Cheech & Chong - Basketball Jones (1973)

Composed of Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong, this duo is one of the earliest comedy acts to be classified under “stoner” comedy. Throughout their numerous albums and films, they targeted the hippie population with their marijuana-centered comedy. Their routines eventually earned them a Grammy Award. Currently reuniting, the duo has a feature film scheduled for release later this year.

This comedy song comes from the duo’s third album, Los Cochinos (translated “The Pigs”). The song features the following musicians: George Harrison on guitar; Klaus Voormann on bass; Nicky Hopkins on piano; Carole King on electric piano; Billy Preston on organ; Michelle Phillips (of The Mamas and The Papas) as a backup singing "cheerleader"; and many other notable musicians/acts of the era. The track reached number thirty-six in Canada, and would later be covered by Barry White and Chris Rock for the 1996 film Space Jam.



Cheech & Chong - Basketball Jones (1973)

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Lyrics:

Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones
Got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh

Yes, I am the victim of a basketball jones. Ever since I was a little baby, I always be dribblin'. In fact, I was the baddest dribbler in the whole neighborhood. Then, one day, my mama bought me a basketball. And I loved that basketball. I took that basketball with me everywhere I went. That basketball was like a basketball to me.

I even put that basketball underneath my pillow. Maybe that's why I can't sleep at night. I need help, ladies and gentlemens. I need someone to stand beside me. I need- I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of life. Someone I can pass to; someone to hit the open man on the give-and-go and not end up in the popcorn machine. So cheerleaders, help me out!

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)

Oh, that sounds so sweet. Sing it out. C'mon Coach Booty, Red Blazer, sing along with me. That be bad, honky, yeah. I want everybody in the whole stadium to stand up and sing with us. Oh yeah, sing it out like you're proud. All right, everybody watchin' coast-to-coast, sing along with us. Bill Russell, sing along with us. Chick Hearn, sing along with us. Chris Schenkel, don't sing nothin'.

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)

Oh, it feels so good. Gimme the ball. I'll go one-on-one against the world, left-handed. I could stuff it from center court with my toes. I could jump on top of the backboard, take off a quarter, leave fifteen cents change. I could- I could dribble behind my back. I got more moves than ex-lax. I'm bad. I could dribble with my tongue. Here I go down court, try to stop me. You can't stop me 'cause I got a basketball jones. Here I come. That's my hook shot with my eyebrow. Yeah, I could dunk it with my nose. I'm- I'm bad as King Kong- gimme the ball. I'm hot- I'm hot as- I'm hot as- I'm hot as- uh, uh, uh, uh, uh…

(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)
(Basketball jones, I got a basketball jones)
(I got a basketball jones, oh baby, ooh)…

Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

Depending on who you ask, the greatest rock drummer of all time is either John Bonham of Led Zeppelin or this man. Between his fourteen year career as The Who’s drummer, blowing up toilets in hotel rooms across America, and passing out on stage in the middle of a song, he is remembered as one of the most charismatic, talented, and insane figures in rock history. It was said that had he been born at a later date, he probably would have been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Sadly, an overdose of sedatives ended his life prematurely at the age of thirty-two. Considering that he is one of rock’s most legendary artists, it is with no doubt that his life cannot be fully summarized here.

This song comes from Moon’s only solo album, titled Two Sides of the Moon, and features a slew of Moon’s famous friends. It was composed entirely of cover songs written by artists such as John Lennon, Pete Townshend, and Brian Wilson. This particular song was originally written by Randy Newman, who stated that its lyrics were based on a true story told to him by a friend who worked as a public defender.



Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

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Lyrics:

Old lady lost in the city
In the middle of a cold, cold night
It was fourteen below and the wind starts to blow
There wasn't a boy scout in sight

Pull down the shades 'cause he's comin'
Turn out the lights 'cause he's here
Runnin' hard down the street
Through the snow and the sleet
On the coldest night of the year

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady head up toward Broad Street
Shufflin' up town against the wind
She had started to cry, wiped a tear from her eye
And looked back to see where she had been

Old lady stand on the corner
With a purse in her hand
She does not know but in a minute or so
She will be robbed by a naked man

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady lean ‘gainst a lamp post
Starin' down at the ground on which she stand
She look up and scream
For the lamplight's beam
There stood the famous naked man

And he say, "They found out about my sister
And kicked me out of the navy
They would have strung me up if they could
I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy
And we’re doing the best we could"

But he faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
"Someone stop me," he cried
As he faded from sight
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware

Do you think The Beatles will get back together?

Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (1971)

Born Richard Starkey, this legend got his big break replacing Pete Best as permanent drummer for The Beatles. He was also the first member of The Beatles to quit (temporarily) when he could no longer take the constant bickering between members in 1966 while recording The Beatles (White Album). He was a left -handed drummer that played on a right-handed drum kit and had a successful solo career before creating The All-Starr Band. As with all members of The Beatles, his entire story is much larger than this entry shows.

This song, co-written by George Harrison and released by Apple Records in 1971, was his first single released in the UK after the break-up of The Beatles. George Harrison played guitar; Klaus Voormann played bass; Stephen Stills played piano; and Pete Ham and Tom Evans (both of Badfinger) performed backup vocals.



Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (1971)

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Lyrics:

It don't come easy
You know it don't come easy
It don't come easy
You know it don't come easy

Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues
And you know it don't come easy
You don't have to shout or leap about
You can even play them easy

Forget about the past
And all your sorrows
The future won't last
It will soon be over tomorrow

I don't ask for much; I only want your trust
And you know it don't come easy
And this love of mine keeps growing all the time
And you know it just ain't easy

Open up your heart
Let's come together
Use a little love
And we will make it work out better

Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues
And you know it don't come easy
You don't have to shout or leap about
You can even play them easy

Please remember peace
Is how we make it
Here within your reach
If you're big enough to take it

I don't ask for much; I only want trust
And you know it don't come easy
And this love of mine keeps growing all the time
And you know it don’t come easy

Manfred Mann - Fox on the Run (1968)

Coming out of London, England and being named after their South African keyboardist, this band could be found on the charts throughout the 1960s. One of their biggest hits was a Bob Dylan original, Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo).

This song was written by the very talented Tony Hazzard, who wrote hit songs for The Hollies, The Yardbirds, Herman’s Hermits, and others.



Manfred Mann - Fox on the Run (1968)

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Lyrics:

She walked through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like the fox on the run
Like the fox- like the fox- like the fox on the run

Everybody knows the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in paradise's hall
This woman tempted me, oh yes, and took me for a ride
But like the weary fox, I need a place to hide

She walked through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like the fox on the run
Like the fox- like the fox- like the fox on the run

Come take a glass of wine and fortify your soul
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
I'll illustrate a girl who put me on the floor
The game is nearly up; the hounds are at my door

I saw her walk through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like the fox on the run

You know she walked through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me here to die
Like the fox- like the fox- like the fox on the run