• Artist: Monty Python
• Flags: Contains explicit content
• Rating:
• Styles: Comedy Rock, Sketch Comedy

Review

This debut long-player contains a composite of skits by British comedy troupe Monty Python. The personnel features the talents of writer/actors Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam (the sole Yankee), whose primary contributions were visual (most immediately evident being the iconoclastic "foot-through-the-telly" imagery adorning the front cover of this release). Keen-eared listeners familiar with the show will be able to instantly discern that the material on this platter has been re-recorded and is not simply audio lifted from the show's soundtrack. In addition to the occasional dialogue discrepancy, the use of canned laughter is noticeably different, if not at times a bit jarring. As the Pythons have become cultural icons since their demise in the early '80s, a few of the bits such as "Trades Description Act" (aka "Crunchy Frog"), the "Lumberjack Song" (which is included in the homicidal "Barber" sketch), and "Dead Parrot" (aka "Pet Shop") would go on to define the Dada-influenced surrealism that they would become most closely associated with. The vast majority of the Python catalog can be found on CD, and this title graced the medium for a very brief time in the mid-'80s as part of the BBC's Audio Visual International series. Oddly, and perhaps owing to legal rather than artistic reasons, Monty Python's Flying Circus (1970) remains unavailable to modern listeners on compact disc. While all of the characters may not be as fully-formed -- such as the sincere and butch Chapman persona used in "The Visitors" -- this is a worthwhile find, if not a somewhat compulsory primer for all enthusiasts. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Flying Sheep	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(2:20)
Television Interviews	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(2:30)
Trades Description Act (Chocolate Shop)	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:28)
Nudge, Nudge		Monty Python	Monty Python	(1:42)
Mouse Problem	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:14)
Buying a Bed	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:56)
Interesting People	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:18)
Barber (Lumberjack Song)	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:43)
Interviews	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:05)
More Television Interviews	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(2:52)
Children's Stories	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(1:13)
Visitors	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(3:55)
Cinema	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(0:49)
North Minehead Election	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(5:32)
Me, Doctor	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(1:18)
Pet Shop (Dead Parrot)	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(4:22)
Self Defence	...	Monty Python	Monty Python	(5:58)

Credits

Monty Python (Main Performer), Michael Palin (Vocals), Michael Palin (Writer), Michael Palin (Actor), Graham Chapman (Vocals), Graham Chapman (Writer), Graham Chapman (Actor), John Cleese (Vocals), John Cleese (Writer), John Cleese (Actor), Terry Gilliam (Vocals), Terry Gilliam (Writer), Terry Gilliam (Actor), Eric Idle (Vocals), Eric Idle (Writer), Eric Idle (Actor), Terry Jones (Vocals)

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