Released in 1984 at the tail end of their Warner Bros. tenure, this album represents the duo’s death rattle before their temporary breakup. It is an album whose title is both a warning and a confession. If you’ve never heard of it, you aren’t alone. If you own an original vinyl copy, you might actually have been... ripped off. To understand You Got Ripped Off , you have to understand where Cheech & Chong were in 1984. The 70s were over. Reagan was in the White House, the "Just Say No" campaign was gaining steam, and the freewheeling, anti-establishment weed humor was starting to feel dated. Their last major film, Still Smokin' (1983), was a critical and commercial disappointment.
Because Cheech & Chong literally printed "You Got Ripped Off" on the album cover . cheech and chong you got ripped off album
The front cover of the Greatest Hit LP features a cheap-looking, black-and-white photo of the duo with their eyes crossed. In a bold, mocking text, it reads: The back cover clarifies (or mocks you further) by explaining that you just paid full price for a record with only eight minutes of new material on each side. Released in 1984 at the tail end of their Warner Bros
Months after the album’s release, the duo split. Cheech would have a hit with "Born in East L.A." (a song whose demo appears on this album), and Tommy Chong would go on to form the blues band Highwaymen and later become a beloved stoner icon on That ‘70s Show . If you’ve never heard of it, you aren’t alone
Tensions were high. Cheech Marin wanted to branch out into more legitimate acting (he would later find fame in Nash Bridges and voice work for Disney). Tommy Chong was battling substance abuse issues beyond just marijuana and wanted to focus on guitar and music.