Spamalot (2005 album)

No other Python is so content and happy to rehash Monty Python nostalgia as the great and lazy Eric Idle. Aside from small parts in many major films (National Lampoon's European Vacation, Dudley DoRight etc) and some voice over work (The Quest For Camelot, South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut etc) Eric keeps lite with such projects as Eric Idle Sings Monty Python. However his reworking of Monty Python And The Holy Grail into a musical is half reliant on previous Monty material and half new. The composition is credited as John Du Prez and Eric Idle with lyrics by Eric Idle. But the old material taken for this project mock up the liner notes and I feel like clarifying what redundant bits you get. Of course "Knights Of The Round Table" (Chapman/Cleese) "Brave Sir Robin" (Innes/Idle) "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" (Idle) "Finland" (Palin). A couple of these songs are obvious inclusions and "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" is just smart banking, but "Finland" seemed liked he stretched to find a place for a Monty reference in an England/Finland pun. The "Finland" song also includes the Fish Slapping Dance sketch incorporated into the tune. Scenes given new songs include the Plague "He Is Not Yet Dead" the French Taunter "Run Away" Swamp Castle "Where Are You?" "His Name Is Lancelot". And so by in large the 25 track album is original. A neat amending of the film has Dennis the peasant actually being the same character as Galahad with songs "Come With Me" and "Laker Girls Cheer" converting the skeptical Dennis. Highlights you wouldn't know about if you're a Python fan but new to the Spamalot franchise branch include Tim Curry (King Arthur) and voluptuously sexy siren Sara Ramirez (The Lady Of The Lake) dueting on songs "The Song That Goes Like This" and the moving (honestly) "Find Your Grail" both with encore editions at the shows closing moments. The reinvented Python works well as much for its cast as its material used. The great David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) as Sir Robin and the impeccable Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Sir Lancelot and a relatively unknown Christian Sieber as Sir Galahad.