CHEECH & CHONG
Where There's Smoke There's Cheech & Chong (Rhino)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Confession time. I can't remember the last time I got high, and the next time isn't scheduled. I still have some Cheech & Chong stuff in my vinyl stash, but I haven't seen them recently enough to tell which ones might be there. As a result, I picked up this 2 disc compilation with some caution. Did I need to find a connection to review this fairly?

Well, no. I'm pleased to report that unabetted by chemical alteration of my sense of humor, I enjoyed the hell out of Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong and their cast of characters. Dave is, in fact, here. So is Sister Mary Elephant, Tyrone Shoelaces, Pedro, Man and their canine pals, Ralph and Herbie. This set blends sketches, songs and aural ephemera including commercials featuring some of the duo's best loved characters into what for me was a surprisingly fresh and humorous blend. Did they occasionally lapse into broad and sophomoric grasps for the cheap laugh? Well, sure. So did the Firesigns, Pythons and every standup you can think of. Did Cheech & Chong develop an original set of characterizations and place them in scenarios familiar enough to engage us, yet exaggerated enough to inspire laughter? Yep, they did that too, as well as, and maybe better than, you remember.

Besides, scoring this double dose of Cheech & Chong is probably the most effective cultural counter attack you can make against your local drug warriors. It's important to remember that dope is fun, and dope humor is funny. Maybe we won't need these CDs after the revolution, but maybe we won't have one without them.

Track Lists:

Disc One: Dave * Blind Melon Chitlin' * Wink Dinkerson * Acapulco Gold Filters * Cruisin' With Pedro De Pacas * Trippin' In Court * Santa Claus And His Old Lady * Sister Mary Elephant * Ralph And Herbie * The Continuing Adventures Of Pedro De Pacas And Man * Let's Make A Dope Deal * Sargent Stadanko * The Strawberry Revival Festival * Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course * White World Of Sport * Basketball Jones * Pedro And Man At The Drive-Inn

Disc Two: Earache My Eye * Championship Wrestling * Wake Up America * Black Lassie (A Great American Dog) * Wake Up America (Conclusion) * (How I Spent My Summer Vacation) Or A Day At The Beach With Pedro And Man-Part 1 * The Big Sniff * Pedro's Request * Framed * Up In Smoke * Bloat On * Let's Make A New Dope Deal * Acupuncture * Moe Money/Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer * Born In East L.A. * Up In Smoke Commercial (I) * Up In Smoke commercial (II) * Academy Of Music-NY Concert Commercial * Old Man In The Park (live)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale