Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album
Encyclopedia
Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (or simply Contractual Obligation Album) is an album
released by Monty Python
in 1980, a mixture of songs, new sketches and some rerecorded pre-Python work. As the title suggests, the album was put together to complete a contract with Charisma Records. At least one of the skits on the album ("Bookshop," also called "Bookshop Sketch") predates the group itself, having been performed on the ITV
series At Last the 1948 Show
in 1967.
The lead track, "Sit on My Face
" was sung to the tune of "Sing as We Go
," a song made famous by Gracie Fields
, and reportedly its inclusion led to legal threats against the Python team for copyright infringement over the melody. Nonetheless, the song was retained on the album and was later lip-synched by the troupe as the opening of Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
. It was also performed by Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Neil Innes at the Concert for George
, the memorial concert for George Harrison
, at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002. At the end of the song the 4 performers turned around and mooned the audience.
"Farewell to John Denver," which contained a few bars of Eric Idle
impersonating John Denver
singing a parody of "Annie's Song
," followed by the sound of the singer being strangled, was removed from subsequent pressings of the album on legal advice (reports differ as to whether it had to do with the licensing of "Annie's Song" or the depiction of the popular singer being murdered), and was replaced by an apology spoken by Terry Jones
. Later CD releases of the album reinstated the John Denver track, although the 2006 reissue reverts to Terry Jones' apology. (The original "Farewell To John Denver" track can be found on the Arista CD The Monty Python Instant Record Collection.)
Ironically, original advance print advertising by Charisma Records included the tagline, "Now A Major Lawsuit."
In the U.S. there was no need to clear the John Denver sample, as both this album and the source of the sample—"Annie's Song"—came out on and were owned by the same label. The U.S. version of the album contains both "Farewell To John Denver" and the corrected version of "I'm So Worried".
A CD
version was later released. Two versions of the compact disc exist.
The isolated CD release contains the U.S. version of the album, but the box set The Instant Monty Python CD Collection
(1994) uses the UK second edition of the album.
Two versions of "Medical Love Song" also exist; the longer version, which can be heard on the compilation CD Monty Python Sings
, contains additional verses. This is also the case with the song "Henry Kissinger."
The cassette version also has an additional track. Side 1 is several minutes shorter than side 2. At the end of Side 1 (about 0:45 after "I'm So Worried"), Michael Palin states that there will be a "tiresome gap" before the tape ends. Several minutes (about 4:52) of silence ensue, followed at the very end by Eric Idle stating that the gap was over and the tape may be turned to side 2.
Like all the EMI Monty Python albums Contractual Obligation gained a special edition release in 2006 with bonus tracks included. However, these tracks do not contain new material (which appears on some of the other albums) and just consists of two interviews, and demo versions of two songs.
Two bands drew their name from "Toad the Wet Sprocket," an imaginary group featured in the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes." The name had originally been featured in a parody of The Old Grey Whistle Test on Rutland Weekend Television
in 1975. The first Toad the Wet Sprocket was a British heavy metal band of the 1970s, which released a few singles and appeared on the 1980 compilation album Metal for Muthas
. The second Toad the Wet Sprocket
was a longer-lived American alternative band of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Jim Beach is credited as "the lawyer the Pythons wronged"
John Cleese and Marty Feldman
performed the original version of "Bookshop" for At Last the 1948 Show (episode airing 1 March 1967 on ITV). Another version of the sketch was later performed by Bob Hope
on one of his mid-1980s TV specials for NBC
.
"Sit on My Face" and "Never Be Rude to an Arab" were performed as part of the film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
. Years later, Michael Palin was filmed singing a verse from "Finland" during an episode of his 1992 travelogue series Pole to Pole
during a segment in which he is shown traveling across that country. A heavily edited version of "Finland" is used as the opening song of the stage musical Spamalot
(ending with a historian exasperatedly yelling "I said England!")
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
released by Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
in 1980, a mixture of songs, new sketches and some rerecorded pre-Python work. As the title suggests, the album was put together to complete a contract with Charisma Records. At least one of the skits on the album ("Bookshop," also called "Bookshop Sketch") predates the group itself, having been performed on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
series At Last the 1948 Show
At Last the 1948 Show
At Last the 1948 Show is a satirical TV show made by David Frost's company, Paradine Productions , in association with Rediffusion London...
in 1967.
Controversies
Two tracks on the album caused controversy when first released.The lead track, "Sit on My Face
Sit on My Face
"Sit on My Face" is a short song by the members of the comedy troupe Monty Python which originally appeared on the album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album. It was later included in the album Monty Python Sings, and was sung in the Python concert filmed and released as Monty Python Live...
" was sung to the tune of "Sing as We Go
Sing as We Go
Sing As We Go is a 1934 British musical film starring Gracie Fields and Stanley Holloway. The script was written by Gordon Wellesley and J. B. Priestley; it was directed by Basil Dean....
," a song made famous by Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
, and reportedly its inclusion led to legal threats against the Python team for copyright infringement over the melody. Nonetheless, the song was retained on the album and was later lip-synched by the troupe as the opening of Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
. It was also performed by Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Neil Innes at the Concert for George
Concert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
, the memorial concert for George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002. At the end of the song the 4 performers turned around and mooned the audience.
"Farewell to John Denver," which contained a few bars of Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
impersonating John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
singing a parody of "Annie's Song
Annie's Song
"Annie's Song" is a rock/country song recorded and written by singer-songwriter John Denver. It was his second number-one song in the United States, occupying that spot for two weeks in July 1974. "Annie's Song" also went to number one on the Easy Listening chart...
," followed by the sound of the singer being strangled, was removed from subsequent pressings of the album on legal advice (reports differ as to whether it had to do with the licensing of "Annie's Song" or the depiction of the popular singer being murdered), and was replaced by an apology spoken by Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
. Later CD releases of the album reinstated the John Denver track, although the 2006 reissue reverts to Terry Jones' apology. (The original "Farewell To John Denver" track can be found on the Arista CD The Monty Python Instant Record Collection.)
Ironically, original advance print advertising by Charisma Records included the tagline, "Now A Major Lawsuit."
Other versions
As noted above, some pressings of Contractual Obligation Album omit the "Farewell to John Denver" track. The original UK vinyl pressing also contained an unintentionally out-of-sync mix on the song "I'm So Worried" which was subsequently corrected.In the U.S. there was no need to clear the John Denver sample, as both this album and the source of the sample—"Annie's Song"—came out on and were owned by the same label. The U.S. version of the album contains both "Farewell To John Denver" and the corrected version of "I'm So Worried".
A CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
version was later released. Two versions of the compact disc exist.
The isolated CD release contains the U.S. version of the album, but the box set The Instant Monty Python CD Collection
The Instant Monty Python CD Collection
The Instant Monty Python CD Collection is a box set released in 1994 of six CDs containing eight albums by the Monty Python troupe.It contained a small booklet of reprinted material from album sleeves and previous Python books.-Track listing:...
(1994) uses the UK second edition of the album.
Two versions of "Medical Love Song" also exist; the longer version, which can be heard on the compilation CD Monty Python Sings
Monty Python Sings
Monty Python Sings is a comedy album of songs written by the Monty Python team.The song "Oliver Cromwell" was never released prior to this album...
, contains additional verses. This is also the case with the song "Henry Kissinger."
The cassette version also has an additional track. Side 1 is several minutes shorter than side 2. At the end of Side 1 (about 0:45 after "I'm So Worried"), Michael Palin states that there will be a "tiresome gap" before the tape ends. Several minutes (about 4:52) of silence ensue, followed at the very end by Eric Idle stating that the gap was over and the tape may be turned to side 2.
Like all the EMI Monty Python albums Contractual Obligation gained a special edition release in 2006 with bonus tracks included. However, these tracks do not contain new material (which appears on some of the other albums) and just consists of two interviews, and demo versions of two songs.
Two bands drew their name from "Toad the Wet Sprocket," an imaginary group featured in the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes." The name had originally been featured in a parody of The Old Grey Whistle Test on Rutland Weekend Television
Rutland Weekend Television
Rutland Weekend Television was a television sketch show on BBC2, written by Eric Idle with music by Neil Innes. Two series, the first consisting of six episodes, the second of seven, were broadcast, in 1975 and 1976. A Christmas special also aired on Boxing Day 1975.It was Idle's first television...
in 1975. The first Toad the Wet Sprocket was a British heavy metal band of the 1970s, which released a few singles and appeared on the 1980 compilation album Metal for Muthas
Metal for Muthas
Metal For Muthas is the name given to a series of heavy metal compilations made during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The original compilation was Metal For Muthas , released in February 1980...
. The second Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
was a longer-lived American alternative band of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Side One
- "Sit on My FaceSit on My Face"Sit on My Face" is a short song by the members of the comedy troupe Monty Python which originally appeared on the album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album. It was later included in the album Monty Python Sings, and was sung in the Python concert filmed and released as Monty Python Live...
" (Eric Idle & Harry Parr-Davies) – 0:44 - "Announcement" (Eric Idle & Steve James) – 0:21
- "Henry Kissinger" (John CleeseJohn CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, Eric Idle, André Jacquemin & Neil InnesNeil InnesNeil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
) – 0:48 - "String" (John Cleese & Eric IdleEric IdleEric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
) – 2:19 - "Never Be Rude to an Arab" (Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
& André Jacquemin) – 1:00 - "I Like ChineseI Like Chinese"I Like Chinese" is a song written and performed by Eric Idle of Monty Python. It was originally on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album from 1980 and later included on the CD Monty Python Sings....
" (Eric Idle & André Jacquemin) – 3:10 - "Bishop" (Terry Jones & Graham Chapman) – 2:33
- "Medical Love Song" (Graham Chapman, Eric Idle & André Jacquemin) – 2:09
- "Farewell to John DenverAnnie's Song"Annie's Song" is a rock/country song recorded and written by singer-songwriter John Denver. It was his second number-one song in the United States, occupying that spot for two weeks in July 1974. "Annie's Song" also went to number one on the Easy Listening chart...
" (Graham Chapman, John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
& Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
) – 0:15 (omitted on some releases and replaced by an Apology by Terry Jones) - "Finland" (Michael PalinMichael PalinMichael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
& André Jacquemin) – 2:18 - "I'm So Worried" (Terry Jones & André Jacquemin) – 3:18
- "End of Side 1 Announcement" (Michael Palin & Eric Idle) – 5:29 (cassette version only)
Side Two
- "I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the RadioI Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio"I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio" is a song performed by Eric Idle, an English comedian and member of Monty Python. It mocks radio censorship of words considered inappropriate . Another similar song, also by Idle, is "The FCC Song", whose refrain "Fuck you very much" is directed...
" (Eric Idle) – 0:54 - "Martyrdom of St. Victor" (Terry Jones & Michael Palin) – 1:41
- "Here Comes Another One" (Terry Jones, Michael Palin, André Jacquemin & David Howman) – 1:58
- "Bookshop" (Graham Chapman & John Cleese) – 4:22
- "Do What John?" (Eric Idle & André Jacquemin) – 0:34
- "Rock Notes" (Eric Idle) – 2:11
- "Muddy Knees" (Terry Jones & André Jacquemin) – 2:10
- "Crocodile" (Terry Jones & Michael Palin) – 2:34
- "Decomposing ComposersDecomposing ComposersDecomposing Composers is a song released on the album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album.It is sung by Michael Palin in what appears to be the persona of Luigi Vercotti, a seedy character who appeared in some sketches in the TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus, notably "Ethel the Frog"...
" (Michael Palin) – 2:43 - "Bells" (John Cleese & Graham Chapman) – 2:22
- "Traffic Lights" (Michael Palin, Terry Jones, André Jacquemin & David Howman) – 1:55
- "All Things Dull and UglyAll Things Bright and BeautifulAll Things Bright and Beautiful is an Anglican hymn, also popular with other Christian denominations.The piece can be sung to several melodies, in particular the 17th-century English melody "Royal Oak", adapted by Martin Shaw, and "Bright and Beautiful" by William Henry Monk...
" (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, André Jacquemin, David Howman & Cecil Frances Alexander) – 1:28 - "A Scottish Farewell" (Terry Jones, Michael Palin, André Jacquemin & David Howman arr. Terry Gilliam) – 0:23
2006 bonus tracks
- "Contractual Obligation" - Terry Jones And Graham Chapman Promotional Interview
- "Radio Ad Obligation Promo"
- "Medical Love Song" [Alternate Demo Version]
- "I'm So Worried" [Demo Version]
Performers
- Graham ChapmanGraham ChapmanGraham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
- John CleeseJohn CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
- Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
- Eric IdleEric IdleEric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
- Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
- Michael PalinMichael PalinMichael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
Additional performers
- Ollie HalsallOllie HalsallPeter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
(impersonating John Denver) - Mike Berry (singing voice on "Here Comes Another One" and "A Scottish Farewell")
- The Fred Tomlinson Singers
Credits
- Eric Idle—producer
- André Jacquemin—assistant producer and chief engineer
- Rob Briancarol—assistant engineer
- John Du PrezJohn Du PrezJohn Du Prez is a musician, conductor, and composer. Du Prez was a member of the 1980s multi-hit Salsa-driven pop band Modern Romance and has since written several Film scores including Oxford Blues and the final Carry On film, Carry On Columbus...
[credited under his real name, Trevor Jones]—musical production and arrangements - Basil PaoBasil PaoBasil Pao Ho-Yun is a Hong Kong-based photographer who is perhaps best known for his work as the stills photographer on the BBC filming teams that made Michael Palin's TV travel programs.-Early career:...
—sleeve design - Fred Tomlinson—musical director of backing vocals
- Kevin Hodge—mastering engineer
Jim Beach is credited as "the lawyer the Pythons wronged"
John Cleese and Marty Feldman
Marty Feldman
Martin Alan "Marty" Feldman was an English comedy writer, comedian and actor who starred in a series of British television comedy shows, including At Last the 1948 Show, and Marty, which won two BAFTA awards and was the first Saturn Award winner for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Young...
performed the original version of "Bookshop" for At Last the 1948 Show (episode airing 1 March 1967 on ITV). Another version of the sketch was later performed by Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
on one of his mid-1980s TV specials for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
"Sit on My Face" and "Never Be Rude to an Arab" were performed as part of the film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
. Years later, Michael Palin was filmed singing a verse from "Finland" during an episode of his 1992 travelogue series Pole to Pole
Pole to Pole
Pole to Pole is an eight-part television documentary travel series made for the BBC and released in 1992. The presenter is Michael Palin, this being the second of Palin's major journeys for the BBC. The trip from the North Pole to the South Pole went via Scandinavia, the Soviet Union, parts of...
during a segment in which he is shown traveling across that country. A heavily edited version of "Finland" is used as the opening song of the stage musical Spamalot
Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
(ending with a historian exasperatedly yelling "I said England!")