Length 52:05 (UK)
58:15 (US) Release date 1977 | Artist Monty Python Genre Comedy | |
 | ||
Released 2 December 1977 (UK Version)
1981 (US Version) Recorded 1971-1977 (UK Version)
1973-1980 (US Version) Label Charisma (UK)
Arista (US) The Monty Python Instant Record Collection
(1977) Monty Python's Life of Brian
(1979) Similar Monty Python albums, Other albums | ||
The Monty Python Instant Record Collection is actually the title of two compilation albums released by the Monty Python troupe, the first in the UK in 1977 drew from the group's first five Charisma albums, and the other in the US in 1981 which comprised tracks from their four Arista albums. It was billed as "the pick of the best of some recently repeated Python hits again, Vol. II." The record sleeve's original design was done by Terry Gilliam. It featured packaging that folded out into a cardboard box resembling a large stack of record albums (all containing spoofs of popular album names).
Contents
The only new sketch (on the UK version) is "Summarise Proust Competition" which was originally performed on the television series Monty Python's Flying Circus and was re-recorded for Monty Python's Previous Record but never used, while the Alistair Cooke sketch is preceded by a brief, newly recorded introduction by Michael Palin. Many of the sketches are edited from their original versions.
The selection of sketches included on the US version is very different from that of the original record release.
Side one
- 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 Cherry Orchard
- Oscar Wilde
Side two
- Introduction
- Argument
- French Taunter
- Summarise Proust Competition
- Cheese Emporium
- Funerals at Prestatyn
- Camelot
- Word Association
- Bruces
- Parrot
- Monty Python Theme
(note that, like many of the Python albums, the CD version of the album contains only two tracks "Side One" and "Side Two". The individual sketches are not selectable).
Side one
- The Executive Intro
- Pet Shop
- Nudge Nudge
- Premiere of a 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 two
- Another Executive Announcement
- Bishop on the Landing
- Elephantoplasty
- The Lumberjack Song
- Bookshop
- Blackmail
- Farewell to John Denver
- World Forum/Communist Quiz
- String
- Wide World of Novel Writing
- Death of Mary Queen of Scots
- Never be Rude to an Arab
Distribution Information
Faux album titles listed on packaging
As mentioned above, the record jacket packaging folds out into the shape of a box, with the actual record sleeve being the lid of the box. The remainder of the box appears as a stack of records (the "instant record collection") with one face of the box displaying all the album titles, as listed here: