Monty Python Sings is a compilation album of songs by English comedy troupe Monty Python. Released in 1989 to celebrate their 20th anniversary, it contains popular songs from their previous albums and films. The album was dedicated to the memory of founding member Graham Chapman, who died two months before its release.
| Monty Python Sings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 11 December 1989 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | 1971–1989 | |||
| Genre | Comedy | |||
| Length | 54:16 (1989) 1:08:58 (2014) | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Eric Idle, Andre Jacquemin | |||
| Monty Python chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
Songs
editThe album contained two previously unreleased tracks: "Oliver Cromwell" (originally performed by John Cleese on the 1960s radio series I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again) was recorded during sessions for Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album in 1980, while a studio recording of Terry Gilliam's live standard "I've Got Two Legs" was recorded in 1974 for the Drury Lane shows, where it was to be mimed onstage, but discarded once Gilliam decided to perform it live instead. The album also has a longer version of "Medical Love Song," with added instrumentation and previously unheard verses which mix out Eric Idle's guide vocals and push Graham Chapman's lead vocal to the forefront. The remixes of "Sit on My Face" and the extended "Henry Kissinger" from The Final Rip Off were also used, as well as a new mix of "Bruces' Philosophers Song (Bruces' Song)" and a remix of the 1975 George Harrison-produced single version of "The Lumberjack Song", featuring some alternate vocal takes. This was the first compilation to include tracks from the Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life soundtracks, albeit in remixed form. "Every Sperm Is Sacred" is the extended version, previously only available on the B-side of the 7-inch single of "Galaxy Song".
Artwork
editThe cover design by Terry Gilliam marked his first original album artwork since 1977's Instant Record Collection. The original vinyl release contained a booklet featuring illustrated lyrics to all the songs.
Reissues
editAlthough the album did not chart on its original 1989 release, it was re-promoted following the successful reissue of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" in 1991, when it reached No. 62 in the UK Albums Chart.[3]
On 30 June 2014, the album was re-released as Monty Python Sings (Again) on CD and as a digital download, expanded with six additional recordings: three out-takes from Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album and three new tracks from Eric Idle, recorded for inclusion in the team's reunion shows Monty Python Live (Mostly). A deluxe edition in both formats also included the 1970 Monty Python's Flying Circus album. This version of the album reached No. 35 in the UK Albums Chart.[3]
To celebrate the team's 50th anniversary, a double vinyl album set of Monty Python Sings (Again) was released on 4 October 2019, now including the Stephen Hawking version of "Galaxy Song," first released as a limited edition 7-inch single for Record Store Day on 18 April 2015.[4]
Track listing
editMonty Python Sings (1989)
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" | Eric Idle | Monty Python's Life of Brian | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Sit on My Face" | Music: Harry Parr Davies Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 0:45 |
| 3. | "Lumberjack Song (Alternate Take)" | Music: Terry Jones/Michael Palin/Fred Tomlinson Lyrics: Jones/Palin | Previously unreleased | 3:20 |
| 4. | "Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song)" | Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 0:41 |
| 5. | "Oliver Cromwell" | Music: Frédéric Chopin (interpolating Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53) Lyrics: John Cleese | Previously unreleased; recorded 1980 | 4:10 |
| 6. | "Money Song" | Music: John Gould Lyrics: Idle/Gould | Monty Python's Previous Record | 0:52 |
| 7. | "Accountancy Shanty" | Idle/John Du Prez | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 1:16 |
| 8. | "Finland" | Palin | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 2:01 |
| 9. | "Medical Love Song" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Graham Chapman/Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:31 |
| 10. | "I'm So Worried" | Jones | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:20 |
| 11. | "Every Sperm Is Sacred" | Music: David Howman/Andre Jacquemin Lyrics: Palin/Jones | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 4:34 |
| 12. | "Never Be Rude to an Arab" | Jones | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 1:00 |
| 13. | "I Like Chinese" | Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:10 |
| 14. | "Eric the Half-a-Bee" | Music: Idle Lyrics: Idle/Cleese | Monty Python's Previous Record | 2:06 |
| 15. | "Brian Song" | Music: Jacquemin/Howman Lyrics: Palin | Monty Python's Life of Brian | 2:35 |
| 16. | "Bruces' Philosophers Song (Bruces' Song)" | Idle | The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief | 0:52 |
| 17. | "The Meaning of Life" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:15 |
| 18. | "Knights of the Round Table (Camelot Song)" | Music: Neil Innes Lyrics: Chapman/Cleese | Monty Python and the Holy Grail | 1:06 |
| 19. | "All Things Dull and Ugly" | Music: Traditional Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 1:33 |
| 20. | "Decomposing Composers" | Palin | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 2:48 |
| 21. | "Henry Kissinger (Extended Version)" | Idle | The Final Rip-Off | 1:28 |
| 22. | "I've Got Two Legs" | Terry Gilliam | Previously unreleased; recorded 1974 | 0:33 |
| 23. | "Christmas in Heaven (Extended Version)" | Music: Idle Lyrics: Jones | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:45 |
| 24. | "Galaxy Song" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:41 |
| 25. | "Spam Song" | Music: Palin/Jones/Tomlinson Lyrics: Palin/Jones | Another Monty Python Record | 0:32 |
Monty Python Sings (Again) (2014)
edit- New to the 2014 "Revised Edition" are tracks 3, 13, 18, 19, 26 and 30.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" | Eric Idle | Monty Python's Life of Brian | 3:35 |
| 2. | "The Meaning of Life" | Music: Idle/John Du Prez Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:17 |
| 3. | "The Silly Walk Song" | Idle/Du Prez | Previously unreleased | 2:01 |
| 4. | "Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song)" | Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 0:42 |
| 5. | "Money Song" | Music: John Gould Lyrics: Idle/Gould | Monty Python's Previous Record | 0:55 |
| 6. | "Oliver Cromwell" | Music: Frédéric Chopin (interpolating Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53) Lyrics: John Cleese | Monty Python Sings | 4:10 |
| 7. | "Accountancy Shanty" | Idle/Du Prez | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 1:17 |
| 8. | "Finland" | Michael Palin | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 2:03 |
| 9. | "Medical Love Song" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Graham Chapman/Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:34 |
| 10. | "I'm So Worried" | Terry Jones | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:19 |
| 11. | "Every Sperm Is Sacred" | Music: David Howman/Andre Jacquemin Lyrics: Palin/Jones | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 4:36 |
| 12. | "I Like Chinese" | Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 3:12 |
| 13. | "The Naval Medley" | Idle/Du Prez | Previously unreleased | 3:25 |
| 14. | "Sit on My Face" | Music: Harry Parr Davies Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 0:46 |
| 15. | "Never Be Rude to an Arab" | Jones | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 1:03 |
| 16. | "Eric the Half-a-Bee" | Music: Idle Lyrics: Idle/Cleese | Monty Python's Previous Record | 2:09 |
| 17. | "Brian Song" | Music: Jacquemin/Howman Lyrics: Palin | Monty Python's Life of Brian | 2:39 |
| 18. | "Rudyard Kipling" | Palin | Previously unreleased; recorded 1980 | 3:10 |
| 19. | "Nudge Rap / Blackmail" | Idle/Du Prez | Previously unreleased | 1:47 |
| 20. | "Bruces' Philosophers Song" | Idle | The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief | 0:54 |
| 21. | "Knights of the Round Table (Camelot Song)" | Music: Neil Innes Lyrics: Chapman/Cleese | Monty Python and the Holy Grail | 1:06 |
| 22. | "All Things Dull and Ugly" | Music: Traditional (parodying the hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful") Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 1:35 |
| 23. | "Decomposing Composers" | Palin | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 2:46 |
| 24. | "Henry Kissinger" | Idle | Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album | 1:31 |
| 25. | "I've Got Two Legs" | Terry Gilliam | Monty Python Sings | 0:34 |
| 26. | "Rainy Day in Berlin" | Idle | Previously unreleased; recorded 1980 | 1:58 |
| 27. | "Christmas in Heaven" | Music: Idle Lyrics: Jones | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:46 |
| 28. | "Galaxy Song" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Idle | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 2:43 |
| 29. | "Spam Song" | Music: Palin/Jones/Fred Tomlinson Lyrics: Palin/Jones | Another Monty Python Record | 0:33 |
| 30. | "Lousy Song" | Chapman/Idle | Previously unreleased; recorded 1980 | 2:09 |
| 31. | "Lumberjack Song" | Music: Jones/Palin/Tomlinson Lyrics: Jones/Palin | Single A-side | 3:23 |
2019 LP version bonus track
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32. | "Stephen Hawking Sings Monty Python... Galaxy Song" | Music: Idle/Du Prez Lyrics: Idle | Single A-side for Record Store Day 2015 | 2:42 |
Personnel
edit- Performers
- Additional performers
- Sonia Jones ("Brian Song", "The Silly Walk Song", "Nudge Rap/Blackmail")
- John Du Prez ("The Silly Walk Song")
- Bob Saker ("The Silly Walk Song")
- Tim Whitnall ("The Silly Walk Song")
- Jamie Lisa Jacquemin ("The Silly Walk Song", "Nudge Rap/Blackmail")
- Technical
- John Du Prez – arranger ("The Silly Walk Song", "Finland", "Medical Love Song", "I'm So Worried", "I Like Chinese", "The Naval Medley", "Sit on My Face", "Never Be Rude to an Arab", "Decomposing Composers", "Henry Kissinger", "Rainy Day in Berlin", "Lousy Song"), producer ("The Naval Medley"), mixing ("The Naval Medley")
- Neil Innes – arranger
- John Altman – arranger
- Mike McNaught – arranger
- Fred Tomlinson – arranger ("Money Song", "Spam", "Lumberjack Song")
- Eric Idle – producer
- Andre Jacquemin – producer, engineer, mixing
- James Saunders – recording assistant
- Kath James – co-ordinator
- Kay Gee Bee Music Ltd. – illustration
- TDC – layout
- Holly Gilliam – project coordinator (2014 edition)
- Terry Gilliam – cover artwork, packaging design, layout (2014 edition)
- Ric Lipson – packaging design, layout (2014 edition)
- Darren Evans – additional artwork and design (2014 edition)
- Andy Gotts – Monty Python group photo (2014 edition)
- Robert Ross – notes (2014 edition)
- Giselle Berger – notes transcription (2014 edition)
- Sean Magee – mastering (2014 edition)
References
edit- ^ Monty Python Sings at AllMusic
- ^ "CG: Monty Python". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ a b "monty python sings | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Professor Stephen Hawking Covers Monty Python's 'Galaxy Song' for Record Store Day: Listen". Billboard.