Tag Archives: Firesign Theatre

Firesign Theater: Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers

On July 22, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers”, the third Firesign Theatre album. It was recorded April – May 1970, and was produced by Bill Driml, Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor. In 1983, “The New Rolling Stone Record Guide” called it “The Greatest Comedy Album Ever Made”. In 2005, the “US Library of Congress” added the album to the “National Recording Registry” and called the Firesign Theatre “The Beatles of Comedy.”

Personnel:

  • Phil Austin
  • Peter Bergman
  • David Ossman
  • Phil Proctor
  • Anna-Lee Austin – spoken parts
  • Thaddeus Warrick and the Mindermast Mental Music Hall One-Man Sympathy Orchestra
  • The St. Louis Aquarium Choraleers (including Anna-Lee Austin, Jane Dansie, Tiny Ossman, Elisabeth Plumb, John Kinick, Cathleen O’Mara)
  • The Android Sisters
  • Robert Grossman – cover art
  • John Rose, Elisabeth Plumb – back cover photography
  • James William Guercio – co-production

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor

  1. This Side
  2. The Other Side

The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers

Notorious Byrd Brothers

On January 15, 1968, “Columbia” label released “The Notorious Byrd Brothers”, the fifth Byrds (The) studio album. It was recorded June – December, 1967, at the “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Gary Usher.

Personnel:

  • Roger McGuinn – vocals, lead guitar, Moog synthesizer
  • David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar, electric bass
  • Chris Hillman– vocals, electric bass, guitar, mandolin
  • Michael Clarke– drums
  • Gene Clark– backing vocal
  • Clarence White, James Burton– guitar
  • Red Rhodes– pedal steel guitar
  • Paul Beaver, Terry Trotter – piano
  • Paul Beaver, Gary Usher– Moog synthesizer
  • Barry Goldberg– organ
  • Dennis McCarthy– celeste
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Lester Harris, Raymond Kelley, Paul Bergstrom, Jacqueline Lustgarten – cello
  • Victor Sazer, Carl West, William Armstrong – violin
  • Alfred McKibbon – double bass
  • Ann Stockton – harp
  • Richard Hyde– trombone
  • Jay Migliori– saxophone
  • Roy Caron, Virgil Fums, Gary Weber – brass
  • Dennis Faust, Gary Usher – percussion
  • Curt Boettcher, Gary Usher – backing vocals
  • Firesign Theatre– sound effects

Track listing:

  1. Artificial Energy – Roger McGuinn,Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke
  2. Goin’ Back – Carole King, Gerry Goffin
  3. Natural Harmony – Chris Hillman
  4. Draft Morning – David Crosby, Chris Hillm, Roger McGuinn
  5. Wasn’t Born to Follow – Carole King, Gerry Goffin
  6. Get to You – Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn
  7. Change Is Now – Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  8. Old John Robertson – Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  9. Tribal Gathering – David Crosby, Chris Hillma
  10. Dolphin’s Smile – David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  11. Space Odyssey – Roger McGuinn, Robert J. Hippard