15. Unconscious Village: Last Days Sale
  16. Mr. Coffee Comes Up Zeros
  17. Glacier
  18. Gridlock At Homeless Stadium
  19. Polar Ice: Party Vertical
  20. Going, Going, Gone A La Blonde
  21. Sex With My Hat
  22. Trippple Rippoff
  23. Night Whispers
  24. Bebop And Dwayne Feel No Pain
  25. Smokin' Joe Says Farewell
  26. Us Plus: Zeros And Ones
  27. Chump Makes A Resolution
  28. The Doll Drop
  29. Radionow Says Good-By And Hello

Amazon.com

The apocalyptic comedians of the Firesign Theatre return with Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death, their first studio recording in nearly 20 years. Like their original classics, this one tells a story that is greater than the sum of its satire, double entendres, and nonstop puns. Join the festivities as FT's own Radio Now broadcasts the end of the world, live on December 31, 1999. You'll hear Joe Camel's farewell speech, learn about the mysterious guys in eyeball hats, and be on the scene for the Princess Goddess Doll Drop. Old fans will get goose bumps as used-car dealer Ralph Spoilsport returns to sell cloned body parts, but even (puzzled) newcomers to the Firesign universe should be hooked after a few repeat plays. The more you listen to Give Me Immortality, the funnier it gets. --John Sulak

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars comparable to the golden age.......2007-05-08


Back around the turn of the century, I got this one and also Boom Dot Bust.

The way you tell the two apart is: The one with the lame title is the one with the good material, and vice versa.

In other words, this is a good one.


In my opinion at least.


I was reminded of this as I engage in dialog on the Stockhouse message boards discussing small Canadian gold exploration companies. It tends to take years for news to develop with those, but a lot of people who invest in them seem to expect things to happen at internet speed.


Which reminded me of "Glacier the movie".



I think the best thing about Firesign Theater is the quotable quotes.

Throughout my adult life I am constantly remembering quotes from Firesign Theater.

I just listened to a few clips here just now and was reminded of a couple of the gems on this album:

"everybody has to die, but you don't need to be there when it happens"

"that's not news, that's lame chitchat"


Yes, some people don't seem to find these guys funny. I guess humor is a hard thing to assess analytically.

All I know is that I find these guys absolutely brilliant.


As to this particular album, I consider it comparable to their great work of several decades ago.

5 out of 5 stars If you like Firesign Theatre you will like this..........2006-07-17

It took me a while to get used to this group. Once I got them, I find them very funny. There humor is very intellegent and layered. This is not the best first album to hear, but it compliments one's Firesign collection for sure.
For me there are many great skits and lines in this one. Plus it is very well edited for comedic timing and music.

2 out of 5 stars Nihilism.......2005-08-18

Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor, according to the late Michael O'Donoghue.

Well, Firesign is heading in that direction with this album. They try to maintain a dark atmosphere for effect's sake, but largely this album is only untraceable puns and retreaded jokes. The new characters created here are not funny or even amusing as stereotypes.

The fellows are old, and they don't like the era in which we live. They've gone from social commentators to borscht belt humor in this one...good thing Boom Dot Bust was better!

5 out of 5 stars Back in the shadows again.......2003-07-16

This is easily the masterpiece of the recent batch of Firesign reunion discs, and where the others have an easygoing feel that's downright likable, this one is dark and scary enough to take you right back to those Altamont Gram Parsons-dying-in-the-desert LA-sliding-into-the-Helter Skelter 70s. The difference is that it's all in bite-sized bits-- if the best older albums were like an LP-long guitar solo (brilliant or self-indulgent, as the case may be), this one is as slick, disciplined and hooky as a Clapton comeback album.

4 out of 5 stars Still Tops In The Satire Game.......2001-08-10

They're back with a passion. In their first new release in what seems like forever, Firesign Theatre shows that they still got it in spades. From old faves like Ralph Spoilsport to new characters like Bebop Loco and Chump Threads, the boys serve up a nonstop megamix of their rip-roaring comedy with "Give Me Immortality, Or Give Me Death". For those not familiar with these guys, Firesign Theatre began in the late sixties as an unorthodox comedy improv group, lambasting virtually everyone and everything, thus becoming a mainstay of late night progressive radio. A whole generation became so familiar with their material that they could quote most of the sketches from memory. Before Saturday Night Live, they were the reigning gods of humor with such classic albums as "Don't Crush That Dwarf...Hand Me The Pliers" and "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once, When You're Not Anywhere At All?". In their heyday they actually inspired a few knock offs like the Credibility Gap and the Conception Corporation who were quite good in their own right, but couldn't keep up with Firesign' prodidgious and prolific output.They inspired the National Lampoon Radio Hour as well. As the seventies dragged along, the albums diminished in quality a bit in my opinion.But this new one is better than all but the first three, no mean feat. Masters of aural disguise, they seem to have every accent down pat.The production, with myriad sound effects and original music, is nothing short of visionary. And their satire is right up to date in the hiphop era. A few years back they performed at U. Mass. to support their excellent double retrospective "Shoes For Industry" and made a couple of stopovers to local FM stations to leave their much sought after station IDs. It is a tribute to their longevity that the only spoken word material in so many collections then and now are their unique productions. If you posess even the bare rudiments of a sense of humor, you won't be dissapointed with this one. Forty seven minutes and a cavalcade of hiarious album photos as well.
War of the Worlds
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • a landmark
  • Timeless classic
 War of the Worlds
Orson Welles & the Mercury Theatre
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Spoken WordSpoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Radio ShowsRadio Shows | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
  2. The War of the Worlds (Modern Library Classics)
  3. Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds
  4. Nosferatu
  5. Goldfinger

ASIN: B0009HLDB4
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

  1. War of the Worlds

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a landmark.......2007-06-18

This is a landmark of radio. Orson Welles successfully pulled off the greatest farce? tragedy? show? of all of radio history. And the way they did it, cutting in and out of the music of the day (much like if CNN did it today, but a video version) many people thought this was real. It's a testament to the power of Orson Welles, though he did, at the beginning, let people know that this was just a show. It's the latecomers (let that be a lesson to you) that panicked. History aside, it is a great radio show, the only that I own. Buy it. Love it. And think about it.

5 out of 5 stars Timeless classic.......2005-08-29

Need not much to say, this is the radioplay that shook a lot
of U.S. citizens, (Kane?) :) It's style (radioplay) is realistic
done, that's why it's a bit boring to start with, (like the movie 2001 of Stanley Kubrick) but it then, gets tense,
in short, it follows the story of Herbert George Wells closely,
Just like Justin Hayward's musical version, (using Richard Burton
as narrator)
So with this cd you can hear the perfect sounding voice of Orson
again...in the play he did in his Mercury Theatre,
The reason why so many people thought this show was "the real thing", is because on a other radio station a very populair comedy show just ended, and those people didn't hear the start
of this radioplay, many people called the station, Orson said
he was sorry but also, that it was Haloween !

Album Review:

  1. Randy Travis [Karaoke]
  2. "Ray Price - Greatest Hits, Vol. 4 (By Request)"
  3. Rowdy
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  5. Silver Anniversary Album
  6. Steve Wariner
  7. Swingin' by Request
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  9. The Best of Bob Wills
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Album Review

Album Review