* En anglais uniquement
Originally broadcast on network TV in 1978, ex-
Monty Python member
Eric Idle's satire of
the Beatles' legend was one of the very few successful rock parodies; only
Spinal Tap, perhaps, has outdone it. One of the key elements of this mock rockumentary was the brilliantly executed soundtrack by
Python associate and ex-
Bonzo Dog Band member
Neil Innes (he also played the character loosely based upon
John Lennon in the film itself). As an actual peer of the group in the '60s (
the Bonzos even appeared in the Magical Mystery Tour film),
Innes was well-qualified to satirize the Fab Four in song. With the exception of
Idle, each of the four
Rutles played their own instruments on the recording in addition to acting in the film. To complete the gag,
the Rutles reconvened in 1996 to record a second album,
Archeology, to coincide with
the Beatles'
Anthology projects. Masquerading as archival material, most of
Archeology was in fact newly recorded in the mid-'90s, and was as witty and well-executed as the soundtrack to their TV special nearly 20 years ago. ~ Richie Unterberger