Monty Python - the albums

Long ago, when the pythons were young, there wasn't anything you could do with a TV show once it was over.
While waiting for the video, laserdisc and DVD to be invented, all the Pythons could do was bring out books and records.
And so they had a record career that is sometimes unjustly overlooked or even forgotten. They went on to release records with unique material, and matching sleeves. And one record even had three sides to play...
Filled with sketches from the Flying Circus, sketches from earlier shows, new material, or live recordings, this is the list:

Monty Python's Flying Circus (1970)

Side A:

Flying Sheep; Television Interviews / Arthur Frampton; Trade Description Act / Whizzo Chocolates; Nudge, Nudge; The Mouse Problem; Buying A Bed; Interesting People; The Barber / Lumberjack Song; Interviews / Sir Edward Ross

Side B:

Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson; Children's Stories; The Visitors; The Cinema / Albatross!; The North Minehead By-Election; Me Doctor; Pet Shop (Dead Parrot); Self-Defense

Labels:

LP: (1970) BBC Records REB 73M (U.K.)
LP: (1970) Pye Records 12116 (U.S.)
LP: (1970) BBC Records BBC-22073 (U.K.)
CS: (1970) BBC Records REMC 73 (U.K.)
CD: (1985) BBC/Audio Visual International BBCCD73 (U.K.)
LP: (1986) Warner Brothers Records 88375 (ISBN 0-871-88375-9) (U.S.)
CS: (1994) BBC Enterprises, Ltd. ZBBC 1508 ISBN 0-563-39481-1 (U.K.) (Canned Laughter series)

Another Monty Python Record / Another Monty Python CD (1971)

Side A:

Apologies; Spanish Inquisition; World Forum; Gumby Theatre; The Architect; The Piranha Brothers

Side B:

The Death of Mary, Queen of Scots; Exploding Penguin; Comfy Chair / Sound Quiz; Be a Great Actor; Royal Festival Hall Concert; Spam; Judges; Stake your Claim; No sign of land / Undertaker

Labels:

LP: (1970) Charisma Records Ltd., CAS 1049 (U.K.)
LP: (1972) Charisma CAS 1049 (U.S.) (with different running-order and material)
LP: (1972) Buddah, ** (U.S.)
LP: (1988) Virgin Records Ltd., CHC 79 (U.K.) (budget price)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP501 (U.K.)
CD: (1989) Virgin Records Ltd. CASCD 1049 ("Another Monty Python CD") (U.S.)
CD: (1994) Virgin Records, Ltd., VCCD 001 (U.K.) ("Another Monty Python CD" version 2, re-issue)
CD: (1997) Caroline CAROL 1107-2 (U.S.)
CD: (2006) EMI PYTHCD 1 (U.K.)

Monty Python's Previous Record (1972)

Side A:

Embarrassment / A Bed-time Book, England 1747--Dennis Moore; Money Programme; Dennis Moore Continues; Australian Table Wines; Argument Clinic; Putting Budgies Down; Eric the Half a Bee; Travel Agency

Side B:

Radio Quiz Game; A Massage / City Noises Quiz; Miss Anne Elk; We Love the Yangtse; How-To-Do-It Lessons; A Minute Passed; Eclipse of the Sun; Alistair Cooke; Wonderful World of Sounds; A Fairy Tale

Labels:

LP: (1972) Charisma, CAS 1063 (U.K.)
LP: (1972) Charisma (has also been cited as Arista), 0598 (U.S.)
LP: (1973) Buddah, ** (U.S.)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP506 (U.K.)
LP: (1988) Virgin Records Ltd. CHC 80 (U.K.) (budget price)
CD: (1989) Virgin Records Ltd. CASCD 1063 (U.K.) (budget CD)
CD: (1994) Virgin Records Ltd. VCCD 002 (U.K.) (reissue)
CD: (1997) Caroline CAROL 1106 (U.S.)
CD: (2006) EMI PYTHCD 2 (U.K.)

Matching Tie And Handkerchief (1973)

Side A:

Right Thinking People; Dead Bishop on the Landing / The Church Police; Who Cares / The Surgeon and the Elephant Mr. Humphries; Thomas Hardy / Novel Writing; Word Association; Bruces / Philosophers' Song; Nothing Happened / Eating Dog; Cheese Shop; Thomas Hardy; Tiger Club; Great Actors

Side B:

Infant Minister for Overseas Development; Oscar Wilde's Party; Pet Shop Conversions; Mr. Phone-in

Side C:

Background To History / Medieval; Open Field Farming Songs; World War I Soldier / Stuck Record; Boxing Tonight With Kenneth Clark

Labels:

LP: (1973) Charisma CAS 1080 (U.K.)
LP: (1985) Charisma CAS 1080 (U.K.)
LP: (1975) Arista AL 4039 (U.S.)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP505 (U.K.)
LP: (19**) Arista ALB 68357 (U.S.)
LP: (1988) Virgin Records Ltd., CHC 81 (U.K.) (budget price; single groove on side B)
CS: (19**) Arista ACB6-8357 (U.S.)
CD: (1985, 1989) Virgin Records Ltd. CASCD 1080 (U.K.) (budget CD)
CD: (19**) Arista/BMG 07822-18357-2 (Canada) (features same cover as U.S. Arista LP)
CD: (1994) Virgin Records Ltd. VCCD 003 (U.K.) (reissue)
CD: (2007) Sony 708410 (USA)

Note:

So what's with the third track??? Normally, each side of a record has one groove spiralling inwards. Matching Tie and Handkerchief side B had two grooves, spiralling inside each other. Which track you got depended on where exactly you put down the stylus.

Monty Python Live at Drury Lane (1974)

Side A:

Introduction / Llamas; Gumby Flower Arranging; Secret Service; Wrestling; Communist Quiz; Idiot Song; Albatross / The Colonel; Nudge, Nudge / Cocktail Bar; Travel Agent

Side B:

Spot the Brain Cell; Bruces; Argument; I've Got Two Legs; Four Yorkshiremen; Election Special; Lumberjack Song; Bar Dead Parrot

Labels:

LP: (1974, 1983) Charisma Records, Ltd./Charisma, Class 4 (U.K.)
LP: (19**) Charisma Records, CAS 1141 (U.S.)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP504 (U.K.) (catalog number is questionable)
LP: (1989) VIP Records, VVIP 104 (U.K.) (budget price)
CS: (19N/A) Virgin Records Ltd. CA4-1-1502 (Canada) ("Monty Python Live at Drury Lane")
CD: (1989) VIP Records, VVIPD 104 (U.K.) (budget CD)
CD: (19N/A) Virgin / EMI / Axis CDVAX 701612 (Australia) ("Monty Python Live at Drury Lane")
CD: (1994) Virgin Records Ltd., VCCD 007 (U.K.) ("Monty Python Live at Drury Lane;" reissue)
CD: (2006) EMI, PYTHCD 5 (U.K.)
CD: (2002) Disky SI 792922

The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Side A:

Congratulations / Welcome to the Cinema; Opening / Coconuts; Bring Out Your Dead; King Arthur Meets Dennis / Class Struggle; Witch Test; Professional Logician; Camelot / The Quest; The Silbury Hill Car Park; Frenchmen of the Castle; Bomb Threat

Side B:

Executive Announcement; Story of the Film So Far; The Tale of Sir Robin; The Knights of Ni; Interview / Director Carl French; Swamp Castle / The Guards; Tim the Enchanter; Great Performances / Angry Crowd; Holy Hand Grenade; Announcement--Sir Kenneth Clark; French Castle Again / Close of Film

Labels:

LP: (1975) Charisma CAS 1103 (U.K.)
LP: (1983) Charisma CHC 17 (U.K.) (special reissue at budget price)
LP: (19**) Arista AL 4050 (U.S.)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP503 (U.K.)
LP: (19**) Arista Al 5-8157 (U.S.)
LP: (19**) Arista ALB 68355 (U.S.)
CS: (1975) Arista Records Inc. ACB6-8355 (U.S.)
CD: (1989) Virgin CASCD1103 (U.K.) (budget CD)
CD: (1994) Virgin Records Ltd., VCCD 004 (U.K.) (reissue)
CD: (1997) Arista Records 18958-2
CD: (2002) Disky SI 792892

Monty Python Live at City Center (1976)

Side A:

Llama; Gumby Flower Arranging; Short Blues by Neil Innes; Wrestling; World Forum; Albatross / Colonel; Nudge, Nudge; Crunchy Frog; Bruces' Philosopher's Song; Travel Agent

Side B:

Camp Judges / Blackmail; Protest Song by Neil Innes; Pet Shop; Four Yorkshiremen; Argument Clinic; Death of Mary, Queen of Scots; Salvation Fuzz / Church Police; Lumberjack Song

Labels:

LP: (1976) Arista AL 4073 (U.S.) ("Monty Python Live! At City Center")
LP: (1976) Kay Gee Bee Songs, Inc., AB 4073 (**)
LP: (1976) Arista ALB6-8353 (U.S.)
CS: (1976) Arista Records Inc., ACB6-8353 (U.S.)
CD: (1997) Arista 07822-18957-2 (U.S.)

Note:

Live at City Center was also used in a radio show called King Biscuit Flower Hour. The radio edition was broadcast on 9 May 1976 and contained the following sketches: Introduction by Dave Herman and John Cleese; Llama; Gumby Flower Arranging; Short Blues by Neil Innes; Albatross / Colonel; Nudge, Nudge; How Sweet to be an Idiot (song for the sensitive) by Neil Innes; Crunchy Frog; Bruces' Philosopher's Song (suppressed laugh); Travel Agent; Blackmail; Protest Song by Neil Innes; Pet Shop; Four Yorkshiremen; Dead Bisshop / Church Police; Lumberjack Song; Monty Python Theme.
Some sketches on the standard album are not part of the radio concert, except for "How sweet to be an idiot" by Neil Innes, which is not on the normal album (was this track borrowed from a previous live show perhaps?).
This radio edition is an off air recording that was found on an old audio tape reel. Possibly there were a few more minutes that are missing from this recording, as the tape ends with "stay tuned for a few final words".

The Monty Python Instant Record Collection (UK Version - 1977)

Side A:

Introductions; Alistair Cooke; Nudge, Nudge; Mrs. Nigger-Baiter; Constitutional Peasants; Fish Licence / Eric the Half a Bee; Australian Table Wines; Silly Noises; Novel Writing; Elephantoplasty; How To Do It; Gumby; Oscar Wilde

Side B:

Introduction; Argument; French Taunter; Summarize Proust Competition; Cheese Emporium; Funerals at Prestatyn; Camelot; Word Association; Bruces; Parrot; Monty Python Theme

Labels:

LP: (1977, 1983) Charisma CAS 1134 (U.K.)
LP: (19**) Arista Records ALB 68296 (U.S.)
CD: (1989) Virgin Records, Ltd., CASCD 1134 (U.K.) (budget CD)

Note:

Originally designed by Terry Gilliam and packaged to fold out into a cardboard box resembling a large stack of record albums, and now released in a normal record sleeve because the package kept breaking open in stores, this is essentially a "greatest hits" album, or, as it is billed, "The pick of the best of some recently repeated Python hits again, Vol. II." Most of the material here has been on previous albums.

Life of Brian (1979)

Side A:

Introduction; Brian Song / Three Wise Men; Brian Song (continued); Sermon on the Mount (Big Nose); Harry the Haggler / Stoning; Ex-leper; You Mean You Were Raped? (Nortius Maximus); Link; In the Amphitheatre (Loretta); Short Link; Romans Go Home; Missing Link; Revolutionary Meeting; Very Good Link / Ben; Audience with Pilate; Meanwhile

Side B:

The Prophets / Beard Salesman; Lobster Link; Brian's Prophecy; Lobster Link II; The Hermit (Simon the Holy Man); He's Not the Messiah; Sex Link; He's a Very Naughty Boy; Lighter Link; Pilate Sentences Brian; Nisus Wettus; Pilate with the Crowd (Welease Woger); Nisus Wettus with the Jailers; Release Brian; Not So Bad / Reg Salutes Brian / Cheeky is Released; Always Look on the Bright Side of Life; Closing

Labels:

LP: (1979) WBMS 110 (U.S.)
LP: (19??) Warner Bros. BSK 3396 (U.S.)
LP: (19??) Warner Bros. K 56751 (U.K.)
MC: (19??) Virgin Chattering Classics VCCMC009 (U.K.)
CD: (????) Virgin Chattering Classics VCCCD009 (U.K.)
CD: (1997) Caroline CAROL 1104-2 (U.S.)
CD: (2000) EMI Comedy 7243 5 28609 2 0 (U.K.)
CD: (2000) Disky SI 998422
CD: (2006) EMI PYTHCD 6 (U.K.)
CD: (2007) Virgin 75722 (USA)

Monty Python examines Life of Brian (1979) with Dave Herman, for radio stations only.

Side A:

silly discussion

Side B:

silly discussion

Labels:

LP: (1979) WBMS 110 (U.S.)

Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980)

Side A:

Sit on my face; Announcement; Kissinger; String; Never be rude to an Arab; I Like Chinese; The Bisschop; Medical Love Song; Farewell to John Denver; Finland; I'm so worried

Side B:

I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio; Martyrdom of St. Victor; Here Comes Another One; Bookshop; Do What John?; Rock Notes; Muddy Knees; Crocodile; Decomposing Composers; Bells; Traffic Lights; All Things Dull and Ugly; A Scottish Farewell

Labels:

LP: (1980) Charisma CAS 1152 (U.K.) (features sleeve jacket with handwritten notes by the Pythons and makes reference to the John Denver song; released October 1980)
LP: (1980) Charisma CAS 1152 (U.K.) (does not include the "Farewell to John Denver" song; released November 1980)
LP: (1980) Charisma CHC 34 (U.K.) (censored, budget price)
LP: (1980) Arista ALB6-8343 (also cited as Arista 8343) (U.S.)
LP: (1980) Arista AL 9536 (U.S.)
(features sleeve jacket with handwritten notes by the Pythons; record itself features labels which appear scratched up with handwritten "Side One" and "The Other Side" on them)
LP: (1980) Arista ALDJ 9536 (U.S.) (promotional copy of the U.S. release of the album; features plain white cover with track listing on the back; record itself is just labeled "Monty Python" with track listings on them)
LP: (19**) Virgin MP502 (U.K.)
CS: (1980) Arista ACB6-8343 (U.S.) (cover features image of old cassette tape with the title covered with white liquid paper and "Monty Python's Contractual O..." written across it in the same fashion of the original LP cover)
CD: (1989) Virgin Records Ltd. / Kay Gee Be Music Ltd. CASCD 1152 (U.K.) (budget CD)
CD: (1994) Virgin Records Ltd. VCCD 008 (U.K.) (censored version; reissue)
CD: (1994) Arista Records/BMG 0-7822-18343-2 (Canada) (includes some additional written text on the cover)
CD: (2006) EMI PYTHCD 8 (U.K.)
CD: (2007) Sony 708409 (U.K.)

The Monty Python Instant Record Collection (US Version - 1980)

Side A:

The Executive Intro; Pet Shop; Nudge, Nudge; Live Broadcast from London; Premiere of Film; Bring Out Your Dead; How Do You Tell A Witch; Camelot; Argument Clinic; Crunchy Frog; The Cheese Shop; The Phone-In; Sit On My Face;

Side B:

Another Executive Announcement; Bishop On The Landing; Elephantoplasty; The Lumberjack Song; Bookshop; Blackmail; Farewell to John Denver; World Forum; String; Wide World of Novel Writing; Death of Mary, Queen of Scots; Never Be Rude to an Arab

Labels:

LP: (1981) Arista Records AL 9580 (U.S.)
CS: (1982) Arista Records Inc. ACB6-8296 (U.S.)
CD: (1990) Arista ARCD-8296 (U.S.) (features different cover from Arista cassette)

Note:

This album actually contains a different collection of best hits than the original U.K. version and features tracks from 'Matching Tie and Handkerchief', 'the Holy Grail album', 'Live at the City Center' and 'Contractual Obligation Album'.

The Meaning of Life (1983)

Side A:

Introduction; Fish Introduction; The Meaning of Life; Birth; Birth Link / Frying Eggs; Every Sperm Is Sacred; Protestant Couple; Adventures of Martin Luther; Sex Education; Trench Warfare; The Great Tea of 1914-18 Fish Link

Side B:

Terry Gilliam's Intro; Accountancy Shanty: Theme Zulu Wars; Link; The Dungeon Restaurant; Link / Live Organ Transplants; The Galaxy Song; The Not Noël Coward (Penis) Song; Mr. Creosote; The Grim Reaper; Christmas in Heaven; Dedication (To Fish)

Bonus Tracks on Disky SI 792902 and later editions:

Intro Title Song Demo Meaning Of Life (Piano Version) (02:38); Alternate Intro Title Song Meaning Of Life (Band Version) (03:35); Fat Song (Deleted Intro To Mr Creosote Sketch) (00:29); Alternate Christmas In Heaven Song (05:30); Radio Ad - Philisophers Corner (00:42); Radio Ad Officer (00:40); Radio Ad German Translation (00:32); Greasy Hair (00:41); Dino Vicotti (01:00); Sketch The Script (00:32); Grand Prix (00:31); Hard of Thinking (00:50)

Labels:

LP: (1983) MCA Records MCA 6121 (**)
LP: (1983) CBS Inc. CBS 70239 (U.K.)
CS: (1983) MCA Records MCAC-6121 (**)
CD: (1994) Virgin Chattering Classics VCCD 010 (U.K.)
CD: (2002) Disky SI 792902 with bonus tracks
CD: (2006) EMI PYTHCD 7 (U.K.)
CD: (2006) Virgin PYTH 8 (U.K.)

Monty Python Sings (1989)

Tracks:

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life; Eric the Half a Bee; Sit on My Face; Brian Song; Lumberjack Song; Bruces' Philosophers Song; Penis Song (Not the Noël Coward Song); Meaning of Life; Oliver Cromwell; Knights of the Round Table; Money Song; All Things Dull and Ugly; Accountancy Shanty; Decomposing Composers; Finland; Henry Kissinger; Medical Love Song; I've Got Two Legs; I'm So Worried; Christmas in Heaven; Every Sperm is Sacred; Galaxy Song; Never Be Rude to an Arab; Spam Song; I Like Chinese

Labels:

CS: (1989, 1991) Virgin Records Ltd., MONT 1 (U.K.)
CS: (1989) Virgin Records Ltd., MONTC 1 Virgin 25 (U.K)
CS: (19**) Virgin Records 91781-4 (**)
CD: (19**) Virgin Records 91781-2 (**)
CD: (1989) Virgin Records / Kay Gee Bee Music Ltd. CDV 3133 (U.S.)
CD: (1989, 1991) Virgin Records, Ltd., MONTD 1 (U.K.) (with libretto; repromoted in 1991)

Spamalot (2005)

Side A:

Introduction; Fish Introduction; The Meaning of Life; Birth; Birth Link / Frying Eggs; Every Sperm Is Sacred; Protestant Couple; Adventures of Martin Luther; Sex Education; Trench Warfare; The Great Tea of 1914-18 Fish Link

Side B:

Terry Gilliam's Intro; Accountancy Shanty: Theme Zulu Wars; Link; The Dungeon Restaurant; Link / Live Organ Transplants; The Galaxy Song; The Not Noël Coward (Penis) Song; Mr. Creosote; The Grim Reaper; Christmas in Heaven; Dedication (To Fish)

Labels:

CD: Universal, 9880253 (U.K.)

A Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick (1976)

Side A:

A Brief Introduction (Cleese); Asp (Cook, Fortune); Happy, Darling? (Bron, Fortune); The Last Supper (Cleese, Lynn); Telegram (Bennett); Funky Gibbon (Goodies); Appeal (Bron)

Side B:

Courtroom (Chapman, Cleese,Cleveland, Gilliam, Jones, Palin, with Cook); Portraits from Memory (Miller); You Say Potato (Bird, Fortune); Baby Talk (Bron, Fortune); So That's The Way You Like It -- Beyond the Fringe (Miller, Bennett, Cook with Jones); Lumberjack Song (All)

Labels:

TRA 331