(Released on 7/16/2016)
Continuing with Peter’s early days on KPFK’s Radio Free Oz in October 1966. Featuring archival audio from Taylor Jessen.
Audio production by Phil Fountain
Graphics design by Phil Fountain
Produced and distributed by Tom Gedwillo, Chromium Switch Industries
(Released on 6/30/2016)
The Oz Firesign Theatre begins part two of the Chromium Switch Radio salute to 50 years of Firesign, featuring the music and sounds of 1966. Exclusive archival Radio Free Oz audio from Taylor Jessen, including Peter Bergman discovering Ken Nordine.
Audio production by Phil Fountain
Graphics design by Phil Fountain
Produced and distributed by Tom Gedwillo, Chromium Switch Industries
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An interview with the Firesign Theatre’s Proctor & Bergman from 2010. Hosted by Richard Metzger, known for his TV show Disinformation (Channel 4 UK, 2000-01), and his regular contributions to the website Dangerous Minds.
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Station Break/Forward Into The Past is a 45 RPM single (Columbia Records, 1969, #4-45052). Produced by James William Guercio, it was distributed as a radio station/promo copy. It appeared in album form for the first time on Firesign’s 1976 anthology Forward Into the Past.
(Released on 6/23/2016)
Bergman’s Radio Free Oz begets The Firesign Theatre in the year 1966. Featuring exclusive Firesign audio from TFT archivist Taylor Jessen, plus a collection of tunes from host Hal O’Dali.
Audio production by Phil Fountain
Graphics design by Phil Fountain
Produced and distributed by Tom Gedwillo, Chromium Switch Industries
(Released on 2/9/2016)
Salute to Bob and Ray, featuring Phil Proctor of the Firesign Theatre.
Audio production by Phil Fountain
Graphics design by Phil Fountain
Produced and distributed by Tom Gedwillo, Chromium Switch Industries
(Released on 9/10/2015)
A special elongated episode of CSR, as we salute Frank Zappa & The Mothers. Also featuring a Firesign Theatre/Zappa sound collage from Cat Ishikawa.
Audio production by Phil Fountain
Graphics design by Phil Fountain
Produced and distributed by Tom Gedwillo, Chromium Switch Industries
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These Proctor and Bergman interviews were conducted by Steve Marshall of KNX radio in Los Angeles during the 1972 presidential election. These were originally released by Columbia Records on a white label ‘promo only’ LP, A Firesign Chat with Papoon (catalog #AS-41). These interviews plus excerpts from the “Martian Space Party” film, the 1972 album “Not Insane or Anything You Want To,” and material from 1976 and 1980 were released on the 2002 compilation album Papoon for President, produced by the late Bill McIntyre.
The Martian Space Party was performed before a live audience and broadcast on KPFK-FM as the final episode of the “Let’s Eat” radio series on March 30, 1972. The performance was filmed in 16mm, and recorded on 16-track tape by CBS engineers outside in a mobile truck. On April 16, the Firesigns assembled a miniature set on Phil Austin’s porch and filmed insert shots of the monster Glutamoto attacking Monster Island. Final editing was finished by May 4. The movie was screened on June 29 at the Directors Guild of America theatre in Hollywood.
Two PDFs available for download are from David Ossman, and MSP director Stephen Gillmor. David’s “Martian Space Party Diary” covers the first half of 1972 as they begin writing material for the Not Insane album, and for the live radio special. Stephen’s interview (courtesy of Fred Wiebel’s Firezine magazine) details his filming of the MSP broadcast and his involvement in other Firesign Theatre projects.
For your listening pleasure you can stream or download Let’s Eat #13 – The Martian Space Party and join the others at The National Surrealist Light People’s Party Convention.
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“It’s Just This Little Chromium Switch Here” (1972-1975) was the first publication for fans of the Firesign Theatre. The Chromium Switch “webzine” started in 2010 with my publishing partner Phil Fountain. Interviews were conducted via E-mail and kept in a hermetically sealed jar until publication. Those dossiers are now available for you, the viewer, by simply clicking the button for the .zip file
