Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is the third and final soundtrack album by Monty Python, released in 1983 alongside their last film. Billed as "The only soundtrack album to be introduced by live fish! (apart from some copies of 'Shane')", it consists of sketches and songs from the film, with a few links performed by Michael Palin and a brief appearance from Terry Gilliam.
The album features dialogue which didn't make it into the final cut of the film as well as additional sound effects to help with the audio medium. "The Adventures of Martin Luther" sequence is introduced but does not appear. The sketch itself was excised from the final cut of the film but was eventually reinstated 20 years later for the DVD "Director's Cut", although it did feature in the illustrated script book which accompanied the film's release. The film's songs are included in full, with "Christmas In Heaven" having a longer fade-out than appears in the film.
The original UK vinyl release had the traditional George Peckham messages etched on the runout grooves. The first side read: "GADZOOKS!!! NO TIME LEFT. TURN OVER FOR "THE MEANING OF LIFE" NOW. ALL WILL BE REVEALED", with the second reading "NO FISH ADDITIVES USED WHATSOEVER, SEE COVER FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF PHILOSOPHY LPS". The back cover did indeed contain a short list of spoof philosophy LPs, alongside a similarly comic profile of the Python team members.
In the UK the album was accompanied by a 7" single (A 3495) on 27 June 1983 comprising Galaxy Song/Every Sperm Is Sacred, the latter song containing an extra instrumental section not featured in the film or album version. This was also available as a fish bowl-shaped picture disc.
The 2006 Special Edition includes bonus tracks which included demos, unused song ideas and radio promos.
Al Campbell of AllMusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars and wrote that "Unlike most comedy releases, the soundtrack of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is an appealing audio souvenir that doesn't get stale after listening to it a few times." noting that "[this is] because of the incredibly catchy and satirical songs from the film, which are all included".[1]
^ abCampbell, Al. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life at AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 206. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
External linksedit
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life at Discogs (list of releases)
May 04, 2024
monty, python, meaning, life, album, monty, python, meaning, life, third, final, soundtrack, album, monty, python, released, 1983, alongside, their, last, film, billed, only, soundtrack, album, introduced, live, fish, apart, from, some, copies, shane, consists. Monty Python s The Meaning of Life is the third and final soundtrack album by Monty Python released in 1983 alongside their last film Billed as The only soundtrack album to be introduced by live fish apart from some copies of Shane it consists of sketches and songs from the film with a few links performed by Michael Palin and a brief appearance from Terry Gilliam Monty Python s The Meaning of LifeSoundtrack album by Monty PythonReleased5 April 1983 US 20 June 1983 UK Recorded1982 soundtrack amp 1983 studio material at Redwood Recording Studios LondonGenreComedy soundtrackLength53 17LabelMCA US CBS UK ProducerAndre JacqueminMichael PalinMonty Python chronologyMonty Python s Contractual Obligation Album 1980 Monty Python s The Meaning of Life 1983 The Final Rip Off 1987 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 The album features dialogue which didn t make it into the final cut of the film as well as additional sound effects to help with the audio medium The Adventures of Martin Luther sequence is introduced but does not appear The sketch itself was excised from the final cut of the film but was eventually reinstated 20 years later for the DVD Director s Cut although it did feature in the illustrated script book which accompanied the film s release The film s songs are included in full with Christmas In Heaven having a longer fade out than appears in the film The original UK vinyl release had the traditional George Peckham messages etched on the runout grooves The first side read GADZOOKS NO TIME LEFT TURN OVER FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE NOW ALL WILL BE REVEALED with the second reading NO FISH ADDITIVES USED WHATSOEVER SEE COVER FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF PHILOSOPHY LPS The back cover did indeed contain a short list of spoof philosophy LPs alongside a similarly comic profile of the Python team members In the UK the album was accompanied by a 7 single A 3495 on 27 June 1983 comprising Galaxy Song Every Sperm Is Sacred the latter song containing an extra instrumental section not featured in the film or album version This was also available as a fish bowl shaped picture disc The 2006 Special Edition includes bonus tracks which included demos unused song ideas and radio promos Contents 1 Track listing 1 1 Side one 1 2 Side two 1 3 Bonus tracks on 2006 reissue 2 Charts 3 Critical reception 4 Accolades 4 1 Grammy Awards 5 References 6 External linksTrack listing editSide one edit Introduction Fish Introduction The Meaning of Life The Miracle of Birth Link Frying Eggs The Third World Yorkshire Every Sperm Is Sacred Protestant Couple Link Martin Luther Growth and Learning Fighting Each Other Link The Great Tea of 1914 18 Fish Link Side two edit Terry Gilliam Intro Accountancy Shanty Zulu Wars Middle Age Live Organ Transplants Galaxy Song Penis Song Not The Noel Coward Song The Autumn Years Death Christmas in Heaven Dedication to Fish Bonus tracks on 2006 reissue edit Intro Title Song Demo Meaning of Life Piano Version Alternate Intro Title Song Meaning of Life Band Version Fat Song Deleted Intro to Mr Creosote Sketch Alternate Christmas In Heaven Song Radio Ad Philosophers Corner Radio Ad Officer Radio Ad German Translation Greasy Hair Dino Viccotti Stretch The Script Grand Prix Hard Of ThinkingCharts editChart 1983 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 2 46Critical reception editAl Campbell of AllMusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars and wrote that Unlike most comedy releases the soundtrack of Monty Python s The Meaning of Life is an appealing audio souvenir that doesn t get stale after listening to it a few times noting that this is because of the incredibly catchy and satirical songs from the film which are all included 1 Accolades editGrammy Awards edit Year Award Result 1984 Best Comedy Recording NominatedReferences edit a b Campbell Al Monty Python s The Meaning of Life at AllMusic Retrieved 2020 03 15 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 206 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 External links editMonty Python s The Meaning of Life at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monty Python 27s The Meaning of Life album amp oldid 1151268160, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
