Talk:Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album

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Mike Berry[edit]

Are you sure that's Mike Berry singing on "Here Comes Another One"? Sounds an awful lot like Cleese singing that to me. 23skidoo 20:29, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

What? You've gotta be kidding. It's obviously Terry Jones in all of the versions, with the exception of the Country/Western version, which I maintain is Graham Chapman, who's the only Python who could do a decent Southern accent. :) Williamnilly 03:07, 3 October 2006 (UTC)
A Google search has failed to substantiate Berry's involvement (beyond Wiki-mirrors). Is Berry credited on the album at all? Otherwise I'm still pretty convinced that it's Cleese. 23skidoo 18:33, 4 August 2006 (UTC)
I have always maintained that it's Cleese on that and "A Scottish Farewell", but I no longer have a copy by which to verify. In addition, I'm a little confused by the credits: I gather the names listed in the "Track listing" are writers credits, and there is no actual performer attribution other than the "Performers" section? Could these be combined and organized by sketch/song title with a brief description of each, writing and performing credits? For instance, "Bookshop" may have been written by Chapman and Cleese, but the customer sounds like Terry Jones. Canonblack 22:56, 2 October 2006 (UTC)
Another piece of evidence in support of Cleese is the fact that this is a Monty Python album -- so why would a non-Python be featured as the main vocalist on not one but two tracks? (Neil Innes being an obvious exception). 23skidoo 23:08, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

Isn't it odd that no suspects the actual American in the group is singing the "Country/Western" version of "Here Comes Another One" ? It is in fact Terry Gilliam , using a voice he's done in various animations on Python. ( "The House Hunters" ,comes to mind. ). But Mike ( Not At All Credited ) Berry aside ... this article contains a further contradiction , in the begining it notes Eric Idle is impersonating John Denver , then notes Ollie Halsall as the singer further down. It's Eric Idle. Ollie is not credited for a reason...and , even though he played on "The Rutles" material , he is more likely to be on a Neil Innes record. Harvey J Satan (talk) 23:42, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

And , it IS Terry Jones singing , "Here Comes Another One" , "Regular" & "Scottish" versions. ( See the M.P.F.C. episode: "Royal Episode" , coal miners sketch , listen to Terry Jones. Or , watch the "Ewan MacTeagle" episode , and listen to his poetry reciting.).

Oh ... and some prat has now co-credited Neil Innes with "Henry Kissinger". Harvey J Satan (talk) 16:08, 16 April 2015 (UTC)

Hidden messages on the record[edit]

Just noticed something curious, on the record itself, on the outermost ring of the central section, outside the label and the serial numbers, there are short messages in a handwritten esque script. The message on Side 1 reads,

"Excuse the pause between sides. We've just nipped out to the pub for a pint."

On Side 2,

"Dear Mum please send another cuppa down, still cutting the Python L.P. luv Porky x"

I believe this is the original UK pressing, have a look yourself if you have a copy. I'm tempted to add this to Miscellanea, just as an interesting tidbit, thoughts? mode_seven 20:03, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

These are messages from George "Porky" Peckham, who used to scratch stuff like this into most of the records he mastered. Worth mentioning, certainly. 213.249.235.86 09:25, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Jim Beach?[edit]

On my CD copy, the reference to Jim Beach is different:

A LEGAL OPINION
It is my legal opinion that this constitutes a funny album - Jim Beach

which presumably is all part of the "contractual obligation" amusement. I'm also wondering if this is Jim Beach, manager of Queen, or not? 213.249.235.86 09:29, 19 June 2007 (UTC) And Jim Beach from Operation Good Guys DavidFarmbrough (talk) 19:10, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

End of Side Announcement (cassette)[edit]

I'm not a member of Wikipedia, but this has been bugging me for a while. This article says that the cassette has the "tiresome gap" announcement at the end of side one. However my (Arista, Canadian) copy of the cassette, which I bought secondhand, has no such announcement. Does anyone happen to have an explanation as to why this is? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.51.100.200 (talk) 19:12, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

On my version, Side 1 has 13 tracks, All Things Dull and Ugly and Scottish Farewell coming after I'm So Worried. And no announcement. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 123.3.150.231 (talk) 12:16, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

I have a first issue - American release - cassette on Arista Records/Tapes , and it DOES have the "tiresome gap" announcement. Maybe it depends on country or origin? Harvey J Satan (talk) 23:46, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Marty Feldman[edit]

I bought the album when it first came out in 1980 and always thought it was Marty Feldman performing on it. Is this correct? If so, then it should be mentioned. I thought he was credited too. DavidFarmbrough (talk) 19:16, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

There is no appearance by Marty Feldman on this album. Although the "Bookshop Sketch" , originally seen on "At Last The 1948 Show" , did feature him as the man purchasing the book. ( On this release it is Graham Chapman. ) Harvey J Satan (talk) 23:50, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Bob Hope[edit]

I find it impossible to believe Bob Hope performed the "Book Shop" sketch on one of his '80s specials. More likely this is a reference to Graham Chapman and Joe Baker performing the sketch on 'The Big Show' - a short-lived '80s variety show on NBC. (Bob Hope may have even hosted that particular episode - but he was nowhere near this sketch, unless he introduced it...) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mattkilleen (talk • contribs) 05:15, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

"The Big Show" IS the correct answer! And it was performed by Chapman & Baker. I had an audio only copy of the sketch , but not the full show ... Bob Hope could've been hosting , but had nothing to do with the sketch. ( A further version of the sketch exists performed by John Cleese & Connie Booth on the album "The Mermaid Frolics". )Harvey J Satan (talk) 23:55, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Promotional Item[edit]

For the release of this album ,Charisma Records in association with Marks & Spencers , produced a promotional item for the album ; a pair of black panties with the words "Monty Python Sat On My Face" printed on the backside. These were apparently only distributed to radio D.J.s. ( An image can be found in the book , "Monty Python:The Case Against" ) Harvey J Satan (talk) 23:44, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Writing Credits[edit]

I didn't wish to re-write any of the main article , as I don't know what source the author got their information from. But , the newly released book , "Monty Python's Flying Circus - Treasures" , has a page noting the writing credits thusly:

  • SIDE 1:
  • "Sit On My Face" - Eric Idle & Harry Parr-Davies
  • "Announcements" - Eric Idle & Steve James
  • "Henry Kissinger" - John Cleese , Eric idle , Andre Jacquemin & Neil Innes
  • "String" - John Cleese & Eric Idle
  • "Never be Rude To An Arab" - Terry Jones & Andre Jacquemin
  • "I Like Chinese" - Eric idle & Andre Jacquemin
  • "Bishop" - Terry Jones & Graham Chapman
  • "Medical Love Song" - Graham Chapman , Eric Idle & Andre Jacquemin
  • "Farewell To John Denver" - Graham Chapman , John Denver , & Terry Gilliam
  • "Finland" - Michael Palin & Andre Jacquemin
  • "I'm So Worried" - Terry Jones & Andre Jacquemin
  • "End of Side 1 Announcement" - Terry Jones & Michael Palin
  • SIDE 2:
  • "I Bet You They Won't Play This Song On The Radio" - Eric Idle
  • "Martyrdom of St.Victor" - Terry Jones & Michael Palin
  • "Here Comes Another One" - Terry Jones , Michael Palin , Andre Jacquemin & David Howman

"Bookshop" - John Cleese & Graham Chapman

  • "Do What John?" - Eric Idle & Andre Jacquemin
  • "Rock Notes" - Eric Idle
  • "Muddy Knees" - Terry Jones & Andre Jacquemin
  • "Crocodile" - Terry Jones & Michael Palin
  • "Decomposing Composers" - Michael Palin
  • "Bells" - John Cleese & Graham Chapman
  • "Traffic Lights" - Michael Palin , Terry Jones , Andre Jacquemin & David Howman
  • "All Things Dull & Ugly" - Graham Chapman , John Cleese , Andre Jacquemin , David Howman , & Cecil Frances Alexander
  • "A Scottish Farewell" - Terry Jones , Michael Palin , Andre Jacquemin , & David Howman. arranged by Terry Gilliam

Feel free to use this information as you wish! 75.104.163.77 (talk) 17:42, 17 May 2017 (UTC)

That page doesn't appear in the book, only on Amazon (with two other non-book pages). Hardly surprising, given the number of errors - many people credited there didn't even work on the album! Eggsdiamond74 (talk) 12:20, 24 May 2017 (UTC)

Actually … www.themichaelpalin.com , the source I used , shows this information , still , as of this posting. ( Click book link , then see image 5. ). As for who was and wasn't involved … having not been in the studio personally … I couldn't say. I do know , sometimes , The Pythons themselves have accidentally omitted performers. ( For example , Neil Innes came up with the whistling sequence for "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" , and is not credited. ). As to these credits , did the Pythons submit the page , or did the book author create them? I don't know , either way. ( But , I should add , I've yet to see a book about The Pythons , without its fair share of misinformation. ) 75.104.163.77 (talk) 23:28, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

Unfortunately even some of the official releases are not without errors; for example in the Flying Circus script book "Just The Words", the esteemed Roger Wilmut credits Douglas Adams' Series 4, episode 3 cameo to John Cleese (who wasn't even in Series 4). Although nothing makes me scratch my head as much as the bit in Michael Palin's "Diaries 1969-1979" when, referring to the co-producer of "Monty Python's Previous Record", he adds a footnote claiming "Andre Jacquemin had engineered several sessions with me, going back to 1966". Now there are two problems with this. Firstly, Jacquemin would have been all of 13 or 14 years old in 1966. Secondly, Jacquemin has stated in interviews that he first met Palin at Studio G in 1972 and did not even know who he was!

As far as songwriting credits go, the 1989 "Monty Python Sings" compilation was the first release to really make an effort to give a detailed breakdown of who wrote what. The same credits appeared five years later in the offical "Song Book", along with the rest of the Python songs. Everything I've heard in interviews leaves me to believe these to be accurate (Innes' contentious whistle notwithstanding). Unfortunately subsequent releases, such as the 2006 album reissues and the 2014 "Sings (Again)" redux, have muddied the waters by altering the credits on certain songs (for example adding Terry Jones to "Eric The Half A Bee", when we've heard numerous times that Idle/Cleese wrote this together in Germany in 1971). Whether this is for financial reasons or, more likely, the result of sloppy proofreading on behalf of whoever cobbled the text together, it doesn't ring true with what we've been led to believe all these years.Eggsdiamond74 (talk) 14:20, 18 August 2017 (UTC)

Agreed. Perhaps mere mortals were never meant to know the full "truth"? Or there's just not a Python left with a full on memory of events … for example , when all of the CDs were revamped with the "bonus tracks" , nearly everything - save for some Tim Brooke-Taylor / Marty Feldman co-writer credits - nearly all tracks credited to all 6 Pythons - even things they've noted in other publications by individual writers … OY VEY! 75.104.163.77 (talk) 18:15, 3 September 2017 (UTC)

End of tape announcements[edit]

Does anyone know if the gag announcements at the end of cassette side 1 have ever been reissued in any form, or do they remain unique to the tape release (and, as someone noted above in a comment back in 2013, not in every country)? 50.66.121.20 (talk) 04:05, 12 June 2019 (UTC)

Almost certainly only on the original Charisma cassette release. I have the Virgin cassette reissue from the late 80s and there are no messages at the end of side 1 (although bizarrely there IS the reinstatement of "Farewell To John Denver", which had previously been replaced by a Terry Jones message). The 1994 cassette reissue also didn't have the end of side 1 messages (and had Jones message instead of FTJD). Eggsdiamond74 (talk) 20:47, 20 June 2019 (UTC)

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