11.12.2007

Cheech and Chong




Well growing up in the 70's, Cheech and Chong was my generation's version of Lenny Bruce or Bob Hope. Rumour has it, that talks are back on to start production for another FILM. It's about time. Here's their first four "Must HAve" records. Does anyone remember the giant size super duper rolling paper that came with the album "Big Bambu "??? Man - how times have changed.

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Cheech and Chong were a comedy duo who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their stand-up routines, which were based upon the era's hippie, free love and especially drug culture movements. Richard "Cheech" Marin played a cholo from Los Angeles, while Tommy Chong was a burned-out "druggie" whose entire life revolved around getting high.

The duo released a number of successful comedy albums, and starred in a series of low-budget films, becoming one of the most successful comedy teams of all time. Their best-known comedy routines include "Earache My Eye," "Basketball Jones," "Santa Claus and his Old Lady," and "Sister Mary Elephant." Perhaps their all-time most famous line is "Dave's not here." (from their self-titled debut album).

The duo separated in the 1980s due to creative differences. Cheech Marin has separated himself from the pair's drug-addled act by working on a solo career, finding success in a one-hit wonder song entitled "Born in East L.A." (based on Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."), and later starring in a film of the same name. He has performed character voices for several animated feature films, including Disney's Oliver and Company (1988), The Lion King (1994), and Cars (2006). Marin also starred in various comedy films, including The Shrimp on the Barbie, as a lead in two television series: Nash Bridges (which featured Chong in one episode and treated fans to a recreation of "Dave's not here, man") and The Golden Palace, as well as a recurring guest role on Judging Amy. He had a memorable part as a bartender in the film Desperado, as well as other roles in successful Robert Rodriguez films such as From Dusk Till Dawn and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Tommy Chong also pursued a solo career, starring in such comedies as Far Out Man, in which Marin made an appearance. He had co-starred on the Fox Television series That '70s Show in which he played Leo, a burned-out hippie very similar to his character Anthony Stoner (Man) in the movie Up in Smoke (1978).

The two reunited when they did voices for an episode of the animated television series South Park, though their voices were recorded separately. The duo also appeared in the video game Scarface: The World is Yours.

After their contentious parting in the '80s, the duo had a less-than-stellar friendship. Chong recalled going to Cheech's birthday party in 1994 and seeing Cheech "on the couch with his arm around his wife like we had just met. It wasn't comfortable."

The duo had plans to reunite for another film when Tommy Chong's California-based company, Chong Glass, was raided by federal officials on February 25, 2003, as part of a federal crackdown on "drug-related paraphernalia." Tommy Chong pleaded guilty to charges of distributing drug paraphernalia in May and on September 11, 2003, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, fined US$20,000, and forced to forfeit US$120,000 in assets. He served the time between October 8, 2003 and July 7, 2004.

With Chong released, the duo planned to resume production on their latest opus. A variety of titles were rumored, including Grumpy Old Stoners. Cheech and Chong announced on September 8, 2005 that the reunion film had been canceled. In a 2007 interview, Chong hinted that the reunion may be back on.[1]


Cheech & Chong (1971)

1 Blind Melon Chitlin' Cheech, Chong 4:21
2 Wink Dinkerson Cheech, Chong 2:58
3 Acapulco Gold Filters Cheech, Chong 2:49
4 Vietnam Chong, Marin 3:07
5 Trippin' in Court Cheech, Chong 5:56
6 Dave Cheech, Chong 1:23
7 Emergency Ward Cheech, Chong 3:34
8 Welcome to Mexico Cheech, Chong 2:48
9 Pope: Live at the Vatican Cheech, Chong 1:55
10 Cruisin' With Pedro de Pacas Cheech, Chong 3:56
11 Waiting for Dave Chong, Marin 5:04

Cheech & Chong (1971)

Big Bambu (1972)
1 Sister Mary Elephant Marin, Chong 3:38
2 Ralph and Herbie Marin, Chong 3:24
3 Streets of New York or Los Angeles or San Francisco Or... Marin, Chong 2:34
4 Rebuttal: Speaker Ashley Roachclip Marin, Chong 1:56
5 Continuing Adventures of Pedro de Pacas and Man Marin, Chong 6:22
6 Bust Chong, Marin 2:02
7 Television Medley: Tortured Old Man Marin, Chong 3:08
8 Television Medley: Empire Hancock 1:08
9 Television Medley: Let's Make a Dope Deal 3:57
10 Television Medley: Unamerican Bandstand 6:05

Big Bambu (1972)

Los Cochinos (1973)
1 Sargent Stadanko Martin, Chong 6:31
2 Peter Rooter Martin, Chong :20
3 Up His Nose Martin, Chong 3:25
4 Pedro and Man at the Drive-Inn Martin, Chong 12:44
5 Strawberry Revival Festival Martin, Chong 3:24
6 Don't Bug Me Martin, Chong 1:27
7 Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course Martin, Chong :36
8 Morpions Martin, Chong 5:55
9 Cheborneck Martin, Chong 1:12
10 White World of Sports Martin, Chong 3:02
11 Basketball Jones Chong, Marin 4:04

Los Cochinos (1973)


Cheech & Chongs Wedding Album (1974)

1 Championship Wrestling Marin, Chong 6:51
2 Other Tapes 2:05
3 Testimonial by R. Zimmerman :22
4 Hey Margaret 2:48
5 Earache My Eye Moore, Chong, DeLorme 5:21
6 Wake up America Marin, Chong 5:03
7 Black Lassie (A Great American Dog) Page, Page, Marin, Chong 3:51
8 Wake up America (Conclusion) 1:14
9 Baby Sitters 3:20
10 Three Little Pigs 5:11
11 Coming Attractions 1:57

Cheech & Chongs Wedding Album (1974)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow what great memories.Thanks for the great post.

Anonymous said...

Oh, man this is great! I love these albums, they are classics! I DO remember the giant rolling paper from Big Bambu...in fact I still have mine!!

Thanks for these!