''Monty Python Sings'' is a compilation album of songs by English comedy troupe

Monty Python Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four ...

. 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 Graham Chapman (8 January 1941 – 4 October 1989) was a British actor, comedian and writer. He was one of the six members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python. He portrayed authority figures such as The Colonel and the lead role in two P ...

, who died two months before its release.

Songs

The album contained two previously unreleased tracks: "

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

" (originally performed by

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and ...

on the 1960s radio series '' I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again'') was recorded during sessions for ''

Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album ''Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album'' is the final studio album by Monty Python, released in 1980. As the title suggests, the album was put together to complete a contract with Charisma Records. Besides newly written songs and sketches ...

'' in 1980, while a studio recording of

Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam (; born 22 November 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, comedian, animator, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed 13 feature films, including ''Time Bandits'' (1981), ''B ...

's live standard "

I've Got Two Legs "I've Got Two Legs" is a song by the British comedy troupe Monty Python that was composed by Terry Gilliam. It most prominently appears in the concert film '' Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl'', the concert LP ''Monty Python Live at Drury La ...

" 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 "Medical Love Song" is a Monty Python comedy song composed by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, with lyrics co-written by Graham Chapman. It appeared on ''Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album'' from 1980, and is also included on the CD ''Mo ...

," with added instrumentation and previously unheard verses which mix out

Eric Idle Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. Idle was a member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the Broadwa ...

's guide vocals and push Graham Chapman's lead vocal to the forefront. The remixes of "

Sit on My Face "Sit on My Face" is a short song by the members of the comedy troupe Monty Python which originally appeared on the album ''Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album'' and later appeared on the compilation ''Monty Python Sings''. Written by Eric ...

" 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) "Bruces' Philosophers Song", also known as "The Bruces' Song", is a Monty Python song written and composed by Eric Idle that was a feature of the group's stage appearances and its recordings. Origins The Bruces' Philosophers Song is sung by The ...

" and a remix of the 1975

George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...

-produced single version of "

The Lumberjack Song "The Lumberjack Song" is a comedy song by the comedy troupe Monty Python. The song was written and composed by Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Fred Tomlinson. It first appeared in the ninth episode of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'', "The An ...

", featuring some alternate vocal takes. This was the first compilation to include tracks from the ''

Life of Brian ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (also known as ''Life of Brian'') is a 1979 British comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). It wa ...

'' and '' The Meaning of Life'' soundtracks, albeit in remixed form. "

Every Sperm Is Sacred "Every Sperm Is Sacred" is a musical sketch from the film ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life''. A satire of Catholic teachings on reproduction that forbid masturbation and contraception, the song was released on the album '' Monty Python Sings ...

" is the extended version, previously only available on the B-side of the 7-inch single of "

Galaxy Song "Galaxy Song" is a Monty Python song written by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. The song first appeared in the 1983 film ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' and was later released on the album ''Monty Python Sings''. The song was released as ...

Artwork

The cover design by Terry Gilliam marked his first original album artwork since 1977's ''

Instant Record Collection ''The Monty Python Instant Record Collection'' is the title of two compilation albums by the Monty Python troupe. The first was released in the UK and Canada in 1977 and drew from the group's first three studio albums, first live album, and firs ...

''. The original vinyl release contained a booklet featuring illustrated lyrics to all the songs.

Reissues

Although 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 "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is a comedy song written by Monty Python member Eric Idle that was first featured in the Python film '' Life of Brian'' and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as football matc ...

" in 1991, when it reached No. 62 in the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

. 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 ''

'' and three new tracks from Eric Idle, recorded for inclusion in the team's reunion shows ''

Monty Python Live (Mostly) ''Monty Python Live (Mostly)'' (also billed as ''Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down, Five to Go'') was a variety show by the Monty Python comedy group at The O2 in London in July 2014. Planned as a single performance for 1 July, it was expanded ...

''. A deluxe edition in both formats also included the 1970 ''

Monty Python's Flying Circus ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (also known as simply ''Monty Python'') is a British surreal sketch comedy series created by and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, who became known ...

'' album. This version of the album reached No. 35 in the UK Albums Chart. 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 In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

for

Record Store Day Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...

on 18 April 2015.

Track listing

''Monty Python Sings'' (1989)

''Monty Python Sings (Again)'' (2014)

;New to the 2014 'Revised Edition' are tracks 3, 13, 18, 19, 26 and 30.

2019 LP version bonus track

Personnel

;Performers *

Terry Jones Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh comedian, director, historian, actor, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy team. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and ...

Michael Palin Sir Michael Edward Palin (; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, television presenter, and public speaker. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. Since 1980, he has made a number of travel documentaries. Palin w ...

;Additional performers *

Sonia Jones Sonia Jones is a singer who is recognised for her session, touring and soundtrack performances. Her session work has included pop acts of the 1970s and 1980s. She sang the title track for the film ''Monty Python's Life of Brian''. She is the v ...

("Brian Song", "The Silly Walk Song", "Nudge Rap/Blackmail") *

John Du Prez John Du Prez (born Trevor Jones; 14 December 1946) is a British musician, conductor and composer. He was a member of the 1980s salsa-driven pop band Modern Romance and has since written several film scores including ''Oxford Blues'' (1984), '' ...

("The Silly Walk Song") *Bob Saker ("The Silly Walk Song") *

Tim Whitnall Timothy Charles Whitnall (born 27 June 1961) is an English actor, playwright and screenwriter. He is known for playing Angelo in the long-running CITV series '' Mike and Angelo'' and narrating the BBC children's TV programme ''Teletubbies'' fr ...

("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 Neil James Innes (; 9 December 1944 – 29 December 2019) was an English writer, comedian and musician. He first came to prominence in the pioneering comedy rock group Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later became a frequent collaborator with the Mon ...

– 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

{{Authority control Sings 1989 compilation albums Virgin Records compilation albums Albums with cover art by Terry Gilliam