Monty Python

Monty Python's Previous Record, the comedy troupe's third studio album, is essentially the best bits from season three of their BBC TV show, re-recorded with extra material specifically designed for vinyl. Released in 1972 on the small Charisma label, the album contains such beloved spoofs as "Pepperpots" and "Dennis Moore," which are undoubtedly best served through a visual medium. The skits made specifically for this album -- "Eclipse of the Sun," "Wonderful World of Sound," "Silly Noises," and "Are You Embarrassed Easily?" -- are genuinely funny at first but tend to sound a bit forced on repeated listening. The troupe would successfully apply a flow similar to that of the television show on its next album, Matching Tie and Handkerchief, which comes close to the audio cut-and-paste lunacy of the Firesign Theatre. [In 2006, EMI reissued Monty Python's Previous Record with 12 bonus tracks.] ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide