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

Monty Python Monty Python, also known as the Pythons, were a British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. The group came to prominence for the sketch comedy ser ...

. 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 humour, surrealist comedy group Monty Python. He portrayed authority figures such as The Colonel (Monty Py ...

, 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 statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

" (originally performed by

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and Television presenter, presenter. Emerging from the Footlights, Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinbur ...

on the 1960s radio series ''

I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (often abbreviated as ''ISIRTA'') was a BBC radio comedy programme that was developed from the 1964 University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Footlights revue, ''Cambridge Circus (comedy), Cambridge Circus ...

'') 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 sketche ...

'' in 1980, while a studio recording of

Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam ( ; born 22 November 1940) is an American-British filmmaker, comedian, collage film, collage animator, and actor. He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Pa ...

'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 "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 ''Monty ...

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

Eric Idle Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright. He was a member of the British comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band the Rutles. Idle studied English at Pembroke Co ...

'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 written by Eric Idle and performed 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 '' M ...

" and the extended "Henry Kissinger" from ''

The Final Rip Off ''The Final Rip Off'' is a compilation double album by Monty Python, released in 1987. It was the team's first release on Virgin Records, after the label acquired the rights to their back catalogue previously released on Charisma Records, Charisma ...

'' were also used, as well as a new mix of " Bruces' Philosophers Song (Bruces' Song)" and a remix of the 1975

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

-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 biblical black comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michae ...

'' 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 Sing ...

" 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 a ...

Artwork

The 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

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 film '' Monty Python’s Life of Brian'' and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as f ...

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

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

. 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 humour, surreal sketch comedy series created by and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, w ...

'' 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 Stephen William Hawking (8January 194214March 2018) was an English theoretical physics, theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Between ...

version of "Galaxy Song," first released as a limited edition

7-inch single In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standa ...

for

Record Store Day Record Store Day is a semi-annual event established in 2008 to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". Held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November, the day brings together f ...

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 actor, comedian, director, historian, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones a ...

Michael Palin Sir Michael Edward Palin (; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. He received the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, BAFTA Fellowship in 2013 and was knig ...

;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 vo ...

("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 Television programme ''Teletubbi ...

("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 comedy rock group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later became a frequent collaborator with the Monty Py ...

– 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

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Sings Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

1989 compilation albums Virgin Records compilation albums Albums with cover art by Terry Gilliam