Nick Danger, Third Eye
In The Case Of The Missing Shoe

1979 - Nick Danger and the Case of the Missing Shoe - (Rhino - RNEP 506)

Not a full-fledged record but an EP, "Missing Shoe" is the first of the Firesign's "leftover" albums released on the Rhino label. It assembles a series of short "Nick Danger" pieces which were presented as a serial on radio (on someone else's program). As the whole record clocks in at no more than 30 minutes, there's no room for plot. The boys just trot our their famous characters (Nick Danger, Lt. Bradshaw, Nancy, and Rocky Rococo all appear) and indulge in puns, jokes, wheezy jokes, and various absurdities. As always, they are amusing, but this is really lightweight stuff. But, believe me, you won't find funnier "filler" material anywhere else!

Phil Buchbinder

This is the one recording of the group that i wish had not been released. The idea of resurrecting Nick for a new story was certainly a worthy one, but in this case there was not enough of a story, let alone there wasn't enough humor. i admit it was during a time when i was wondering if Firesign was still OUT THERE somewhere, but wouldn't drawing on their most accessable gaggle of characters be a sure thing? They try to keep the style fast and furious, but it's all predictability and no pay-off; all form and no content. I know it's only an EP, but for my money it shouldn't even be that.

Glenn Coleman

From Skink, Wisconsin...

"Shoe", seems to be the end result of a thought, "What if there was a plot by the phone company to turn all the left shoes into phones?" I'm reminded of the old 'Get Smart' series where Max had a shoe phone. The 5 Act's are made for short radio broadcasts, and they don't get very deep because of that. There's not the same energy of, say, Three Faces of Al, but it's a good addition to the Nick Danger series. This could be a case of Danger for Hire, where the FST were asked to do several Nick Danger radio spots, and not necessarily created out of the brain storming fervor of their usual marathon writing sessions.

We follow along as Nick Danger is framed for having a stash of baby shoes, his brushes with Bradshaw and the two-timing Nancy, to the end scene with the culprit, Mr. Acme and his lacky, Rococo. Not deep, but then these were short radio bits.

There's also several good commercial spots, I.E. 'Ma Ranie's Mole Skin Cookies', "We use the Whole Mole", "Eat 'em, wipe 'em off, eat 'em again", is a classic!

"Shoe" is a light deversion, one that should have been a B side to, say, 'A Firesign Chat', but still 'well worth a dollar'!

cristofer morley