The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the first film soundtrack album by Monty Python, released in 1975. It features selected scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail interspersed with a large volume of new studio material, much of which centers on a spoof screening of the film at the Classic Silbury Hill Theatre. Also among the new items is the "Marilyn Monroe" sketch, which Graham Chapman co-wrote with Douglas Adams - the pair having recently collaborated on the fourth series of Monty Python.
The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail | ||||
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Released | 18 July 1975 (UK) 21 July 1975 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1974 (soundtrack) and 25 March 1975 (studio material) at Sunrise Music And Recording Ltd., London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:06 | |||
Label | Charisma (UK) Arista (US) | |||
Producer | Andre Jacquemin Dave Howman Michael Palin Terry Jones Terry Gilliam | |||
Monty Python chronology | ||||
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Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album is billed as the 'Executive Version' as a joke on popular 'special editions"' of albums that contained extra tracks unavailable on earlier versions. Naturally, no other version of this album existed when it was originally released. On the A-side of the original UK vinyl release, the engraved text by George Peckham around the label reads: "AN EXECUTIVE PORKY PRIME CUT", while on the B-side it reads: "THIS IS THE SMALL DETAILED WRITING ON THE RECORD OF THE ALBUM OF THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE TRAILER OF THE FILM OF MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL - THIS WRITING IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE EXECUTIVE VERSION OF THE ALBUM OF THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE TRAILER OF THE FILM OF MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL".
The album reached No. 45 in the UK album charts.[2]
A CD reissue in 1997 contains extended versions of two sketches, "Arrival At Castle" and "French Taunter"; this CD reissue also contains "The Bridge of Death". These additions are not available on any other version of the album.
In 2006, a special edition was released containing three bonus tracks, consisting of two demos of unused Neil Innes songs and an audio extract of a documentary from the film's DVD release. This version of the CD does not contain "The Bridge of Death" or the two extended sketches.
Also in 2006, yet another CD reissue was included within Monty Python and the Holy Grail: 'The Extraordinarily Deluxe DVD Edition'. The bonus features disc had instructions on how to play the record; this CD does not contain "The Bridge of Death", the bonus tracks, or the two extended versions.
A limited edition picture disc of the album was released on 29 August 2020, as part of Record Store Day. This added the film's 40th anniversary trailer to the start of the album.[3]
The following is the list of musical works included on the album. They comprise a mixture of De Wolfe library music, self-penned Python songs and specially composed music by Neil Innes.