Rutter's Delight

It was the good old boys from Young Moss Tongue who put this up after I placed a request with them, as it was just impossible to find anywhere.
Well, Young Moss Tongue is no longer (RIP), so a void has appeared where this digital beauty once lived (yes I have checked, and once again it appears to be unavailable - until now that is).

The Rutles, in their original conception - a Rutland Weekend Television spin off called All You Need is Cash, a spoof documentary now considered to be pioneering and truly seminal (it's still stands up well: funny, smart and wonderfully constructed) - soon gained cult interest, and on the back of the TV movie, several recordings were released; featuring Eric Idle (initially), Ricky Fataar (ex-Beach Boy [Holland period]), John Halsey (ex-Timebox, Patto, and acts far too various to mention), Ollie Halsall (ex-Timebox, Patto, Boxer, and again many many others), and at the helm, musical director and song writing genius Neil Innes (ex Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and occasional Python).

You don't necessarily have to know the recordings of The Rutles to appreciate this collection - although that does add something to the gratification of this product - but like all good cover versions the songs stand up very well on their own - no doubt in part as a consequence of reverence and homage - but the collection is still very strong throughout.
When I listen to it I skip nothing; each song, no matter what the genre, compliments perfectly through its juxtaposition; creating a fantastic listening experience from beginning to end.

As with many of these tribute styled collections, the best tracks are those that digress furthest from the original genre; and there's a lot of that digression here: prog, folk, punk, avant garde, electronica, and er, Daniel Johnston; all add plenty to Neil Innes's ever so clever Beatlesesque parodies.

All in all, a superb collection; and I really can't understand why it's not more available or celebrated in the manner it truly deserves.

Enjoy!
You'll honestly find it hard not to.

Various Artists - Rutles Highway Revisited (1990)

Galaxie 500 - Cheese and Onions
The Pussywillows - Hold My Hand
Bongos, Bass and Bob - Number One
Lida Husik - Good Times Roll
Dogbowl - Another Day
Das Damen - Piggy in the Middle
Syd Straw & Marc Ribot - I Must Be in Love
Joey Arias - Nevertheless
When People Were Shorter & Lived Near the Water - Let's Be Natural
Unrest - Between Us
Peter Stampfel & The Bottlecaps - Ouch
The Tinklers - Blue Suede Schubert
Tuli Kupferberg - Living in Hope
Daniel Johnston - Baby Let Me Be
Uncle Wiggly - It's Looking Good
Shonen Knife - Goose Step Mama
Jellyfish Kiss - Get Up and Go
King Missile - Doubleback Alley
Paleface - With a Girl Like You
Bongwater - Love Life

CD rip to mp3s, artwork included.
Hit the Highway here