Firesign Theatre's Box of Danger [Box set]

Firesign Theatre | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B001EOQV5Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,538 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #97 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Spoken Word

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Further Adventures of Nick Danger (Cut 'Em Off at the Past)

2. Young Guy Motor Detective

3. School for Actors [Live][#]

Disc: 2

1. The Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 1

2. The Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 2

3. The Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 3

4. The Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 4

5. The Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 5

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. The Three Faces of Al, Pt. 1

2. The Three Faces of Al, Pt. 2

3. Back from the Shadows, Pt. 1: He Walks Again by Night

4. Back from the Shadows, Pt. 2: The Same Old Place

5. Back from the Shadows, Pt. 3: Hold It Right There!

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 4: Shack-Out [Live]

2. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 5: Shack-In [Live]

3. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 6: Six Months Later [Live]

4. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 7: Where Were We Now? [Live]

5. Lucky Liability

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The Firesign Theatre's Box of Danger: The Complete Nick Danger Casebook turns the spotlight on the legendary comedy troupe's most famous creation: Nick Danger, Third Eye. This 4-CD box set assembles for the first time such legendary skits as "Cut 'Em Off at the Past," "The Case of the Missing Shoe," "The Three Faces of Al," plus a wealth of rare and unreleased items from Nick's tattered casebook.

Danger is Firesign's take on the hard-boiled detective character, with firstperson narration and crazy adventures that often involve mistaken identity, and of course there's always a dangerous dame. The skits spoof the conventions of those old detective radio shows, right down to the special effects, the sponsors, the on-air host, the convoluted plots and just about anything else that one might have heard on a classic serial. Formed in 1967, the Firesign Theater revolutionized recorded comedy by introducing a surreal sensibility that endeared them to hippies of the `60s and `70s as well as stoners and slackers of the `80s, `90s and beyond. They have released more than 30 albums--for Columbia, Rhino, and other labels--and their 1994 reunion show was so successful that they renewed their partnership for a slew of new albums, taking them right into the 21st century.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag, October 23, 2008

By 

Douglas Manion "dirk manley" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Firesign Theatre's Box of Danger (Audio CD)

While there are gems in this box set, there is bit of so-so material. "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger" (aka "Cut 'em off at the Past!") is, of course, brilliant, but most Firesign fans already own that. "Three Faces of Al," which I had never heard before is quite enjoyable, though doesn't approach the genius of the original. "The Case of the Missing Shoe" has some great moments. The first three Parts of "Shack Out on the Alien Highway" are completely improvised and just don't work. But parts 4 through 7 are partially scripted and quite funny. If you're a hard core Firesign fan you have to have this, unless you have copies of all the tracks, including a bootlegged live performance.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of Firesign's most mainstream creation!, November 19, 2008

By 

Captain Opinionated (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firesign Theatre's Box of Danger (Audio CD)

For the Firesign completist, this is an essential box. We finally get a re-issue of "Three Faces of Al" (the world's first comedy CD!), for starters! Besides that and the classic first piece from "How Can You Be In Two Places...," we get several live performances and pieces done for radio. For those who are new to this brilliant comedy troupe, this is a good place to start. The "Nick Danger" pieces were always a bit more accessible than the more surrealist longform pieces the group is also known for. A mish-mosh for classic radio detective serials and Goon Show-type surrealism filtered through a counter-culture sensibility, the bits are both silly and smart all at once. And, they're short, easily consumed pieces with a lightning pace. Very, very enjoyable. Nice way to discover America's most unsung comedy team!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REGNAD KCIN strikes again...and again...and again and..., December 23, 2008

By 

Tim McMullen "Tim McMullen" (Rowland Heights, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firesign Theatre's Box of Danger (Audio CD)

The Firesign's devotion to Old Time Radio was evident in much of their work, including a brilliant send-up of "Let's Pretend" on their "Firesign Theatre Radio Hour Hour," but never as obviously as in the Nick Danger pieces. From the original Beatle allusions rampant in "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger" to the two-minute bits comprising "The Case of the Missing Shoe," their rapid fire, but deliberate, delivery makes these ever-funny and ever-punny pundits pure joy to the ear and brain. Even for those of us who have tried to collect everything that any of these four have published, this collection is a joy. A couple of the pieces are slightly redundant, but the variations on a theme are at the heart of their artistry. Whether you were there at the time or not (...an old joke about the 60's) I recommend this collection whole-heartedly. Then I recommend that you run out and grab up anything else you can find from these "four or five crazy guys."