Forward Into the Past explained

Forward Into the Past
Type:greatest
Artist:The Firesign Theatre
Cover:FST Forward Into the Past album cover.jpg
Released:1976
Genre:Comedy
Length:105:57
Label:Columbia
Producer:See individual track listings
Prev Title:In the Next World, You're on Your Own
Prev Year:1975
Next Title:Just Folks . . . A Firesign Chat
Next Year: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.

Track listing

Side one

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

Side two

  1. "Toad Away"
    • From the album Dear Friends - January 1972
    • Produced by The Firesign Theatre
  2. "Not Quite The Solution He Expected"
  3. "Joe Beets Meets Hemlock Stones"
  4. "W.C. Fields Forever"
  5. "Dr. Whiplash"
    • From the album Dear Friends - January 1972
    • Produced by The Firesign Theatre

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"
    • From the album Dear Friends - January 1972
    • Produced by The Firesign Theatre
  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.

Release history

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 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