Monty Python - Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980)

Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (or simply Contractual Obligation Album) is an album released by Monty Python in 1980. It contains a mixture of mainly songs, some new sketches, and some pre-Python work (rerecorded). As the title suggests, the album was put together to complete a contract with Charisma Records.

Two tracks on the album caused controversy when first released.

The lead track, "Sit on My Face" was sung to the tune of "Sing as We Go", a song made famous by Gracie Fields, and reportedly its inclusion led to legal threats against the Python team for copyright infringement over the melody. Nonetheless, the song was retained on the album and was later lip-synched by the troupe as the opening of Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

"Farewell to John Denver," which contained a few bars of Eric Idle impersonating John Denver singing "Annie's Song" (followed by the sound of the singer being strangled) was removed from subsequent pressings of the album on legal advice (reports differ as to whether it had to do with the licensing of "Annie's Song" or the depiction of the popular singer being murdered), and was replaced by an apology spoken by Terry Jones. Later CD releases of the album, however, reinstated the John Denver track.

Tracklist:

01 - Sit On My Face
02 - Announcement
03 - Henry Kissinger
04 - String
05 - Never Be Rude To An Arab
06 - I Like Chinese
07 - Bishop
08 - Medical Love Song
09 - Farewell To John Denver (Omitted On Legal Advice)
10 - Finland
11 - I'm So Worried
12 - I Bet You They Won't Play This Song On The Radio
13 - Martydom Of St. Victor
14 - Here Comes Another One
15 - Bookshop
16 - Do What John
17 - Rock Notes
18 - Muddy Knees
19 - Crocodile
20 - Decomposing Composers
21 - Bells
22 - Traffic Lights
23 - All Things Dull And Ugly
24 - A Scottish Farewell