Monty Python Sings

Monty Python

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 1992)
• Original Release Date: November 26, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000000WIA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,636 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though this seminal British comedy team is better known for authority-tweaking absurdist wordplay and surrealist visual hijinks, music has always been an essential element in the troupe's twisted universe. Monty Python Sings collects 25 musical Python nuggets from the team's album catalogue, including such beloved ditties as "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," "Lumberjack Song," "I'm So Worried," "Spam Song," "Bruces' Philosophers' Song," "I Like Chinese," and "Knights of the Round Table." With so much Python music gathered in one place, it's impressive to note just how many of the sextet's musical excursions have become cult classics. --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And now for "song"-thing completely different, October 22, 2003

By	Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

And now, for something completely different. There are 25 songs taken from Monty Python's TV series, movies, and other comedy albums, some that are so memorable, it isn't surprising to hear someone singing them at a whim, other obscure ones that are downright hilarious and/or gross, and those featured in their TV show and movies. But others are like, "Gordon Bennett, this is so naff! What'd they include it in 'ere for?" Consequently, I'll not go through every song, but be warned if I do get silly--Python tends to do that to people.

"Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life", sung by Eric Idle and the crucified prisoners at the end of Life Of Brian, starts out the album. Basically: "life's a piece of ****, when you look at it/life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true/you'll see it's a show/keep'em laughing as you go/just remember that the last laugh is on you." A breezy, humorous, but pointed look at "the final word."

"The Lumberjack Song" is by far THE classic Python song. In this rendition, Michael Palin leads off by a weather report, before he sings, "I didn't want to do this for a living. I wanted to be... a lumberjack!" and the rest is history. Note: if anyone hears me singing "I cut down trees/I wear high heels/suspenders and a bra", PLEASE don't take me seriously. I'm an environmentalist and would NOT cut down trees. Yours etc. D.J. Hamlow, Mrs.

The brief "(Not the Noel Coward Song)" from Meaning Of Life is a 41 second laugh-out-loud ditty on "your wife's best friend", the one sung before Mr. Creosote comes into the restaurant.

"Oliver Cromwell" sung by John Cleese, is set to Frederic Chopin's Polonaise No. 6 and is a delight for English history buffs. The twisted tone they give is apparent in the spoken intro: "The most interesting thing about King Charles I is that he was 5'6" tall at the start of his reign, but only 4'8" tall at the end of it... because of..." and the song begins, listing the key events of the English Civil Wars.

"Medical Love Song" is so disgusting, I won't mention it, but it is funny, and the chorus is a list of medical conditions.

"Every Sperm Is Sacred" is a latter day classic that needs to be sung a lot more. This hilarious parody on the Catholic mindset of conception was a highlight from The Meaning Of Life. I wonder if the kids in the movie knew what they were singing, especially the little girl who sings "Let the heathens spill theirs/on the dusty ground/God will make them pay for/each sperm that can't be found."

The brief "Never Be Rude To An Arab" is a guilty pleasure ditty for these PC times. After a nice first verse extolling the virtues of respecting a "Saudi, Israeli, or Jew", the next verse includes some derogatory racial words before an explosion sounds, cutting off Terry Jones.

Those who have or are taking a philosophy course right now will enjoy the "Bruces' Philosopher's Song" by those lovable Australian Bruces. You know, "Immanuel Kant was a real p----ant, who was very rarely stable..." and how different philosophers drank. And remember what Rene Descartes said. "I drink therefore I am."

"All Things Dull & Ugly" is a bitterly cynical but funny take on the British choir song "All Things Bright And Beautiful." Yes, it is true, isn't it, "All things scabbed and ulcerous/All pox both great and small/putrid, foul and gangrenous/The Lord God made them all."

The other Meaning Of Life songs are included, and those are among my favourites, such as the title track sung outrageously by Eric Idle: "What's the point of all this hoax?/Is this the chicken and the egg time, are we just yolks?", the Vegas-style "Christmas In Heaven" number and the contemplative "Galaxy Song." Yes, "pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space/because there's bu--er all down here on Earth."

The "Spam Song" ends the album to please the hardcore fans. If you want something affordable that's just songs and without sketches, such as the Final Ripoff double CD, then sing with Monty Python Sings. However, be warned that there are a number of naff songs that may warrant hitting the fast-forward button. Yours etc. Brigadier DJ Ham-And-Cheese, with shallots, aubergines, and a double scoop of lemon curry.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always look on the bright side of life, September 16, 2003

By	Merilahti Kristiina (Finland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was so happy to find this collection. I've loved Monty Python series and movies and admired the multi-talented group. Nothing was too holy for them to be laughed at - and so should it be, laughing at something makes even the most horrible and difficult things shrink down to a size, where we can look at them and deal with them. And yet they always maintained quality in their work.

This record is a good example: it has songs from the series and such movies as 'The meaning of life', 'The life of Brian' and 'The quest for the holy Grail'. Of course, Eric Idle shines here with his 'Always look on the bright side of life', hilarious 'Penis song' and 'Bruces' philosophers song' being the author and composer of all these and many others. And as a performer... well, you can't listen to his voice without bursting into a huge smile. 'Always look on the bright side of life' really saves the day, no matter how bad things look.

The subjects are varied, some of them laugh casually at sex, such as 'Sit on my face'. It wasn't at all awkward to listen to them, because the ambitious, very serious way everything is arranged with violins, flutes, male choirs and symphony orchestras lifts the songs from being a bit naughty to something absolutely irresistible. You can only laugh and sing along. And can anybody go to church and listen to hymns seriously after hearing the lovely boy choir singing Eric Idle's 'All things dull & ugly'?

'Bruces' philosopher's song' and 'Knights of the round table' weren't technically as good as others, unfortunately. I was going to give four stars, but had to give the fifth one for Michael Palin for making 'Finland', even if it's clearly made by someone who's never been here - and I understood that's just the point. Sorry, Michael, we don't have mountains. Only some fells, none of them even a mile high.

Have a laugh, get this. The songs are so well made, that you can listen them still, when you already know the joke.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always look..., February 20, 2001

By	Jonathon Rose (Stockton Springs, ME) - See all my reviews

Everyone with a brain knows that Python is the funniest troupe ever. The songs are just as good. This is the best feel good, cheer you up album EVER recorded. Has Monty's best songs from "The Lumberjack Song" to little kids singing about the wonders of reproduction... Has the classic "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" as well. Buy it sing to it and laugh and enjoy!