Monty Python's Flying Circus (album)

Untitled

Monty Python's Flying Circus is the first album produced by the Monty Python troupe, released in both the UK and US in 1970, with the US version featuring a back cover slightly different from the original UK version. It features new versions of sketches from the Monty Python's Flying Circus television series.

Next to the television show itself, the album was the first piece of media the Pythons released. It is noted that Terry Gilliam was not included as a member of Python on the album's cast listing (in spite of his brief appearance in the sketch "The Visitors") and Graham Chapman's name is misspelled "Grahame".

It is the only Python studio album to have a laugh track, having been recorded in one day in front of a live audience at Camden Town Hall. Eric Idle stated in the book The Pythons, "They were a particularly dead audience."

The copyright to the record is still owned by the BBC, making it one of the few pieces of material the Pythons themselves do not own. This is also the reason why it did not gain a 2006 special edition release. One of the tracks makes specific mention to the album being in stereo, and Chapman demonstrates it by walking from one speaker to another. The effect was totally lost as the album was recorded in mono, which the Pythons did not know at the time. They felt disenchanted by the BBC's album producing methods, and for their remaining albums sought very different approaches.

Professional ratings

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Audiobook

The album has been available on CD as an audiobook since 1996. (It was first released as an audiobook in 1994 on cassette.)

In 2011, AudioGO Ltd. released a "Facsimile Edition," which is the only audiobook version with the original LP's artwork. Graham Chapman's name is spelled correctly on the cover of this edition.

In 2012, the album was packaged with two discs of Fawlty Towers under the title BBC Comedy Greats!.

In June 2014, the album was included as bonus content with the expanded re-release of 'Monty Python Sings (again)" as a deluxe 2-CD set and digital download.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Flying Sheep"
2. "Television Interviews"
3. "Trade Description Act"
4. "Nudge Nudge"
5. "The Mouse Problem"
6. "Buying a Bed"
7. "Interesting People"
8. "The Barber"
9. "Interviews"

Side two

1. "More Television Interviews"
2. "Children's Stories"
3. "The Visitors"
4. "The Cinema"
5. "The North Minehead Bye-Election" (sic)
6. "Me, Doctor"
7. "Pet Shop"
8. "Self Defence"

BBC audiobook track listing

1. "Flying Sheep"
2. "A Man with Three Buttocks"
3. "Crunchy Frog"
4. "Nudge Nudge Wink Wink"
5. "The Mouse Problem"
6. "Buying a Bed"
7. "Interesting People"
8. "Barber Shop Sketch"
9. "Lumberjack Song"
10. "Interview"
11. "Arthur Two Sheds"
12. "Children's Stories"
13. "Visitors"
14. "Albatross"
15. "Mr Hilter"
16. "The North Minehead By-Election"
17. "Me, Doctor"
18. "Dead Parrot Sketch"
19. "Self-Defence"

Distribution information

• LP: (1970) BBC Records REB 73M (UK)
• LP: (1970) Pye Records 12116 (U.S.)
• LP: (1970) BBC Records BBC-22073 (UK)
• CS: (1970) BBC Records REMC 73 (UK)
• CD: (1985) BBC/Audio Visual International BBCCD73 (UK)
• LP: (1986) Warner Brothers Records 88375 (ISBN 0-87188-375-9) (US)
• CS: (1994) BBC Enterprises, Ltd. ZBBC 1508 ISBN 0-563-39481-1 (UK) (Canned Laughter series)
• CD: (1996) BBC Audiobooks ISBN 0-563-55820-2 (UK)
• CD: (2006) BBC Audiobooks ISBN 978-0-563-55820-0 (UK)
• CD: (2011) AudioGO ISBN 978-1-4084-6820-3 (UK) (Vintage Beeb series. Facsimile Edition.)
• CD: (2012) AudioGO ISBN 1-60998-780-2 (UK) (BBC Comedy Greats! with Fawlty Towers.)