Monty Python Live at Drury Lane
Encyclopedia
Monty Python Live at Drury Lane is an album
released by Monty Python
in 1974, which was recorded at the Drury Lane Theatre
in London
earlier that year. It was also released in Canada in 1975 (distributed by GRT of Canada Ltd. 9211-4). All of the sketches, except for 'Secret Service' and the 'Idiot' song of Neil Innes
, are from Flying Circus
and vary slightly from their television
counterparts. A reissued compact disc
was released in 1997.
This recording was not released in the US until 1994, when it was included in the box set The Instant Monty Python CD Collection
. Until then, the only live Python album released in the US had been Monty Python Live at City Center
, released in 1976.
To promote the album's release, a double-sided Flexi disc
was released entitled Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing
with 6-7 minutes of material (some exclusive) on either side.
Of all the Python albums to have gained a special edition CD release, this is the only one to contain no new material, with the exception of an interview placed at the end of the disc.
An advert for the show is added to the 2006 special edition
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 1974, which was recorded at the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
earlier that year. It was also released in Canada in 1975 (distributed by GRT of Canada Ltd. 9211-4). All of the sketches, except for 'Secret Service' and the 'Idiot' song of Neil Innes
Neil Innes
Neil 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:...
, are from Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
and vary slightly from their television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
counterparts. A reissued compact disc
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 ,...
was released in 1997.
This recording was not released in the US until 1994, when it was included in 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:...
. Until then, the only live Python album released in the US had been Monty Python Live at City Center
Monty Python Live at City Center
Monty Python Live at City Center is an album released by Monty Python. It was recorded at the New York City Center in 1976. It was a live album only released in the United States. A CD version was later released in 1997. The sketches come from the television series, with small variations, and Neil...
, released in 1976.
To promote the album's release, a double-sided Flexi disc
Flexi disc
The flexi disc is a phonograph record made of a thin, flexible vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable...
was released entitled Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing
Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing
Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing was a flexidisc released to promote the original release of Monty Python Live at Drury Lane. It was given away free with the British music weekly paper NME during May 1974.-Side One:...
with 6-7 minutes of material (some exclusive) on either side.
Of all the Python albums to have gained a special edition CD release, this is the only one to contain no new material, with the exception of an interview placed at the end of the disc.
Side one
- Introduction/LlamasLlamaThe llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
- Gumby Flower Arranging
- Secret Service
- Wrestling
- CommunistCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
Quiz - How Sweet to Be an Idiot (Neil Innes, tracklisted as "Idiot Song")
- "AlbatrossAlbatross (Monty Python sketch)"Albatross" is a well known sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus. It is particularly known for its opening lines: "Albatross!! Albatross!! Albatross!!" and the question: "What flavour is it?"...
" /The Colonel - Nudge, Nudge/Cocktail Bar
- Travel Agent
Side two
- Spot the Brain Cell
- BrucesBruces' Philosophers Song (Bruces' Song)Bruces' Philosophers Song was a popular Monty Python song written by Eric Idle, and was a feature of the group's stage appearances and its recordings. According to the sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus, it was rendered by a number of Australian university lecturers...
- Argument
- I've Got Two LegsI've Got Two Legs"I've Got Two Legs" is a song by the British comedy troupe Monty Python. It most prominently appears in the concert film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, the concert LP Monty Python Live at Drury Lane and the album Monty Python Sings....
- Four Yorkshiremen
- Election SpecialElection Night Special"Election Night Special" is a Monty Python sketch parodying the coverage of United Kingdom general elections, specifically the 1970 general election, on the BBC by including hectic actions by the media and a range of ridiculous candidates....
- Lumberjack Song
- Dead ParrotDead ParrotThe "Dead Parrot Sketch", alternatively and originally known as the "Pet Shop Sketch" or "Parrot Sketch", is a popular sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus, and one of the most famous in the history of British television comedy...
An advert for the show is added to the 2006 special edition