The Rutles Archaeology
Encyclopedia
The Rutles Archaeology is an album by the comedy band The Rutles
The Rutles
The Rutles are a band that are known for their visual and aural pastiches and parodies of The Beatles. Originally created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a fictional band to be featured as part of various 1970s television programming, the group recorded, toured, and released two UK chart hits in...

. Like their previous release, the album contains pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...

s of Beatles' songs.

Three of the four musicians who had created the soundtrack for the 1978 film — 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:...

, John Halsey
John Halsey
John Halsey was a colonial American privateer and a later pirate who was active in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the early 18th century. Although much of his life and career is unknown, he is recorded in A General History of the Pyrates which states "He was brave in his Person, courteous...

, and Ricky Fataar
Ricky Fataar
Ricky Fataar is a South African multi-instrumentalist of Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer, and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in the comedic television movie, The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, a spoof on the actual history of The Beatles, and for his performance as a...

 — reunited in 1996 and recorded a second album, Archaeology, an affectionate send-up of The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series, a set of three double albums and a book focusing on the history of The Beatles. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all participated in the making and approval of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the...

albums (while its original cover design rather parodied that of The Beatles' Past Masters singles compilation, though). The fourth 'real' Rutle, Ollie Halsall
Ollie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...

, died in Spain in 1992. Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....

 was invited to participate, but declined.

Like the Anthology project that it lampooned, it featured tracks ostensibly from all periods of the Rutles' career, sequenced to reflect the fictional band's chronology. Several of the songs were actually older Innes songs that were dusted off and given the "Rutles" treatment. The reunion was blessed by George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...

, who encouraged The Pre-Fab Four to proceed. (When approached, he told Innes, 'Sure. It's all part of the "soup"...', an encounter that Innes related in interviews in 1996.)

The reunion was triggered by Innes's appearance at the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

 festival "Monty Python: Lust For Glory!", celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 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...

 troupe produced by Martin Lewis for the American Cinematheque
American Cinematheque
The American Cinematheque is an independent, non-profit cultural organization in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Image in all its forms. It is considered among the premier organizations of its kind in America....

. Innes performed two sold-out gigs at Los Angeles's Troubadour Club under the name "Ron Nasty & The New Rutles", using a local Beatles tribute band.

Following the success of the shows, Lewis and Innes collaborated on the project that became Archaeology.

Track listing

Below is a track listing, citing the original Beatles song(s) and other sources thought to be part of the inspiration for each individual track (where applicable).
  1. "Major Happy's Up-And-Coming Once Upon A Good Time Band" - 2:19 ("Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)
    "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney , and first recorded and released in 1967, on the The Beatles' album of the same name. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track , and as "Sgt...

    ")
  2. "Rendezvous" - 2:06 ("With a Little Help from My Friends
    With a Little Help from My Friends
    -Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction...

    ", with backing vocals reminiscent of "Good Day Sunshine
    Good Day Sunshine
    "Good Day Sunshine" is a song by The Beatles on the 1966 album Revolver. It was written mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Leonard Bernstein praised the song for its construction in a 1967 CBS News documentary...

    ")
  3. "Questionnaire" - 2:41 (Musically a composite of "The Fool On The Hill
    The Fool on the Hill
    "The Fool on the Hill" is a song by The Beatles. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and recorded in 1967...

    " "Imagine
    Imagine (song)
    "Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...

    " and "I Am The Walrus
    I Am the Walrus
    "I Am the Walrus" is a 1967 song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon claimed he wrote the first two lines on separate acid trips. The song was in the Beatles' 1967 television film and album Magical Mystery Tour, and was the B-side to the #1 hit "Hello,...

    " with pointed lyrics referring to Lennon's assassination and gun-ownership laws)
  4. "We've Arrived! (And To Prove It We're Here)" - 2:09 (Rutles versions of "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Flying" with a "Revolution 9
    Revolution 9
    "Revolution 9" is a recorded composition that appeared on The Beatles' 1968 self-titled LP release . The sound collage, credited to Lennon–McCartney, was created primarily by John Lennon with assistance from George Harrison and Yoko Ono. Lennon said he was trying to paint a picture of a revolution...

    " reference in the ending) (taped 1978 rehearsal featuring Halsall)
  5. "Lonely-Phobia" - 2:35 (Acoustic ballads from A Hard Day's Night
    A Hard Day's Night (album)
    A Hard Day's Night is the third studio album by The Beatles, released on 10 July 1964 as the soundtrack to their film A Hard Day's Night. The American version of the album was released two weeks earlier, on 26 June 1964 by United Artists Records, with a different track listing...

    -era, especially "Things We Said Today
    Things We Said Today
    "Things We Said Today" is a song by The Beatles written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was composed for the film A Hard Day's Night and appears on the soundtrack album...

    " and "I'll Be Back
    I'll Be Back (song)
    "I'll Be Back" is a John Lennon composition credited to Lennon–McCartney, and recorded by The Beatles for the soundtrack LP to their film "A Hard Day's Night"...

    ", but also takes liberally from McCartney's solo song Mrs Vandebilt
    Mrs Vandebilt
    "Mrs Vandebilt" is a song by Paul McCartney & Wings from the album Band on the Run. The track was not issued as a single in the UK or US, but was a single in Continental Europe and Australia....

    )
  6. "Unfinished Words" - 2:08 (A play on the anecdote about "Yesterday
    Yesterday (song)
    "Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...

    " and its 'scrambled eggs' dummy lyrics, setting numerous lyrical references to Martin Lewis's 'fake Beatles outtakes' hoax set to a tune resembling "Nowhere Man".)
  7. "Hey Mister!" - 3:18 (Broadly similar to "I Me Mine
    I Me Mine
    "I Me Mine" is a song by The Beatles, written and sung by George Harrison. I Me Mine is also the title of Harrison's autobiography. The song traces its origins to the January 1969 Get Back/Let It Be sessions, when it was rehearsed by the band at Twickenham Film Studios.-Origin:The set of pronouns...

    " and "Yer Blues
    Yer Blues
    "Yer Blues" is a song by The Beatles, the second song on the third side of The Beatles, also known as The White Album. It is credited to Lennon–McCartney, but was written by John Lennon while in Rishikesh, India.-Lyrics:...

    ", references "Helter Skelter" at the ending)
  8. "Easy Listening" - 2:09 (A pastiche of "Octopus's Garden
    Octopus's Garden
    "Octopus's Garden" is a song by The Beatles written by Ringo Starr from their 1969 album Abbey Road....

    " with some suggestions of "Don't Pass Me By
    Don't Pass Me By
    "Don't Pass Me By" is a song by The Beatles from the double album The Beatles . Lead vocals were performed by Ringo Starr. It was Starr's first solo composition.-Origin:...

    " and "Act Naturally
    Act Naturally
    "Act Naturally" is a song written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, whose version reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1963, his first chart-topper...

    ", with a lyrical reference to McCartney's "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
    Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
    "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" is a song by The Beatles released on their 1968 album The Beatles, commonly referred to as The White Album. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney...

    ")
  9. "Now She's Left You" - 2:03 (A pastiche of "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party
    I Don't Want to Spoil the Party
    "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" is a song by The Beatles, written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on the album Beatles for Sale in the United Kingdom in 1964. In the United States, Capitol released the song on the Beatles VI album and also as the B-side...

    " written for the original film but unused. In 1981 a doo-wop arrangement of this song featured on Innes's TV series The Innes Book Of Records) (taped 1978 rehearsal featuring Halsall)
  10. "The Knicker Elastic King" - 2:39 (A 1981 composition of Innes's, rearranged in the style of "Getting Better
    Getting Better
    "Getting Better" is a song written mainly by Paul McCartney, with lyrical contributions from John Lennon . It was recorded by The Beatles for the 1967 album Sgt...

    ". The horn solo ostensibly comprises Eric Spear's theme from Coronation Street
    Coronation Street
    Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...

    , referencing Wings's cover of the theme from Crossroads. The spoken middle-eight homages the Yellow Submarine
    Yellow Submarine (film)
    Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated musical fantasy film based on the music of The Beatles. It is also the title for the film's soundtrack album, released as part of The Beatles' music catalogue. The film was directed by animation producer George Dunning, and produced by United Artists and King...

    film and Ringo Starr's children's TV narration.)
  11. "I Love You" - 2:18 (Elements of "It's Only Love
    It's Only Love
    "It's Only Love" is a song written mostly by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released by The Beatles in 1965, on the Help! album in the United Kingdom, and on the Rubber Soul album in the United States....

    " and "And I Love Her
    And I Love Her
    "And I Love Her" is a song recorded by The Beatles, written mainly by Paul McCartney . The fifth track on their third album, A Hard Day's Night, it was released 20 July 1964 with "If I Fell" as a single by Capitol Records in the United States, reaching #12 in Billboard.The Beatles performed "And I...

    ")
  12. "Eine Kleine Middle Klasse Musik" - 4:24 (A 1992 Innes composition rearranged in the style of "Come Together
    Come Together
    "Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....

    ", with a Rhodes riff borrowed from "Maybe I'm Amazed
    Maybe I'm Amazed
    "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a song written by Paul McCartney that was first released on his McCartney album on 17 April 1970. The studio version from the album has never been released as a single. McCartney dedicated the song to his wife, Linda, who had helped him get through the break-up of The Beatles...

    ")
  13. "Joe Public" - 4:03 (A 1992 Innes song rearranged in the style of "Tomorrow Never Knows
    Tomorrow Never Knows
    "Tomorrow Never Knows" is the final track of The Beatles' 1966 studio album Revolver but the first to be recorded. Credited as a Lennon–McCartney song, it was written primarily by John Lennon...

    ", with Fataar singing lead)
  14. "Shangri-La" - 7:43 (A 1977 Innes song newly infused with a great many Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour-era Beatles references and a new "Hey Jude
    Hey Jude
    "Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...

    "-style coda. "A Day in the Life
    A Day in the Life
    "A Day in the Life" is a song by The Beatles, the final track on the group's 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song comprises distinct segments written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with orchestral additions...

    " forms the backbone of the song, which variously transforms into "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
    Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
    "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" is a song from the 1967 album by The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was composed by John Lennon...

    " and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
    Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
    "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, for The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...

    " amongst others, features a chorus suggested by "All You Need Is Love
    All You Need Is Love
    "All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Watched by 400 million in 26 countries, the programme was broadcast via satellite on 25 June 1967...

    " and "Magical Mystery Tour", and contains a horn riff taken directly from "For No One
    For No One
    "For No One" is a song written by Paul McCartney that originally appeared on The Beatles' seventh album, Revolver. A baroque pop song about the end of a relationship, it was one of McCartney's most mature and poignant works upon its release...

    "; The intro quotes Oasis
    Oasis (band)
    Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...

    's "Whatever", in reference to EMI's successful plagiarism lawsuit against that song's melodic similarity to Innes's 1973 single "How Sweet To Be An Idiot
    How Sweet to Be an Idiot
    How Sweet To Be An Idiot is the first solo album by Neil Innes, formerly of The Bonzo Dog Band and later of The Rutles, and was released in 1973...

    ")
  15. "Don't Know Why" - 3:44 (Written a year in advance of the album for the TV show "Rory Bremner: Who Else", directly pastiching "Free as a Bird
    Free as a Bird
    "Free as a Bird" is a song originally composed and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995 a studio version of the recording incorporating contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr was released as a single by The Beatles.The single was released as part of...

    ", and referencing Innes's then-current hardships relating to the original Rutles project, including his losing of the ATV lawsuit and his fractious relationship with Eric Idle)
  16. "Back In '64" - 3:14 (An answer song to "When I'm Sixty-Four
    When I'm Sixty-Four
    "When I'm Sixty-Four" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and released in 1967 on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.-Composition:...

    ", written from a 1996 perspective, with a solo reminiscent of the Moog lines in "Maxwell's Silver Hammer
    Maxwell's Silver Hammer
    "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song by The Beatles, on their album, Abbey Road, sung by Paul McCartney. It was written by McCartney, though credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Background:...

    ". The "zum zum zum zum" backing vocals reference those of Innes's 1977 song "Crystal Balls".)


All songs were credited solely to Innes; all lead vocals by Innes except for Fataar on tracks 5 and 13, and Halsey on tracks 2 and 8.

The Japanese release of Archaeology includes 4 bonus tracks: "Lullaby", "Baby S'il Vous Plait", "It's Looking Good" (rehearsal), and "My Little Ukulele". "Baby S'il Vous Plait" and "It's Looking Good" were also issued (along with the LP version of "Joe Public") on a UK CD single and 10" of "Shangri-La."

"Baby S'il Vous Plait" was a 'cod' Franglais
Franglais
Franglais , a portmanteau combining the French words "français" and "anglais" , is a slang term for an interlanguage, although the word has different overtones in French and English....

 version of an earlier Rutles song "Baby Let Me Be", from the 1978 soundtrack. The song was recorded as a pastiche of the Beatles' two German-language recordings of "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand", with suitably poor translation and even poorer foreign accents. "My Little Ukelele" was a George Formby-esque novelty number, melding McCartney's many experiments with old-time composition ("Honey Pie", "When I'm 64" etc.) with Harrison's fondness for Formby and the ukelele. "Lullaby" was a brief musical gag from Innes's own live act re-recorded as though it were Ron Nasty amusing the studio staff.

On February 19, 2007, EMI Gold (UK) released a budget reissue of Archaeology with new cover artwork and five bonus tracks: The aforementioned "Lullaby," "My Little Ukelele," and "Baby S'il Vous Plait" surfaced again, and two previously unreleased numbers — "Under My Skin" and "Rut-A-Lot" (the latter a medley of Rutles songs performed live by Innes, rumoured to be a jab at Idle's recently' successful Spamalot) — made their first appearances. "Under My Skin" is a cover of Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...

's "I've Got You Under My Skin
I've Got You Under My Skin (song)
"I've Got You Under My Skin" is a song written by Cole Porter. It became a signature song for Frank Sinatra and, in 1966, became a top 10 hit for The Four Seasons...

", sung with some questionably re-tooled lyrics (the song is accidentally credited to Innes as sole writer).

Alternate Versions and Re-Issues

"Archaeology" / Virgin Records America / Vinyl L.P. / U.K. only release / 7243-8-42200-1-3-VUSLP 119

(Same material as: "Archaeology"/ Virgin Records America/ C.D. / U.K./U.S.Release / 7243-8-42200-2-0)

Side 1: "Major Happy's Up & Coming Once Upon A Good Time Band","Rendezvous","Questionnaire","We've Arrived ( And To Prove It We're Here!)","Lonely-phobia", "Unfinished Words","Hey Mister!","Easy Listening","Now She's Left You","The Knicker Elastic King"

Side 2: "I Love You","Eine Kliene Middle Klasse Music","Joe Public","Shangri-La","Don't Know Why","Back In 64"
  • Vinyl album contains same 16 tracks as CD release.
  • Vinyl contains inner sleeve with two Rutles photos and album credits, but no lyrics.
  • CD contains booklet with photos and lyrics.
  • Label photo of The Rutles asleep is a parody of the Elton John
    Elton John
    Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

     album Sleeping with the Past
    Sleeping with the Past
    Sleeping with the Past is the twenty-second studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on 29 August 1989. It is his best-selling album in Denmark and is dedicated to his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin...

  • "We've Arrived" and "Now She's Left You" are the last Rutles tracks to contain performances by Ollie Halsall.

----
"Archaeology"/ Virgin Records / C.D. / Japanese Version / VJCP-25277
  • Contains same 16 tracks as U.K. / U.S. release
  • Contains four bonus tracks: "Lullaby","Baby S'il Vous Plait","It's Looking Good (Demo)","My Little Ukelele"
  • Contains same booklet as U.K./U.S. release
  • Contains supplemental lyric sheets in English and Japanese for all 20 tracks.

----
"Archaeology" / EMI Gold / 2007 / C.D. / U.K. only release / 0946-3-85349-2-1
  • Contains original 16 tracks + "Lullaby","Baby S'il Vous Plait","My Little Ukelele" and the previously un-released "Under My Skin" and "Rut-A-Lot".
  • Contains different booklet and artwork, with a condensed history of the Rutles.
  • Contains no lyrics.

"Shangri-La" Single Releases (1996)

10" Vinyl Single: "Shangri-La" /Virgin Records America / 7243-8-93929-0-6 VUSA117

Side A. "Shangri-La"

Side B. "Joe Public","Baby S'il Vous Plait","It's Looking Good ( Demo )"
  • Neil Innes provides silly liner notes for "Baby S'il Vous Plait" & "It's Looking Good ( Demo )"

  • Same material also released as a C.D. Single (7243-8-93929-2-0-VUSCD117)

  • "Shangri-La" was also released as a single song promotional C.D. (70876-11582-29-DPRO-11582) This version is titled "Shangri-La (Edit)" and runs at 4 minutes, 20 seconds, fading the song out much earlier. A alternate, re-edited, shortened version created for the promo video exists which has never been released on any single or DJ promo.

See also

  • The Rutles
    The Rutles
    The Rutles are a band that are known for their visual and aural pastiches and parodies of The Beatles. Originally created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a fictional band to be featured as part of various 1970s television programming, the group recorded, toured, and released two UK chart hits in...

  • All You Need Is Cash
    All You Need Is Cash
    All You Need Is Cash is a 1978 television film that traces the career of a fictitious British rock group called The Rutles...

  • The Rutles Soundtrack
  • The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
    The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
    The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch is a 2002 re-telling of the 1978 mockumentary All You Need Is Cash, in a modern setting.- Plot :Twenty three years after the original, documentarist Melvin Hall interviews mainstream artists, actors, and musicians about the days of the popular band The Rutles,...

  • Deface the Music
    Deface the Music
    Deface the Music is a 1980 album by the band Utopia featuring Todd Rundgren, Roger Powell, Kasim Sulton, and Willie Wilcox. The concept of the album was to pay homage to The Beatles and create songs which sounded very similar to the Fab Four's tunes throughout the various stages of their career...

    , a similar Beatles parody by the group Utopia
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