Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Further Adventures of Nick Danger (Cut 'Em Off at the Past) - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
2. Young Guy Motor Detective - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
3. School for Actors [Live][#] - Phil Austin, David Ossman

Disc 2:

1. Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 1
2. Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 2
3. Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 3
4. Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 4
5. Case of the Missing Shoe: Episode 5
6. Frame Me Pretty, Pt. 1: Straight Up [#] - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
7. Frame Me Pretty, Pt. 2: With a Twist [#] - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
8. Frame Me Pretty, Pt. 3: On the Rocks [#] - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
9. Case of the Missing General
10. Nick Danger Meets E.T. [#] - Phil Austin, Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Peter Bergman, , Philip Proctor

Disc 3:

1. Three Faces of Al, Pt. 1 - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, Phil Proctor
2. Three Faces of Al, Pt. 2 - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, Phil Proctor
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!
6. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 1: Nick Begins the Case [Live]
7. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 2: The Case Continues [Live]
8. Shack Out on the Alien Highway, Pt. 3: The Suspects Segue [Live]

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 - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
6. St. Nick Dangerous Christmas Eve - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
7. Snakehead Symphony - Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, Firesign Theatre, David Ossman, Phil Proctor
8. Scaled Down Danger [#] - Phil Austin

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54828 in Music
• Released on: 2008-09-30
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set

Album Description
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

A mixed bag
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.

Great collection of Firesign's most mainstream creation!
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!

REGNAD KCIN strikes again...and again...and again and...
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."