Forward into the Past

Forward Into The Past
Compilation album by The Firesign Theatre
Released 1976
Genre Comedy
Length 105:57
Label Columbia
Producer See individual track listings
The Firesign Theatre chronology

In the Next World, You're on Your Own
(1975)
Forward Into The Past
(1976)
Just Folks . . . A Firesign Chat
(1977)

Forward Into The Past is a 1976 compilation album by The Firesign Theatre. It presents the "Greatest Hits" from their nine Columbia albums and includes two tracks that were previously released only on a single.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide
The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Station Break"
  2. "Happy Hour News"
  3. "Ralph Spoilport Motors"
  4. "Beat The Reaper"
  5. "Let's Eat"
  6. "High School Madness"

Side two

  1. "Toad Away"
  2. "Not Quite The Solution He Expected"
  3. "Joe Beets Meets Hemlock Stones"
  4. "W.C. Fields Forever"
  5. "Dr. Whiplash"

Side three

  1. "The Further Adventures of Nick Danger"

Side four

  1. "Back From The Shadows"
  2. "Mr. President"
  3. "Papoon For President"
  4. "Government Training Film"
  5. "Mark Time"
  6. "Forward Into The Past"

Critical reception

Most fan sites agree that this album is a good place to start for someone who has never heard of The Firesign Theatre. The New Rolling Stone Record Guide claims that this album was "brilliantly selected and programmed" (175) while The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide offers no comment beyond its 2 star marking.

Issues and reissues

Forward Into The Past was released only as a double album.

Columbia PG-34391

This album was never released on CD. Instead, in 1993 a new collection was put together under the title Shoes for Industry: The Best of the Firesign Theatre and was released by Sony/Legacy. Shoes contains most of the same tracks as Forward Into The Past but also takes advantage of the greater running time available on a Compact Disc in order to add more tracks. Shoes also includes tracks which members of the group had released on their various "solo" projects.

External sources

Citations