How Sweet to Be an Idiot is the first solo album by Neil Innes, formerly of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and was released in 1973.

[3] Its melody was borrowed by Oasis for their single "Whatever", released in 1994; Innes claimed plagiarism and as a result received royalties and a co-writing credit.

In my own way, I wanted to repay them – by making a bunch of silly singles at a time when the music industry still seemed to have a sense of humour.

[1] Surviving members of Monty Python performed the song for Terry Jones's funeral at Golders Green Cemetery.

[1] A review of the release by Mark Deming of AllMusic was more appreciative than that of his predecessor, saying that "most [of the tracks] walk a graceful tightrope between sly humor and solid pop-friendly rock & roll" and recommending that "anyone who digs a great hook played with heart should get to know the music of Neil Innes".