Smoke Two Joints
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"Smoke Two Joints" is a song originally released by reggae group The Toyes on their 1983 self titled album. Previously, this song had only existed in live performance form. The song is perhaps best known for having been covered by Sublime on their 1992 debut album 40 Oz. to Freedom. "Smoke Two Joints" was also the first Sublime song ever to be played on the radio.
The intro of the Sublime version contains a sample from the film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls:
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She was living in a single room with three other individuals. One of them was a male and the other two, well, the other two were females. God only knows what they were up to in there. And furthermore, Susan, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to learn that all four of them habitually smoked marijuana cigarettes--Reefers. |
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The Sublime version then continues with the sounds of a bong and a lighter being used.
South Park Mexican did a cover version
There is a persistent urban myth or misunderstanding that the original version of the song was by Bob Marley. Versions found on P2P networks labeled as being performed by Marley appear to be live recordings of Sublime's version. The song was also covered by Richard Cheese as a Lounge style on his 2002 album "Tuxicity". It was also parodied in World of Warcraft, where, if a user typed "/silly" while playing a male troll, he would sing the chorus, with "smoke two joints" replaced with "kill two dwarves." However, creators removed the joke, with no warning, or reason given.
The Toyes released this on a 7" vinyl single in 1983, printed "The Toys" and on a 12" vinyl EP, also in 1983 with the band name correctly spelled "The Toyes."
Norman Nardini, based in Pittsburgh, PA, also did at least two cover versions of this song. One was a studio LP on Circumstantial Records out of NYC and one on his live cd from 1994 also on Circumstantial. Norman first came across the song in 1983 when his friend Stosh brought home the 45 as part of the music he bought on his vacation in Hawaii. Nardini had his band learn it at once and has been doing the song for 20+ years. He wanted to do it on one of his two releases on CBS in the 1980's and the label couldn't figure out how to track down who wrote the song, so Nardini didn't record the song for them.
[edit] Radio play
KFOG, a venerable rock music station on FM radio in San Francisco plays the song every Friday at 5:00pm PST.
[edit] External links
| Sublime |
| Bud Gaugh | Bradley Nowell | Eric Wilson |
| Discography |
| Jah Won't Pay the Bills | 40 Oz. to Freedom | Robbin' the Hood | Sublime | Second-hand Smoke | Stand by Your Van |
| Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends | Greatest Hits | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Sublime | Gold | Everything Under the Sun |
| Popular songs |
| "Date Rape" | "Smoke Two Joints" | "What I Got" | "Wrong Way" | "Doin' Time" | "Santeria" | "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" |
| Tributes and successive bands |
| Look at All the Love We Found | Forever Free | Long Beach Dub Allstars | Long Beach Shortbus |
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