One of 1981's catchiest one hit wonders was inspired by a Monty Python sketch

Department S : Is Vic There?

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Halfway between the release of 1979's Life Of Brian and 1983's The Meaning of Life , Monty Python inspired one of 1981's sharpest single when Demon Records released "Is Vic There?" by Department S. It's a punchy guitar driven number produced by former Mott The Hoople members Overend Watts and Buffin. When RCA Records picked up the distribution deal in May and David (Split Enz) Tickle did a dance remix, the single began climbing the charts to UK#22.

So what's the deep inner meaning of this song? Vocalist Vaughn Toulouse told Smash Hits the song was inspired by a phone call. 

"A friend of mine, Ginge, who was roadying for Spizz at the time , picked up the phone and this voice at the other end said "Is Vic there?" And Ginge knew about the Monty Python sketch and he said, "Nah, this is Norman. Has he been round again?" and it sounded really funny 'cause I'd never heard the Monty Python.  So I just jotted down the lyrics. They're nothing really, just a joke. "

 

Life Is Quite Absurd

Monty Python : Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

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On November 16, 1979 Monty Python released the single "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life", written by Eric Idle for The Life of Brian. It failed to chart until the 1990's when it reached U.K.#3. Idle would tell BBC Radio 4 Inheritance Tracks programme :

"I think it has a good moral philosophy. It's very encouraging for people and it sort of inspires them and I'm happy to say it's the number one song at British funerals.

The song was written when we were writing the Life of Brian with Python and every one of characters were all headed for death. We didn't know how to end the film and I suddenly suggested 'Well, we should end with a song' and they went  'Oh, that's a good idea' and I said "But it should be a song that is sung from the crosses and it should be a cheery, happy song. It should be looking on the bright side. And it should maybe be like a Disney song . There should be a little whistle to it'. And they said 'Oh that's good' and (Terry) Gilliam said 'They can dance as well' and so  they said 'That's good. That's great. There's our ending' and in the wrote in the script "Ends with a song: I'm looking on the Bright Side " and now we can all go home and have tea.

"I went home and I wrote it very quickly...and I changed it to 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'. Well of course it's very ironic.  There is no bright side if you're being crucified. To me, it's  a parody of a war time song of my father's generation which were always about the White Cliffs of Dover...and one day things will get better and 'Bright Side' is sort of in that genre.

"It's in the lyric actually. 'Always remember that the last laugh is on you'. So it will be, you know. one day."

1975's Top 5 Soundtrack albums

  It would be three years before the soundtrack to the midnight movie Rocky Horror Picture Show would peak at No 49 in the Billboard 200. In 1978 far too many people I knew where listening to this soundtrack and my high school band actually covered "Time Warp". ( Gulp!) But when too many people get the joke, is it still funny? The soundtrack that baked Meatloaf.

  The winner of the Oscar for Best Score, John Williams can still trigger panic with just two ominous bass notes. A single version of his "Main Title (Theme from 'Jaws')" hit the Top 40. 

Goblin : Death Dies

  Failing to get Pink Floyd to record the soundtrack for his horror movie, Deep Red, Italian director Dario Argento hired the prog rock band Goblin. The tune "Death Dies" was later sampled by Beck.

   Nominated for a Best Score Oscar, Jerry Goldsmith( Patton, Papillon, Chinatown) would have to wait one more excruciating year before he'd win for 1976's The Omen.

  Monty Python's Holy Grail soundtrack features sketches from the film as well as some extra "executive" tracks like "A Lesson in Logic" below.

40 Year Itch : 1973 in Comedy

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