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There is no official Cheech & Chong album titled You Got Ripped Off . This title is part of a longstanding urban legend
and may be a misattribution of a similar prank album by another artist. The Urban Legend
For decades, a rumor has circulated that a comedy album existed (often attributed to Cheech & Chong or Frank Zappa) where the listener would hear a short voice recording saying, "Ha ha. You've been ripped off,"
after which the needle would immediately skip to the center of the record. The Reality
: While Cheech & Chong never released such a record, a Canadian comedy duo named MacLean and MacLean did release an album titled You Got Ripped Off
: True to the name, the MacLean and MacLean record famously features a man's voice repeating "You got ripped off" over and over on both sides. Actual Cheech & Chong Discography
If you are looking for their actual comedy albums, the duo released seven studio albums and two soundtracks. Their most famous works include:
The album cover features a comical illustration of the duo being taken advantage of by a sleazy record label executive, which fits perfectly with the album's theme of poking fun at the music industry. cheech and chong you got ripped off album
Some standout tracks from the album include:
The album has become a cult classic and is still widely enjoyed today. If you're a fan of Cheech and Chong or just looking for some vintage comedy gold, "You Got Ripped Off" is definitely worth checking out!
Would you like to know more about Cheech and Chong's discography or their career in general?
Why would two of the biggest comedians in the world intentionally release a product that tells you, to your face, that you’ve been cheated?
It was performance art. Or sheer gall.
In the early 80s, record labels were compressing artists’ royalties. Cheech & Chong were contractually obligated to deliver one more album to Warner Bros. They didn’t want to. So, they subverted the system. They released exactly what the contract demanded—a vinyl record with grooves in it—but they stripped it of any substantial value. By titling the experience "You Got Ripped Off," they shifted the blame from themselves to the industry.
They were saying: "Don't be mad at us. You bought a product without checking the track listing. The label charged you $9.98. We’re just the messengers." There is no official Cheech & Chong album
It was a post-modern joke that nobody laughed at. Fans felt betrayed. Critics savaged it. Rolling Stone famously gave it a one-star review, writing: "The only funny thing about this record is that someone actually paid to master it."
"You Got Ripped Off" is a signature sketch on the album Get Out of My Room. While not a radio single, it serves as a representative sample of Tommy Chong's laid-back, philosophical comedic style. The album itself stands as a significant historical marker in comedy history, representing the final collaborative effort of the duo's original run before their decades-long hiatus.
There is no official Cheech and Chong album titled You Got Ripped Off. This title is most likely a reference to a long-standing urban legend in the music world. The "Ripped Off" Urban Legend
The myth typically describes a "secret" or rare album by artists like Cheech and Chong or Frank Zappa. According to the legend, if you bought this record and played it, the only audio would be the artist saying, "Ha ha! You've been ripped off!" before the needle immediately skips to the end of the disc. While it sounds like something the counterculture duo would do, no such physical release exists in their discography. Real Albums You Might Be Thinking Of
If you are looking for classic Cheech and Chong content, you may be recalling one of these actual releases:
Big Bambú (1972): Famous for its giant oversized rolling paper included in the original vinyl sleeve. It features the classic "Sister Mary Elephant" skit.
Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974): This album was noted as a departure from their usual stoner sketches, featuring more simplistic bits like "Black Lassie" and the famous track "Earache My Eye". "Nice and Gentle" "Hope I Don't Freak Out"
Get Out of My Room (1985): Their final studio album as a duo, which includes the hit parody "Born in East L.A.". Some critics found this album to be a bit "hit and miss" compared to their 1970s work.
Cheech & Chong’s Greatest Hit (1981): A compilation that gathers their most essential tracks, including "Dave" and "Sargent Stadanko". Music Urban Legends - Soundboard - Jambands.ca
1. I once heard of a Frank Zappa album that was a very small release, like hundreds of copies. I heard it was called Frank Zappa " Jambands.ca Cheech and Chong's Big Bambu album review
Despite the cynical packaging, the material on the Cheech and Chong You Got Ripped Off album isn't entirely worthless—it’s just sparse.
The rest of the album is padded with reverb-heavy instrumental jams and sound effects. It feels like a demo tape, not a studio album.
| Pro | Con | |------|------| | ⭐ Hilarious meta-humor about the music business | ❌ Short for a full-price LP (~28 minutes total) | | ⭐ Live energy is fantastic (recorded at the Santa Monica Civic) | ❌ Side two feels like outtakes | | ⭐ Contains definitive live versions of their classics | ❌ Not a good first Cheech & Chong album | | ⭐ Cult classic among comedy nerds and collectors | ❌ Title alienated casual buyers at release |