Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Dave's Not Here


Cheech & Chong
Big Bambu
1972
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Review by Ed Rivadavia
For their second full-length album in a single year, fast-rising comedy duo Cheech & Chong merely refined the amazingly successful formula of their debut, which had translated their popular stage act to vinyl with greater success than anyone could have predicted. Kick-started by the chaotic schoolroom classic "Sister Mary Elephant" skit -- an after-hours band-camp staple for decades to come -- the stoner icons introduce another soon-to-be recurring story line with mutt buddies "Ralph & Herbie." "The Continuing Adventures of Pedro de Pacas and Man" presents a gut-busting second episode for their most popular alter egos, and the legendary game show spoof "Lets Make a Dope Deal" (part of side two's "Television Medley") rounds out the album's highlights. All of these acts are so carefully conceived and packed full with so many backdrop details that they achieve a stunningly "visual" effect -- another key element to Cheech & Chong's inimitable comedic formula. Additionally, the album's original vinyl pressing contained a record-sleeve-sized bogus rolling paper as a souvenir for the kids -- a fact which might be lost on the post-CD generation.
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Tracklist
1 Sister Mary Elephant
2 Ralph and Herbie
3 Streets of New York or Los Angeles or San Francisco Or...
4 Rebuttal: Speaker Ashley Roachclip
5 The Continuing Adventures of Pedro de Pacas and Man
6 The Bust
7 Television Medley: Tortured Old Man
8 Television Medley: Empire Hancock
9 Television Medley: Let's Make a Dope Deal
10 Television Medley: Unamerican Bandstand
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2 comments:

Mredondo said...

Trustar,

Hey man, Thanks for stopping by my blog and showing your support. Seems like only fellow bloggers understand the work that goes into keeping these blogs going. I'm really close to hanging up my blogging hat for good.

Take care bro,

Mredondo

Mredondo said...

T - just went over to Ricochet and saw that you closed shop. Sorry to hear that and sorry I didn't stop by more often.

Keep rockin' bro...

Mredondo