| Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Reaction Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
| Genre | Instrumental rock | |||
| Length | 40:31 | |||
| Label | Cargo | |||
| Producer | Coyote Shivers | |||
| Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet chronology | ||||
| ||||
Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham is the debut album by Canadian surf rock group Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, released in 1991 through Cargo Records.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Calgary Herald | B |
The Gazette wrote that "guitarist Brian Connelly spins through a library of Ventures/beach blanket guitar figures at least as fun as their Mad Magazine titles." The Toronto Star said that "the guitars are still pure Ventures and Shadows—save for a surprisingly restrained version of Brian Wilson's 'In My Room'—and the keyboards are as cheesy as hell, but no party should be without this."
Track listing
All tracks are written by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham" | 0:50 |
| 2. | "Reid's Situation" | 1:18 |
| 3. | "I Know a Guy Named Larry" (contains an interpolation of "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Louis Prima) | 1:19 |
| 4. | "Exit from Vince Lombardi High School" | 1:30 |
| 5. | "Aunt's Invasion" | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Running Meredith" | 2:11 |
| 7. | "Bang Bang" (writer: Sonny Bono) | 2:00 |
| 8. | "Hot Box Car" | 1:33 |
| 9. | "In My Room" (writers: Gary Usher, Brian Wilson) | 2:14 |
| 10. | "Dewy Drops of Spring" | 0:22 |
| 11. | "5 American 6 Canadian" | 1:26 |
| 12. | "Who Painted Whistler's Mother" | 2:16 |
| 13. | "Case of the Missing Lady Fingers" | 2:02 |
| 14. | "Jackpot" | 2:01 |
| 15. | "D. Tour" | 1:53 |
| 16. | "Hunter S. Thompson's Younger Brother" | 1:54 |
| 17. | "Misogomy & the Object" | 2:12 |
| 18. | "Ben Hur Picked Off in a Gazebo" | 0:54 |
| 19. | "Who's Afraid of Alison Hymer/Wow Flutter Hiss" | 3:24 |
| 20. | "You Spin Me Round '86" | 1:56 |
| 21. | "Babakganoosh" | 1:52 |
| 22. | "Siesta Cinema" | 2:50 |
| 23. | "Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham" (Reprise) | 0:48 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 24. | "Thanks for Buying Our CD" | 0:52 |
| 25. | "Shakin' All Over" | 0:26 |
Personnel
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
- Brian Connelly – guitar, keyboards
- Reid Diamond – bass guitar
- Don Pyle – drums
- Production and additional personnel
- Derek Von Essen – photography
- Ormond Jobin – recording
- Coyote Shivers – mixing, production
References
- Robbins, Ira (2007). "Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet". Trouser Press. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- Dovercourt, Johnny (2020). Any Night of the Week: A D.I.Y. History of Toronto Music, 1957-2001. Coach House Books.
- Abebe, Nitsuh. "Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- Muretich, James (Jan 19, 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C4.
- Lepage, Mark (Nov 9, 1991). "'Alternative' guitars keep clanging while drum machines hog spotlight". The Gazette. p. E5.
- Howell, Peter (Jan 25, 1992). "Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham". Toronto Star. p. K10.
External links
- Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham at Discogs (list of releases)
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