L-R: Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong; Ed Caraeff/Getty Images
L-R: Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong; Ed Caraeff/Getty ImagesNews of previously unheard work by a former member of The Beatles is always cause for excitement. But in this case, it’s coming from a very unexpected source.
George Harrison was one of the all-star roster of musicians who played on the 1973 spoof single “Basketball Jones,” by stoner comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Now Tommy Chong tells Billboard there are previously unheard outtakes of Harrison’s guitar work on the single “where he’s trying different things.”
As for if we’ll ever get to hear them, Chong doesn’t say, other that to offer, “We’ve got all of that in the can that we’re going to spring on people eventually, one day. That’d be great.”
“Basketball Jones,” a parody of the 1972 hit “Love Jones” by Brighter Side of Darkness, was included on the Cheech & Chong album Los Cochinos and featured Chong singing the lead in falsetto. In addition to Harrison, backing talent includes Billy Preston and Carole King on keyboards, Tom Scott on saxophone, and backing vocals by Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector and Michelle Phillips. The song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
So how exactly did Harrison wind up on “Basketball Jones?” “George and I were buddies,” Chong tells Billboard. “George and I used to smoke quite a bit when we’d meet once in a while at different places.”
Happy 420 day, everybody.
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