Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (album)


Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is the third and final soundtrack album by Monty Python, released in 1983 alongside their last film. Billed as "The only soundtrack album to be introduced by live fish! ", it consists of sketches and songs from the film, with a few links performed by Michael Palin and a brief appearance from Terry Gilliam.
The album features dialogue which didn't make it into the final cut of the film as well as additional sound effects to help with the audio medium. "The Adventures of Martin Luther" sequence is introduced but does not appear. The sketch itself was excised from the final cut of the film but was eventually reinstated 20 years later for the DVD "Director's Cut", although it did feature in the illustrated script book which accompanied the film's release. The film's songs are included in full, with "Christmas In Heaven" having a longer fade-out than appears in the film.
The original UK vinyl release had the traditional George Peckham messages etched on the runout grooves. The first side read: "GADZOOKS!!! NO TIME LEFT. TURN OVER FOR "THE MEANING OF LIFE" NOW. ALL WILL BE REVEALED", with the second reading "NO FISH ADDITIVES USED WHATSOEVER, SEE COVER FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF PHILOSOPHY LPS". The back cover did indeed contain a short list of spoof philosophy LPs, alongside a similarly comic profile of the Python team members.
In the UK the album was accompanied by a 7" single on 27 June 1983 comprising Galaxy Song/Every Sperm Is Sacred, the latter song containing an extra instrumental section not featured in the film or album version. This was also available as a fish bowl-shaped picture disc.
The 2006 Special Edition includes bonus tracks which included demos, unused song ideas and radio promos.

Track listing

Side one

  1. Introduction
  2. Fish Introduction
  3. The Meaning of Life
  4. The Miracle of Birth
  5. Link
  6. The Third World
  7. Every Sperm Is Sacred
  8. Protestant Couple
  9. Link
  10. Growth and Learning
  11. Fighting Each Other
  12. Link
  13. Fish Link

Side two

  1. Terry Gilliam Intro
  2. Accountancy Shanty
  3. Zulu Wars
  4. Middle Age
  5. Live Organ Transplants
  6. Galaxy Song
  7. Penis Song
  8. The Autumn Years
  9. Death
  10. Christmas in Heaven
  11. Dedication to Fish

Bonus tracks on 2006 reissue

  1. Intro Title Song Demo Meaning of Life
  2. Alternate Intro Title Song Meaning of Life
  3. Fat Song
  4. Alternate Christmas In Heaven Song
  5. Radio Ad - Philosophers Corner
  6. Radio Ad - Officer
  7. Radio Ad - German Translation
  8. Greasy Hair
  9. Dino Viccotti
  10. Stretch The Script
  11. Grand Prix
  12. Hard Of Thinking

Critical reception

Al Campbell of AllMusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars and wrote that "Unlike most comedy releases, the soundtrack of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is an appealing audio souvenir that doesn't get stale after listening to it a few times." noting that " because of the incredibly catchy and satirical songs from the film, which are all included".