Earache My Eye

Last updated
"Earache My Eye"
Earache My Eye.jpg
Single by Cheech and Chong
from the album Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album
B-side "Turn That Thing Down"
ReleasedJuly 1974 (1974-07)
Genre Comedy rock, hard rock [1]
Length5:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Lou Adler [2]
Cheech and Chong singles chronology
"Sister Mary Elephant"
(1973)
"Earache My Eye"
(1974)
"Black Lassie (A Great American Dog)"
(1974)

"Earache My Eye" is a comedy routine and song by Cheech and Chong from their 1974 album Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album . The skit is about a teenager (played by Tommy Chong) who wakes up and listens to a song by "Alice Bowie" (Cheech Marin), while his father (also played by Marin) yells at him to get ready for school.

Contents

The song, unnamed in the skit, was released as a single under the name "Earache My Eye" and gained surprising popularity, reaching the top 10 on the charts in the United States and Canada. It has since been covered by many artists most notably Widespread Panic, Korn and Soundgarden. The song had its music written by Gaye Delorme and was performed by session musicians including Delorme on guitar and Airto Moreira on drums. It is best known for its guitar riff.

History

The routine first appeared on Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974). It was later included on the greatest hits collections Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit (1981) and Where There's Smoke There's Cheech & Chong , the latter a double-CD anthology from 2002.

Cheech and Chong lip sync to the recording (with Chong behind the drum kit) in their first movie Up in Smoke (1978). The song has been featured repeatedly on the Dr. Demento radio show, and it is included on the Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection . According to Tommy Chong's autobiography, the famous guitar riff is played by Gaye Delorme, who also composed the music for the song. Additionally, Chong states that drums on the song are played by famed international percussionist Airto Moreira.

The song was released as a single in 1974 and reached #9 on the Billboard charts and #4 in Canada. In Chicago, it topped the charts at the powerful and influential Top 40 radio station WLS (AM), holding the #1 position for one week in September 1974, in the middle of an eleven-week run on the station's top 40 airplay charts. The song also reached the top spot for one week on the West Coast's biggest Top 40 radio station, Los Angeles' KHJ-AM. The B-side, "Turn That Thing Down", features the remainder of the musical track from the point of Marin's monologue about his wealth, without the actual dialogue, complete to its conclusion. It is possible to assemble the full-length version of the song by editing the two sections together. An edited version that fades out before the skit appears on the soundtrack for Up in Smoke and the Greatest Hit compilation.

Once the song hit its peak on the charts, radio station managers and owners, especially the AM stations, pulled the song off the air following multiple complaints. Phone calls and angry letters came from parents, teachers, psychologists, clergy, principals, school administrators and counselors. Complaints stated that this song mostly appealed to junkies, dropouts, drug addicts and drunkards as well as students playing hooky from class, giving them a bad model for their behavior. Those who opposed the track threatened to boycott the stations unless the song was permanently withdrawn. "Oldies" station AM 1110 KRLA banned the track, and some radio managers threatened to fire any disc jockey who played it. Sponsors threatened to pull their advertisements unless the song was completely removed from playlists. The AM stations threatened to fire any radio station employees who accepted requests or discussed the track on the air.

Content

"Earache My Eye" consists of a song followed by a comedy skit.

In the skit, Chong plays a rebellious teen. At the beginning of the piece we hear snoring, followed by an alarm clock, and then the boy wakes up noisily. He starts up a glam rock record, with Cheech Marin singing the lyrics as glam rock star character Alice Bowie who, as the name implies, is supposed to be a combination of Alice Cooper and Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie (at one point in his tune, "Alice Bowie" even mentions having orange hair, which the real David Bowie had sported at that time). The song itself is about a teenager fantasizing about becoming a world-famous rock star, becoming very wealthy and not having to listen to authority as a result, including being disowned for wearing his sister's pantyhose. The teenager states that he did not care if the world came to an end and that he was kicked off the basketball team by the coach for behaving effeminately.

As the song continues into an electric guitar-heavy bridge, the teen's dad (Marin) barges into the room and yells, "I said turn that thing down and get ready for school!", and scratches the record, which annoys the boy. The dad then tells his son to get his "fanny perpendicular" and get ready for school. The son then complains about an earache, prompting the dad to exclaim, "Earache my eye, how would you like a butt-ache?" The boy then gets even snottier, provoking his father to swat him with a belt. When he ridicules the spanking as painless, the father then whips him into sniveling, outward compliance, which lasts until his father leaves the room, after which the teen puts the record back on.

During the latter part of the record ("Turn That Thing Down") – essentially, an extended, electric rock guitar-driven coda – the father can be heard knocking on the door several times demanding that his son "turn that thing down and get ready for school".

Charts

Chart (1974)Peak position
Australian (Kent Music Report) [3] 26
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [4] 9

Influence

The musical portion of "Earache My Eye" was written originally by Canadian artist Gaye Delorme, a resident of Edmonton, AB. The song has been covered by many bands, ranging in styles from heavy metal to hip hop. The comedy-metal group Scatterbrain covered the song on their album Here Comes Trouble . Korn released the song as a hidden track at the end of "My Gift to You" from their 1998 album Follow the Leader , with Cheech Marin appearing as a guest vocalist. The recording was reissued on the compilations Live and Rare and Playlist: The Very Best of Korn , separated from "My Gift to You".

Rollins Band [5] and Soundgarden both covered the song, and the hip-hop group 2 Live Crew used a sample from the song on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be for the song "Dirty Nursery Rhymes". The Canadian power trio Rush have used the song's signature riff live, to end "The Big Money", (whose album version ends with a fade) on the live album A Show of Hands and the final riff of the same show as depicted in the video of the same name. It was also used to end Tom Sawyer on the band's Snakes & Arrows World Tour and can be heard on the subsequent live album.

Electric Magma used the song's main riff in a song titled "The Chong Song" which appears on the 2007 release, Coconut Bangers Ball. [6]

Gov't Mule covered the song at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, Illinois on April 15, 2000, with Brodie Hutchinson, soundman, performing the spoken word portion and this is available as a Classic Muletracks.

The Kottonmouth Kings also sampled this classic on the song "Loadies" from their album Cloud Nine.

Raging Slab also covered the song on their 1991 release, Slabbage / True Death. [7]

A sample of the song was heard in the 1995 film National Lampoon's Senior Trip .

Widespread Panic covered it on Halloween 2014 in Broomfield, Colorado. [8]

Eminem sampled the song on his track "Untouchable", from his album Revival.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheech & Chong</span> Comedy duo

Cheech & Chong are a comedy duo founded in Vancouver and consisting of American Cheech Marin and Canadian Tommy Chong. The duo found commercial and cultural success in the 1970s and 1980s with their stand-up routines, studio recordings, and feature films, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug and counterculture movements, most notably their love for cannabis.

<i>Follow the Leader</i> (Korn album) 1998 studio album by Korn

Follow the Leader is the third studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on August 18, 1998, through both Immortal and Epic Records. This was their first album not produced by Ross Robinson. Instead, it was produced by Steve Thompson and Toby Wright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheech Marin</span> American comedian and actor (born 1946)

Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor, musician, and activist. He gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s with Tommy Chong, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez, on Nash Bridges. He has also voiced characters in several Disney films, including Oliver & Company, The Lion King, the Cars series, Coco and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty Cage</span> 1992 single by Soundgarden

"Rusty Cage" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, "Rusty Cage" was released in 1992 as the third single from the band's third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991). The song became an instant hit and was released as a single in several different formats. The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides and the 2010 compilation album Telephantasm.

<i>Up in Smoke</i> 1978 Cheech & Chong film directed by Lou Adler

Up in Smoke is a 1978 American comedy film directed by Lou Adler and starring Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Tom Skerritt, Edie Adams, Strother Martin and Stacy Keach. It is Cheech & Chong's first feature-length film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebel Rebel</span> 1974 song by David Bowie

"Rebel Rebel" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was released in the UK in February 1974 by RCA Records as the lead single from the album Diamond Dogs. Written and produced by Bowie, the song is based around a distinctive guitar riff reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. Cited as his most-covered track, "Rebel Rebel" has been described as Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement that he had helped initiate, as well as being a proto-punk track. Two versions of the song were recorded: the well-known UK single release and the shorter US single release, which featured added background vocals, extra percussion and a new arrangement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dancing in the Street</span> 1964 single performed by Martha and the Vandellas

"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song. A 1966 cover by the Mamas & the Papas was a minor hit on the Hot 100 reaching No. 73. In 1982, the rock group Van Halen took their cover of "Dancing in the Street" to No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart and No. 15 in Canada on the RPM chart. A 1985 duet cover by David Bowie and Mick Jagger charted at No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 7 in the US. The song has been covered by many other artists, including The Kinks, Tages, Black Oak Arkansas, Grateful Dead, Little Richard, Myra and Karen Carpenter.

"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third studio album, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in London in May 1970, towards the end of the album's sessions; Bowie recorded his vocal on the final day of mixing for the album, reflecting his generally dismissive attitude during the sessions. Musically, it is based around a "circular" guitar riff from Mick Ronson. Its lyrics are cryptic and evocative, being inspired by numerous poems including the 1899 "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns. Bowie's vocals are heavily "phased" throughout and have been described as "haunting".

<i>Get Out of My Room</i> 1985 studio album by Cheech & Chong

Get Out of My Room is an album and short-form video featuring comedians Cheech & Chong, released in 1985. The opening track "Born In East L.A." and "I'm Not Home Right Now" were released as singles from the album.

<i>Los Cochinos</i> 1973 studio album by Cheech & Chong

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" equates to the American derogatory term "pig" for "policeman".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Man Walking (song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Dead Man Walking" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released as the third single from his 21st studio album, Earthling (1997). Written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, it was a top 40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 32. Bowie described "Dead Man Walking" as his homage "to rock and roll that is still young while we are all growing old". As such, the lyrics reflect his thoughts on aging at this point in his career.

<i>Cheech & Chongs Greatest Hit</i> 1981 greatest hits album by Cheech & Chong

Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit is a comedy album by Cheech & Chong. The album is a "greatest hits" compilation, featuring some of their best known comedy bits. Some tracks were edited for this release: most notably, the 1:34 track "Dave" is broken into two separate tracks, and is edited down for time. Also, "Earache My Eye" fades out just before the start of the argument between father and son.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces</span> 1973 single by Cheech and Chong

"Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" is a song by Cheech and Chong that first appeared on the 1973 album Los Cochinos.

<i>Where Theres Smoke Theres Cheech & Chong</i> 2002 compilation album by Cheech & Chong

Where There's Smoke There's Cheech & Chong is an anthology album by Cheech & Chong. Released in 2002, it collects the duo's most popular comedy routines and songs from their eight studio albums, and additional rare material, including tracks that are exclusive to this set, including radio commercials for the film Up in Smoke, "(How I Spent My Summer Vacation) Or A Day At The Beach With Pedro & Man" and "Santa Claus And His Old Lady", which were previously only released as singles, and a live recording of the duo performing the "Old Man In The Park" sketch.

"Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading Course" is a parody skit of the numerous speed reading 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 refers to the Evelyn Wood course. Introduced by Tommy Chong, the piece begins with the words delivered phonetically by Cheech Marin:

Ever since I took the Evelyn W-Woodhead sped reddin' course, my... reddin' has [Marin carefully sounds out the syllables somewhat incorrectly] im-PRO-v'd 100%, and also... com-PREN-shun has increased won-der-FULL-y. I ricommend the Evelyn Woodhed Sped Reddin' Course to all my frens out there, and you tell 'em that you heard it here first... on Roller Derby

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaye Delorme</span> Musical artist

Gaye James Delorme was a Canadian songwriter, composer and guitar player.

<i>Cheech & Chongs Animated Movie</i> 2013 American film

Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie! is a 2013 American adult animated comedy film by Branden Chambers and Eric D. Chambers. It stars comedy duo Cheech and Chong in their first feature film since 1984's The Corsican Brothers, and the first to feature them as animated characters. The film features several of their original comedy bits such as "Sister Mary Elephant", "Sgt. Stedanko", "Ralph and Herbie", "Let's Make a Dope Deal", "Earache My Eye", and the classic "Dave". It was released on March 18, 2013 by 20th Century Fox and was released on DVD/Blu-ray on April 23, 2013.

"Born in East L.A." is a single by Cheech & Chong, released in September 1985. It is a parody of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.", with references to the song "I Love L.A." by Randy Newman. The song reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Untouchable" is a song by American rapper Eminem, released on December 8, 2017. It is the fourth track from his ninth solo studio album Revival (2017). The song was produced by Mr. Porter, Emile Haynie, Mark Batson and Eminem. An audio video was uploaded to Eminem's Vevo channel on December 8, 2017. On February 15, 2018, a lyric video was uploaded to his Vevo channel.

This is the discography of American comedy duo Cheech & Chong.

References

  1. "Cheech & Chong: Still Rollin' – Celebrating 40 Years of Up in Smoke". Grammy Museum. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  2. "Cheech & Chong – Earache My Eye / Turn That Thing Down". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 60. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 159.
  5. Released initially in 1990 part of the Sub Pop singles club, catalog number SP72; and later on the 1993 Hammer of the Rök Gödz EP, released by Imago Records catalog number IM28024-2-DJ
  6. "Coconut Bangers Ball (January 2007)". Electric Magma. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  7. "Raging Slab - Slabbage / True Death - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  8. "Everyday Companion Online - 10/31/14 1st Bank Center". Everydaycompanion.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.