- Graham Chapman (RIP) - 

- John Cleese - 

- Terry Gilliam - 

- Eric Idle - 

- Terry Jones - 

- Michael Palin - 

- Eric Idle (solo efforts)

Genre: comedy

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Monty Python's Flying Circus

Company: Pye

Catalog: PYE 12116

Year: 1970

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4713

Price: $10.00

Cost: $66.00

Supposedly featuring material lifted from the original television show, 1970's "Monty Python's Flying Circus" actually seems to feature re-recorded versions of some of their most famous sketches.  Probably because I've seen the television series so often, the absence of the visuals isn't nearly as jarring as I would have expected.  Highlights ...  wow where to start?  'Barber (Lumberjack Song)', 'Children's Stories' and 'Pet Shop (Dead Parrot)'.  If your a fan you'll recognize every one of these 17 selections.

"Monty Python's Flying Circus" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Flying Sheep   (Monty Python) - 2:20

2.) Television Interviews   (Monty Python) - 2:30

3.) Trades Description Act (Chocolate Shop)   (Monty Python) - 3:28

4.) Nudge, Nudge   (Monty Python) - 1:42

5.) Mouse Problem   (Monty Python) - 3:14

6.) Buying a Bed   (Monty Python) - 3:58

7.) Interesting People   (Monty Python) - 3:18

8.) Barber (Lumberjack Song)   (Monty Python) - 3:43

9.) Interviews   (Monty Python) - 3:05

(side 2)
1.) More Television Interviews   (Monty Python) - 2:52

2.) Children's Stories   (Monty Python) - 1:13

3.) Visitors   (Monty Python) - 3:55

4.) Cinema   (Monty Python) - 0:49

5.) North Minehead Election   (Monty Python) - 5:32

6.) Me, Doctor   (Monty Python) - 1:18

7.) Pet Shop (Dead Parrot)   (Monty Python) - 4:22

8.) Self Defence   (Monty Python) - 5:58

Genre: comedy

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Another Monty Python Records

Company: Charisma

Catalog: CAS-1049

Year: 1972

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: --

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 4714

Price: $10.00

Because much of the material on 1972's "Another Monty Python Records" was written and performed specifically for vinyl, to my ears this one's 100% funnier than the debut.  (It was also the first one readily available in the States thanks to a distribution deal between the BBC, Charisma and Buddha Records.)  Sure, there are a couple of segments that are even funnier when you see the visuals ('Gumby Theatre') and there are a couple of segments where the humor is simply too English for most Americans ('The Piranha Brothers').  Highlights include Cardinal Ximinez and 'Spanish Inquisition', 'Spam' (spam, spam, spam) and Idle's quiz show with contestants such as Che Guevara, Karl Marx and Mao Tsu-Tung and Cleese's 'The Architect'.  For goodness sake even the reused album packaging is funny.

"Another Monty Python Records" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Apologies   (Monty Python) - 2:00

2.) Spanish Inquisition   (Monty Python) - 2:49

3.) World Forum   (Monty Python) - 4:00

4.) Gumby Theatre   (Monty Python) - 2:58

5.) The Architect   (Monty Python) - 4:10

6.) The Piranha Brothers   (Monty Python) - 9:50 

(side 2)
1.) Death of Mary Queen of Scots   (Monty Python) - 2:35

2.) Penguin On T.V.   (Monty Python) - 2:53

3.) Comfy Chair/Sound Quiz   (Monty Python) - 3:29

4.) Be a Great Actor/Theatre Critic   (Monty Python) - 4:21

5.) Royal Festival Hall Concert   (Monty Python) - 4:06

6.) Span   (Monty Python) - 2:24

7.) The Judge/Stake Your Claim   (Monty Python) - 3:27

8.) Still No Sign of Land/The Undertaker   (Monty Python) - 5:28