'Matching Tie and Handkerchief was unusually ground-breaking for a comedy record. The initial joke was that the record itself came free with a purchase of the official Monty Python tie and handkerchief set, both of which were missing from the box. However, a more ambitious joke lay on the record itself. Side 2 consisted of two grooves that ran parallel to each other. This meant that, depending on where the needle happened to fall, Side 2 could end up playing an entirely different set of material to what was advertised on the sleeve. As if to confuse the listener even more, both sides of the record were labelled “Side 2”.

JH