Cheech And Chong You Got Ripped Off Album -
Released in 1985, Get Out of My Room (often associated with the track "I'm Not Home Right Now" and the "You Got Ripped Off" sketch) stands as the final studio album from the iconic comedy duo Cheech Marin Tommy Chong
before their long-term hiatus. While it captured the duo at the peak of their mainstream visibility, the album serves as a fascinating time capsule of 1980s pop culture and the evolution of "stoner comedy." The Concept and Sound
By the mid-80s, the raw, counter-culture grit of their early 70s records had shifted toward high-production parody Get Out of My Room
leaned heavily into the music video era, blending sketch comedy with synth-heavy musical numbers. The album’s most enduring legacy is the hit single "Born in East L.A.,"
a sharp satirical take on Bruce Springsteen’s "Born in the U.S.A." that addressed immigration and Chicano identity with a level of social commentary rarely seen in their earlier "pot-humor" catalogs. Key Sketches and Satire "I'm Not Home Right Now"
(and the recurring theme of being "ripped off") showcased their ability to adapt to the burgeoning technological landscape
of the 80s. They pivoted from sketches about avoiding the police to sketches about the frustrations of answering machines, ego-driven musicians, and the commercialization of the drug culture they once championed.
The "You Got Ripped Off" sentiment within their work often played on the irony of two counter-culture icons becoming part of the mainstream establishment
. Their humor evolved from the perspective of the "underdog" to that of the "survivor" navigating a more plastic, corporate decade. Cultural Legacy Get Out of My Room
was bittersweet for fans. It proved that Cheech and Chong could master
—specifically through the accompanying short film and music videos on MTV—but it also highlighted the creative divergence between the two. Cheech Marin was moving toward mainstream acting and directing (leading to the 1987 film version of Born in East L.A.
), while Tommy Chong remained dedicated to the traditional counter-culture aesthetic.
In conclusion, the album is more than just a collection of jokes; it is a transitional artifact
. It bridged the gap between the revolutionary comedy of the 1970s and the polished, video-driven entertainment of the 1980s. Though they would eventually reunite decades later, Get Out of My Room
remains the definitive "last word" of their original run, proving that even as the world changed, their chemistry remained a high-water mark for American comedy. "Born in East L.A." transition into a feature film?
Feature: The Enduring Legacy of Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" and the Infamous "You Got Ripped Off" Album cheech and chong you got ripped off album
Cheech and Chong, the iconic comedy duo from the 1970s and 1980s, are still widely popular today, known for their irreverent humor, memorable characters, and, of course, their love of cannabis. One of their most beloved films, "Up in Smoke," was released in 1978 and became a cult classic. However, it's their 1980 album "Cheech and Chong: You Got Ripped Off," that we're focusing on here.
Released on January 27, 1980, "You Got Ripped Off" is the duo's fourth studio album, featuring a mix of comedy sketches, songs, and improvisational bits. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold by the RIAA.
The Concept and Reception
The concept of the album revolves around Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong getting ripped off by their manager and record label. The comedians claimed they were not paid fairly for their work, leading to a satirical exploration of the music industry.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the duo's signature blend of humor and social commentary.
Tracklist and Standout Tracks
Some standout tracks from the album include:
The Legacy
The impact of "You Got Ripped Off" on Cheech and Chong's career was significant. The album helped solidify their reputation as comedians who pushed boundaries and challenged societal norms. The duo's irreverent style and humor have influenced generations of comedians, including notable acts like Dave Chappelle and Jim Carrey.
"Cheech and Chong: You Got Ripped Off" remains a classic comedy album, offering a glimpse into the wacky world of these two beloved comedians. Even decades after its release, fans still enjoy and quote lines from the album.
Whether you're a fan of Cheech and Chong, comedy, or just great storytelling, "You Got Ripped Off" is a must-listen. So grab some snacks, sit back, and enjoy this hilarious and irreverent ride with Cheech and Chong.
While there is no Cheech & Chong album officially titled "You Got Ripped Off," this likely refers to an 18-year-old urban legend involving their 1985 studio album, Get Out of My Room. The "Ripped Off" Legend
A long-standing music myth suggests that Cheech & Chong once released an album where the record only played a single phrase—"Ha ha, you got ripped off!"—before the needle immediately skipped to the center. While no such record exists, the rumor may stem from:
The Title Track: The song "Get Out of My Room" features aggressive shouting and "anti-fan" humor that fits their antagonistic comedic style.
Production Gags: Cheech & Chong were known for interactive packaging, like the giant rolling paper included in their second album, Big Bambu (1972). Overview of Get Out of My Room (1985) Released in 1985, Get Out of My Room
This was the duo’s seventh and final studio album before their long-term split in the mid-80s. It is best known for:
Born in East L.A.: A parody of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," which became a massive hit and was later adapted into a feature film.
Format: Originally released as a standard LP, it was also produced as a "visual album" featuring music videos and sketches for every track.
Tone: Unlike their earlier 70s stoner-focused humor, this album leaned more into 80s pop parody and social commentary. Where to Buy
If you are looking for this specific 1985 release, it is currently available through several retailers:
Vinyl Copies: Can be found at Discogs (around $75 for mint condition) or eBay (used copies for $13–$24).
CD/Cassette: Rare CD editions are available at eBay ($45), while used cassettes often retail for as low as $5 at shops like Nail City Record.
Title: The Great Rip-Off: Deconstructing Audience Expectation in Cheech & Chong’s Greatest Hit (1981)
Introduction: The Prank as Product In the discography of the counterculture comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, few releases have generated as much post-purchase dissonance as their 1981 album, Cheech & Chong’s Greatest Hit. While the title suggests a compilation of beloved radio sketches like “Dave’s Not Here” or “Earache My Eye,” the actual product is a single, 20-minute track titled “The Great Gig in the Sky” (not to be confused with the Pink Floyd song). This paper argues that Greatest Hit is not a failure of content but a deliberate conceptual art piece about consumer capitalism, stoner expectation, and the nature of a "hit." By selling a single comedic bit at album price, Cheech and Chong executed the ultimate inside joke: the audience paid to get ripped off.
Historical Context: The End of an Era By 1981, Cheech and Chong were at a commercial peak but a creative crossroads. Following the massive success of Next Movie (1980) and the platinum-selling Cheech & Chong’s Greatest Hit (technically a different, legitimate compilation released the same year), the duo had built an empire on the persona of the lovable burnout. Their audience expected value: long albums filled with characters, sound effects, and the ritualistic "stoner logic." However, the duo had also cultivated a reputation for antagonizing the record industry. Greatest Hit (the single-track album) functions as a contractual obligation or a prank on the label itself, testing how little content they could deliver while still charting.
Deconstructing the "Hit" The album’s title is a semantic trap. In the music industry, a "greatest hit" implies a collection of successful singles. For Cheech & Chong, a comedy duo whose "hits" were sketches, the term is subverted. The single track—a rambling, improvisational routine about buying a defective record—mirrors the consumer’s exact experience. The listener, expecting a greatest hits package, instead hears Chong complaining that the album they just bought has only one song. The joke is recursive: the medium is the message. The "greatest hit" is literally the act of hitting the consumer in the wallet.
The "You Got Ripped Off" Phenomenon Fan lore and retrospective reviews have re-titled this release You Got Ripped Off due to the overwhelming feeling of buyer's remorse. This reaction, however, proves the duo’s point. In an era of $8.99 LPs, purchasing a 20-minute single was objectively a poor value. Yet, within stoner culture, the reaction to being ripped off is often a delayed, meta-laugh. The paper posits that the album functions as a litmus test for the true fan. A casual buyer would return the record in anger; a true Cheech & Chong fan—one attuned to the absurdist, anti-authoritarian streak of their work—would recognize the prank as the punchline.
Comparative Analysis: The Anti-Compilation Unlike the legitimate Greatest Hit compilation released in 1981 (which featured classic bits), this album rejects nostalgia. It refuses to give the audience what they want (the familiar hits) and instead gives them what they are: suckers who paid for a product based on a label. In this sense, the album is closer to performance art than stand-up comedy. It aligns with Andy Warhol’s concept of the "business art" and anticipates the anti-comedy of Andy Kaufman, who would read The Great Gatsby to an audience expecting jokes. Cheech and Chong simply played a record that mocks the listener for playing it.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Stoner Logic Was Cheech & Chong’s Greatest Hit a rip-off? Yes, by every conventional metric of commerce. However, to dismiss it as a cash grab is to miss the point. The duo understood that for their audience, the ritual of getting high before listening to a record often involved confusion, paranoia, and eventual laughter. The album provides that experience perfectly: the confusion of the single groove, the paranoia of realizing you spent fifteen dollars on one joke, and the eventual laughter at your own gullibility. In the end, Cheech and Chong didn’t rip you off—they proved you weren’t paying attention to the con man’s smile. The album is not a collection of hits; it is the story of the hit you never saw coming.
Works Cited
"Cheech and Chong's 'You Got Ripped Off' album"! That's a classic one.
Released in 1980, "You Got Ripped Off" is the seventh studio album by the American comedy duo Cheech and Chong. The album marked a significant change in their style, as it was their first album to feature more music and less of their signature stoner comedy.
The album received mixed reviews at the time of its release, with some critics praising its musical direction and others finding it less funny than their previous work. Despite this, the album has developed a cult following over the years and is still enjoyed by fans of the duo.
The album's title track, "You Got Ripped Off," became a moderate hit, peaking at #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's success can be attributed to its catchy melody and lyrics, which poke fun at the common experience of being overcharged or ripped off.
Throughout the album, Cheech and Chong experiment with different musical styles, incorporating elements of rock, pop, and reggae into their songs. This experimentation helped to set them apart from other comedy acts of the time and paved the way for future musical endeavors.
Overall, "You Got Ripped Off" remains a beloved album among fans of Cheech and Chong, and its influence can still be heard in the world of comedy and music today.
Would you like to know more about Cheech and Chong's discography or their impact on popular culture?
Album Analysis Report: Get Out of My Room (1985)
Subject: Analysis of the Cheech & Chong album containing the track "You Got Ripped Off" Artists: Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong Release Date: 1985 Genre: Comedy / Spoken Word / Rock
The cover of the Cheech and Chong You Got Ripped Off album is as infamous as the music inside. Instead of the colorful, cartoonish art typical of their releases, the cover was plain white cardboard with a black stamp that read: “YOU GOT RIPPED OFF – Cheech & Chong.” Below it, in small print: “This album contains previously unreleased material of dubious quality.”
Some early pressings even included a fake price tag that said “$8.98 – Too Much.” The back cover featured a photo of Cheech and Chong laughing and pointing at the viewer, as if to say, “We can’t believe you paid for this.”
Released in late 1979/early 1980, Let’s Make A New Dope Deal arrived at a strange time for comedy. The counter-culture revolution of the late 60s had faded, and the "Me Decade" was in full swing. Disco was dominating the radio, and Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were smart enough to know that their old shtick—two guys sitting in a car getting high—needed an update.
The album kicks off with the track "Bummer on Bleecker Street," a solid start that feels like classic Cheech & Chong. But then, the album takes a sharp left turn into the zeitgeist with "Born in East L.A."
If you’re a child of the 80s, you probably know "Born in East L.A." as the hit music video and the premise for Cheech’s later solo movie. But on Dope Deal, it was just a track. It was a parody of Bruce Springsteen’s "Born in the U.S.A.," proving that Cheech had his finger on the pulse of pop culture. It was the moment the duo started to become "moviestars" rather than just "stoners."