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Monty Python Records
According to George Perry's book "Life of Python" ( which is the source of all the behind the scenes material in this article unless otherwise noted ) the story went something like this. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" had been on the air for a season when the BBC asked the cast to if they wanted to record a comedy album based on their best sketches.
It should also be taken in account that in 1970 there was no such thing as the VCR, so the only way to relive the series was through audio recordings. It had only been a couple of years since "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released and everyone including the Python's were still inspired by it. The Who would go on to record "Tommy", Pink Floyd "Dark Side of The Moon" and other rock bands their own concept albums. The Pythons dreamed of doing the same for their first album with sound effects, music cues, and playing with the stereo effects itself. Monty Python was groundbreaking in television and wanted to also be groundbreaking with their comedy album.
But the Pythons soon soon realized that the BBC had other plans for the album. They were ushered into the BBC radio studio where their weekly comedy show "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again" was taped where they were expected to record the album in front of a live audience who would provide a laugh track. The audience was less than enthusiastic, the recording equipment was ancient and only recorded mono, there was no way to edit in the sound effects and music cues they wanted, and they were given only a day to record the album. The Pythons were disappointed but were determined to record the groundbreaking album they had wanted to in the first place. They signed a contract with Charisma Records for 7 albums including one "Best Of...." album. The Pythons would go on to release 12 albums, not counting the "Spamalot" soundtrack and "Eric Idle Sings Monty Python".
The early to mid 70's would be Monty Pythons most creative period, both as a team and as individuals. While writing and performing episodes of "...The Flying Circus" John Cleese and Graham Chapman were also writing and performing in a weekly live radio comedy show "I'm Sorry. I'll Read That Again" as well as writing a few episodes of "Dr. In Charge". The Pythons themselves took on other projects beyond their television series. They also wrote hour long episodes with new material that aired in Germany, at least one record album a year also with new material, two books with new material, television commercials and promotional films for the BBC which was all original Python material, and still had time for a stage tour. And in the midst of this they began writing a movie script that would eventually become "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", not to mention rewriting their television sketches for the movie "And Now For Something Completely Different". The first album was funny only because sketches such as "The Dead Parrot" worked well in audio form and having only aired once on television were still fresh. But the album sounds rushed. Lines are flubbed or even forgotten.
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