The Innes Book of Records Songbook! (or, a series that spanned.)
All right. You probably know by now that in the late 70's-early 80s, Neil Innes starred in a series called "The Innes Book of Records", a mix of music videos and sketches that was the closest equivalent Great Britain has ever produced to Michael Nesmith's Elephant/Television Parts (by means of comparison). But if (like myself) you've never seen the show, you're probably wondering, what songs did Neil perform, which episode were they in, and in what order?

Thus, this page. As far as song titles go, it's about 99% accurate. (I can't claim such a high rate on the spoken word material.) Anyway, here it is, the long work of listening to the NISA soundtracks and double-checking the songs against the NISA/SHARE catalog. Search through to your heart's delight (it shouldn't take long), and if you find an error, please let me know HERE. Thank you. Are you sitting comfortably? Then, we'll begin...


Series A (1978) (No theme song; just some flies buzzing around, seagulls, and laboured heavy breathing. The general effect is, well, creepy. I'm glad Neil ditched it after the first season.)

Episode I:
How Sweet To Be An Idiot (LP: How Sweet To Be An Idiot)
When Does A Dream Begin?
Wendy (poem)
Let's Go Crazy (CD: Recollections 3)
Christmas Day At The Zoo (sketch)
Lullaby
Jig
Singing A Song Is Easy (LP: How Sweet To Be An Idiot)
Episode II:
Crystal Balls (LP: Taking Off; 45: Arista 106)
Three Piece Suite (LP: Taking Off)
L'amour Perdu
Dream On
The Old Piano Roll Blues
Sorry Again
Episode III:
Immortal, Invisible (45: United Artists UP 35639)
Quiet Talks And Summer Walks
Bird Songs (sketch)
Keepin' Watch
Sweet Miss Emmalina (not Neil)
Song For Yvonne (LP: How Sweet To Be An Idiot)
God Is Love (LP: Taking Off; CD: Recollections 3)
Episode IV:
Lie Down And Be Counted (45: United Artists UP 35745)
Take-Away (LP: Off The Record)
Fish and Chips Cooking Lesson (sketch)
Elvis And The Disagreeable Backing Singers
Lead Us
How To Draw A Leader (sketch)
Dreams Shine Through (LP: Taking Off)
Slaves Of Freedom (CD: Recollections 3)
Episode V:
Caveman's Dream
Lady Mine (45: Arista 106)
On Again On Again On Again (not Neil)
Busy Day (LP: Taking Off)
Carry On Melissa (edited version)
Godzilla's Return
Episode VI:
Shangri-La (LP: Taking Off)
Early Morning Train
All Along The Ocean Floor
Here We Go Again (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Unmitigated England (poem)
Somethin' To Say
Instrumental Medley
This Love Of Ours
Poem (title unknown)
Plenty Of Time

...Is there any salt?

End of Series A.


Series B (1980) (In which we hear the more familiar "Theme".)

Episode I:
Morning Song
Boring
Chalk & Cheese
Shangri-La (excerpt)
All In The Name Of Love (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Episode II:
Another Lonely Man (CD: Recollections 1)
These Things* interrupted by kazoo marching band
Fortune Teller (LP: Off The Record)
Montana Café (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
These Things take 2*
The Worm & The Angel (LP: Off The Record)
These Things take 3*
Burlesque (LP: Off The Record)
*A dead-on pastiche of "MacArthur Park". Webb deserved it.
Episode III:
Catch Phrase (The Social Graces) (LP: Taking Off)
Etcetera (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Amoeba Boogie (LP: The Innes Book of Records; 45: Polydor POSP 107)
Ungawa (LP: Off The Record; 45: MMC MMC 603)
Down That Road (LP: Off The Record)
Episode IV:
All Along The Ocean Floor
Here We Go Again (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Not Getting Any Younger (LP: Off The Record)
Fortune Teller (LP: Off The Record)
Mr. Eurovision (LP: Off The Record; 45: MMC MMC 603)
Episode V:
Theme (LP: The Innes Book of Records; 45: Polydor POSP 107) (the only time it appears in the beginning of the show in a long version)
Cezanne Says Anne (CD: Recollections 2)
Love Is Getting Deeper (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Some horrible accordion/flute duets
Keep On Rockin' (CD: Recollections 1)
UFO Shanty
The Kazoo Marching Band (shudder!) Returns
Spontaneous (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
City Of The Angels (LP: Off The Record; 45: Making Waves SURF 104)
Happy Ending (LP: Off The Record)
Episode VI:
All Along The Ocean Floor
The Organ Lecture
Here We Go Again (LP: The Innes Book of Records)
Paranoia (CD: Recollections 2)
Not Getting Any Younger (LP: Off The Record)
Kenny & Liza (LP: The Innes Book of Records; 45: Polydor 2059 247)
Mr. Eurovision (LP: Off The Record; 45: MMC MMC 603)

End of Series B.


Series C (1981)

Episode I:
Don't Make Me Use My Imagination (CD: Recollections 1)
Protest Song (alt. lyric)
Drama On A Saturday Night (LP: Taking Off; 45: Arista 123)
I'm The Urban Spaceman
Policeman interview (Michael Palin!)
Next Week's Show (Kenny Everett!!)
I Give Myself To You (CD: Recollections 2)
Episode II:
Now She's Left You (pt. 1)
Tabby Snax
Now She's Left You (pt. 2)
Cat Meat Conga (a remake of the Bonzos' "Boiled Ham Rhumba")
Chicken Town (A Bloody Poem)
One Thing On Your Mind (LP: Off The Record)
Spaghetti Western (LP: Off The Record)
Godfrey Daniel (LP: Off The Record)
Episode III:
Blue Suede Schubert
Knicker Elastic King (LP: Off The Record)
Grats For Tea
City Of The Angels (LP: Off The Record; 45: Making Waves SURF 104)
Happy Ending (LP: Off The Record)
La Vie En Rose (LP: Taking Off)
Episode IV:
The Sea: A Vivian Stanshall Poem!
Rock Of Ages (LP: Off The Record; 45: MMC MMC 100)
Them (LP: Off The Record; 45: MMC MMC 100)
Humanoid Boogie Jig (a variation on the Bonzos' "Humanoid Boogie")
Momma B (45: United Artists UP 35639)
Jelly Fish In The Arts (Eric Idle?)
Feel No Shame
Episode V:
Concrete Jungle Boy
Time To Kill (LP: Off The Record)
A Vaber Quiz
Front Loader (CD: Recollections 3)
D.I.S.C.O.
How (Not) To Build A Lean-To
Mississippi Moon
Tinsel And String (CD: Recollections 2)
Episode VI (the last one):
Libido (LP: Off The Record; 45: PRT 7/12P 298)
9-to-5 Pollution Blues
These Things take 1
How Sweet To Be An Idiot (LP: How Sweet To Be An Idiot)
These Things take 2
Driving into thick ice... (newsreel)
Stoned On Rock (LP: Off The Record)
Madison Square Garden Rodeo (newsreel)
These Things take 3
Mother (LP: Off The Record)

End of Series. Period. Tea's on...

All original songs written and performed by Neil Innes ©Neil Innes Music Ltd. Special thanks to the Neil Innes Sound Archive for helping me to identify these tracks. (Your payment's on the way, Andrew!)


For more on Neil Innes, please visit:
neilinnes.org and Danny Barbour's Neil Innes Site. Thank you.