Los Cochinos
Encyclopedia
Los Cochinos is a 1973 comedy
album recorded by Cheech & Chong. The Spanish term cochino is a derogatory way of referring to a pig, as it also means "dirty", in contrast to cerdo, a more neutral word for a pig as an animal. In this context, "cochino" ("[dirty] pig") equates to the American derogatory term "pig" for policeman.
was an example of the elaborate album art of the era. The packaging of the first release included a die cut
cover showing a car door, and another die cut cardboard inner cover showing the usually sealed parts of a car door (which contained baggies of marijuana); the cardboard edge of the opening of the cover was cut decoratively around the windshield in the upper right corner. Subsequent re-pressings of the recording have not replicated the die-cut packaging.
The credits and track listing consisted of a black and white photograph of hand written graffiti
also on a car door (four pairs of feet suggestively situated in the drivers side window) enclosed on a single sheet in the album. Additional graffiti includes the early seventies arithmetic statement:
2 Good
+ 2 Be
________
4 Gotten,
a "↑ Made in U.S.A."
and the classic "Wash Me!"
, Janet Maslin
found Cheech and Chong's humor to be running thin by this point, asking, "is this really the best we can do for comedy? (...) There's nothing funny about it." Nevertheless, the album not only matched the chart performance of Big Bambu
by reaching #2 on the Billboard Albums Chart
, but also earned the duo their one and only Grammy
for Best Comedy Recording
at the 16th Grammy Awards.
courses available in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s written by Cheech and Chong
that first appeared on the 1973 album Los Cochinos. The title specifically refers to the Evelyn Wood
course.
Voiced by Cheech Marin
, the piece begins with the words delivered phonetically:
The short spoken word
testimonial style skit was an efficient parody of commercials that were prevalent on the television and radio stations in that era.
", is a music track which features George Harrison
on guitar, Carole King
, Billy Preston
and Tom Scott
, with Darlene Love
, Fanita Jones, Jean King
and Michelle Phillips
(The Mamas & the Papas
) as cheerleaders.
Animated in 1974, parts of this music video were featured in the 1979 movie Being There
. This track was also released as the single "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" and reached #36 in Canada.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
album recorded by Cheech & Chong. The Spanish term cochino is a derogatory way of referring to a pig, as it also means "dirty", in contrast to cerdo, a more neutral word for a pig as an animal. In this context, "cochino" ("[dirty] pig") equates to the American derogatory term "pig" for policeman.
Packaging
The first production release of this album on long playing vinylLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
was an example of the elaborate album art of the era. The packaging of the first release included a die cut
Die (manufacturing)
A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create...
cover showing a car door, and another die cut cardboard inner cover showing the usually sealed parts of a car door (which contained baggies of marijuana); the cardboard edge of the opening of the cover was cut decoratively around the windshield in the upper right corner. Subsequent re-pressings of the recording have not replicated the die-cut packaging.
The credits and track listing consisted of a black and white photograph of hand written graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
also on a car door (four pairs of feet suggestively situated in the drivers side window) enclosed on a single sheet in the album. Additional graffiti includes the early seventies arithmetic statement:
2 Good
+ 2 Be
________
4 Gotten,
a "↑ Made in U.S.A."
and the classic "Wash Me!"
Reception and Performance
In a review of the album published in Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times. She served as the Times film critic from 1977–1999.- Biography :...
found Cheech and Chong's humor to be running thin by this point, asking, "is this really the best we can do for comedy? (...) There's nothing funny about it." Nevertheless, the album not only matched the chart performance of Big Bambu
Big Bambu
Big Bambú is the second album by Cheech & Chong, released in 1972. The name Big Bambu is a reference to a type of rolling paper made by the Bambu company; the original LP sleeve was designed by Ernie Cefalu and manufactured to look like a giant rolling paper package, and originally contained a...
by reaching #2 on the Billboard Albums Chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, but also earned the duo their one and only Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Comedy Recording
Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from yearly 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:*From 1959 to 1967 it was Best Comedy Performance...
at the 16th Grammy Awards.
Side 1
- "Sergeant Stadanko" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 6:31 - "Peter Rooter" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – :20 - "Up His Nose" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 3:24 - "Pedro and Man at the Drive-Inn" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 12:44
Side 2
- "The Strawberry Revival Festival" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 3:24 - "Don't Bug Me" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 1:27 - "Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – :36 - "Les Morpions" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 5:55 - "Cheborneck" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 1:12 - "White World of Sports" (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 3:02 - "Basketball JonesBasketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces"Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" is a song by Cheech and Chong that first appeared on the 1973 album Los Cochinos.Sung in falsetto by Cheech Marin, playing the title character Tyrone Shoelaces, it told the story of Shoelaces' love of basketball. It was a parody of the song "Love...
" by Tyrone Shoelaces & Rap Brown Jr. H.S. Band featuring George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, Klaus Voorman, Jim Karsten, Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
, Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, Nicky HopkinsNicky HopkinsNicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
, Tom ScottTom Scott (musician)Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
, Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
, Horny Guys (George Bohanon, Dick "Slyde" HydeDick HydeRichard Elde Hyde is an American former relief pitcher in professional baseball who worked in the Major Leagues for six seasons from to for the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles...
, Paul Hubison), Sister Mary ElephantSister Mary ElephantSister Mary Elephant is a comedy skit by Cheech and Chong. The recording was released as a single in 1973 and climbed to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974...
, Santana Street School 6th Grade Class, Cheerleaders (The BlossomsThe BlossomsThe Blossoms were a backing group from California. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes were for Motown.-Early years:...
: Darlene LoveDarlene LoveDarlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
, Fanita Jones, Jean KingJean KingJean King was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 1978 to 1982 in the administration of Governor of Hawaii George Ariyoshi....
and Michelle "Trixie" PhillipsMichelle PhillipsMichelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
) (Thomas Chong and Cheech MarinCheech MarinRichard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
) – 3:02
Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course
A parody of the numerous speed readingSpeed reading
Speed reading is a collection of reading methods which attempt to increase rates of reading without greatly reducing comprehension or retention. Methods include chunking and eliminating subvocalization...
courses available in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s written by Cheech and Chong
Cheech and Chong
Cheech & Chong are a comedy duo consisting of Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong, who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand-up routines, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug culture movements, most notably their love for...
that first appeared on the 1973 album Los Cochinos. The title specifically refers to the Evelyn Wood
Evelyn Wood (teacher)
Evelyn Nielsen Wood was an American educator and businessperson, widely known for coining the phrase speed reading and for creating a system to increase a reader's speed by a factor of two to five times, while increasing retention...
course.
Voiced by Cheech Marin
Cheech Marin
Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
, the piece begins with the words delivered phonetically:
The short spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
testimonial style skit was an efficient parody of commercials that were prevalent on the television and radio stations in that era.
Basketball Jones
The album's final track, "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone ShoelacesBasketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces
"Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" is a song by Cheech and Chong that first appeared on the 1973 album Los Cochinos.Sung in falsetto by Cheech Marin, playing the title character Tyrone Shoelaces, it told the story of Shoelaces' love of basketball. It was a parody of the song "Love...
", is a music track which features George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
on guitar, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
and Tom Scott
Tom Scott (musician)
Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
, with Darlene Love
Darlene Love
Darlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
, Fanita Jones, Jean King
Jean King
Jean King was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 1978 to 1982 in the administration of Governor of Hawaii George Ariyoshi....
and Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
(The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
) as cheerleaders.
Animated in 1974, parts of this music video were featured in the 1979 movie Being There
Being There
Being There is a 1979 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby. Adapted from the 1971 novella written by Jerzy Kosinski, the screenplay was coauthored by Kosinski and Robert C. Jones. The film stars Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard A...
. This track was also released as the single "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" and reached #36 in Canada.