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'{{Refimprove|date=June 2009}} {{Infobox album| | name = Chocolate and Cheese | type = [[Album]] | artist = [[Ween]] | cover = Ween-ChocolateandCheese.jpg | alt = | released = September 27, 1994<ref name=AllmusicReview/> | recorded = 1994 | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[experimental rock]]}} | length = 55:00 | label = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] | producer = [[Andrew Weiss (guitarist)|Andrew Weiss]] | prev_title = [[Pure Guava]] | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = [[12 Golden Country Greats]] | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{Singles | name = Chocolate and Cheese | type = Studio | single1 = I Can't Put My Finger on It | single1date = 1994 | single2 = [[Freedom of '76]] | single2date = 1994 | single3 = [[Voodoo Lady]] | single3date = 1994 }} }} '''''Chocolate and Cheese''''' is the fourth studio album by the American rock band [[Ween]], originally released by [[Elektra Records]] in 1994. It was the first Ween album to be recorded in a professional studio, in contrast to the crude four-track home recordings of their first three albums. However, most of the instruments were still played by [[Dean Ween|Dean]] and [[Gene Ween]], including their [[drum machine]]. ==Reception and legacy== {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AllmusicReview>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/chocolate-cheese-mw0000623251 |title=Chocolate and Cheese – Ween |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=September 5, 2015 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4252670.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118095340/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4252670.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |title=Ween, 'Chocolate and Cheese' (Elektra) |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=October 16, 1994 |accessdate=September 5, 2015 |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |authorlink=Jim DeRogatis |url-access=subscription }}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3Score = B<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1994/10/14/album-review-chocolate-and-cheese |title=Chocolate and Cheese |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 14, 1994 |accessdate=February 3, 2016 |last=Ehrlich |first=Dimitri}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Sarig |first=Roni |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |chapter=Ween |pages=864–65}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' | rev5Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ween: Chocolate and Cheese |work=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=56 |date=February 1995 |last=Rees |first=Paul |page=86}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]'' | rev6score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]] |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8}}</ref> }} In July 2014, ''[[Guitar World]]'' placed ''Chocolate and Cheese'' at #45 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |title=Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994 |date=July 14, 2014 |work=[[Guitar World|GuitarWorld.com]] |accessdate=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715053900/http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> ==Background== The album is dedicated to comedian [[John Candy]], who died while Ween was putting the album together. "A Tear for Eddie" was dedicated to the funk/psychedelic guitar pioneer [[Eddie Hazel]], who died December 23, 1992. In a 2011 interview, Gene Ween credited a Spanish lesson on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' with inspiring "Buenas Tardes Amigo"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k_KoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=ween+sesame+street&source=bl&ots=Ew60IWO2h7&sig=R9NroxRXtErk1S0-XljafH7hbEg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvuM_O05XZAhVEw1QKHdpwAS8Q6AEITDAK#v=onepage&q=ween%20sesame%20street&f=false|title=Ween's Chocolate and Cheese |date=2011 |work=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>. The album's title is phonetically similar to the British saying "chalk and cheese". ==Album cover== Ween originally wanted the cover to have a "gay sailor theme" but the studio thought it was politically incorrect, opting instead for a woman's body on the cover. The band say that they never got to meet the cover model, Ashley Savage. Additionally, the cover pays homage to [[The Commodores]]' 1982 album ''All the Great Hits,'' which features a boxer with a championship belt around his waist that has the band's name on it, but on the album cover, it has "WEEN" decorated on the belt. The cover was shot by John Kuczala. ==Related releases== "I Can't Put My Finger on It" is an EP released by Elektra Records in 1994, and including the tracks "I Can't Put My Finger on It", "A Tear for Eddie", "Now I'm Freaking Out" and "Bakersfield". "[[Voodoo Lady EP]]" was released by [[Flying Nun Records]] (as a 7") and White Records (as a CD) in 1994, and included the tracks "Buenas Tardes Amigo", "There's a Pig" (CD version only), and "Vallejo" (CD version only). The EP's title track can be heard in the films ''[[Road Trip (film)|Road Trip]]'' and ''[[Dude, Where's My Car?]]'', as well as the original version of "In The Bathroom," a skit from the sketch comedy show ''[[The State (1993 TV series)|The State]]'', while the album track "Buenas Tardes Amigo" was featured in the German films ''[[Lammbock]]'' and ''[[Herr Lehmann]]''. "Freedom of '76" is an EP released by Flying Nun Records in 1995, and included two versions of the title track plus "Now I'm Freaking Out" and "Pollo Asado". [[CKY (band)|CKY]] guitarist (and dedicated Ween fan) [[Chad Ginsburg]] appeared in the "Freedom of '76" promo video as an extra shouting at Gene and Dean after they stole the [[Liberty Bell]]. According to Chad, he was screaming, "You stole my song!", referring to the similarities of his song (Rudy + Blitz "Loaf") and Ween's "Spinal Meningitis". Original Vinyl Pressings : On top of the elektra records release ( Elektra 61639-2 US 1994), it was pressed distributed by Grand Royal records in the USA in 1994 with a 2 LP non-gatefold version (Chocolate And Cheese (2xLP) Grand Royal GR 010 US 1994) and also overseas in New Zealand with two editions, on Flying Nun records also in 1994, one with a bonus 7" single(Chocolate And Cheese (2xLP) Flying Nun Records FN314 UK 1994 Chocolate And Cheese (2xLP + 7") Flying Nun Records FNSP314) Note that there is a catalog number for the vinyl issue by Elektra records, but there is no confirmation it was pressed on vinyl at this time, possibly only in promo edition. ;Cover versions * "Roses Are Free" is a welcomed cover for fans of the band [[Phish]], offering their version onstage 48 times between 12-11-1997 and 7-12-2019. Official releases of their version appear on Phish's live concert albums ''[[Hampton Comes Alive]]'' (1999) and ''[[Live Phish 04.03.98]]'' (2005). The 2000 documentary ''[[Bittersweet Motel]]'' features the band learning the track backstage at the Rochester War Memorial in Rochester, NY and then transitions into their first onstage interpretation. In an interview from 2015, Melchiondo observed that Ween began playing "Roses Are Free" regularly in concert after Phish began covering it, and credited Phish for boosting the song's popularity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dean Ween Discusses Phish 'Roses Are Free' Cover |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/dean-ween-discusses-phish-roses-are-free-cover |website=JamBase |accessdate=20 November 2018 |date=1 October 2015}}</ref>[[Phish]]'s guitarist, [[Trey Anastasio]], commented to the crowd after their 8-7-2015 cover, suggesting that Mickey and Aaron should play together again, which was followed by [[Ween]]'s first comeback show at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, CO on 2-12-2016 where the song was played among 32 others.<ref>http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ween/2016/1st-bank-center-broomfield-co-13f30d85.html</ref> * [[Ash (band)|Ash]] recorded a version of "What Deaner Was Talkin' About", released as a B-side on their 1997 single "[[A Life Less Ordinary (song)|A Life Less Ordinary]]". This track also features on their limited edition live album, ''[[Live at the Wireless (Ash album)|Live at the Wireless]]''. * [[Amos Lee]] performed "Buenas Tardes Amigo" on an iTunes exclusive live album entitled "iTunes Live From SoHo". * [[Jon Auer]] ([[The Posies]], [[Big Star]]) covered "Baby Bitch" on his solo EP "6 1/2." ==Reception and legacy== {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AllmusicReview>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/chocolate-cheese-mw0000623251 |title=Chocolate and Cheese – Ween |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=September 5, 2015 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4252670.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118095340/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4252670.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |title=Ween, 'Chocolate and Cheese' (Elektra) |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=October 16, 1994 |accessdate=September 5, 2015 |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |authorlink=Jim DeRogatis |url-access=subscription }}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3Score = B<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1994/10/14/album-review-chocolate-and-cheese |title=Chocolate and Cheese |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 14, 1994 |accessdate=February 3, 2016 |last=Ehrlich |first=Dimitri}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Sarig |first=Roni |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |chapter=Ween |pages=864–65}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' | rev5Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ween: Chocolate and Cheese |work=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=56 |date=February 1995 |last=Rees |first=Paul |page=86}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]'' | rev6score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]] |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8}}</ref> }} In July 2014, ''[[Guitar World]]'' placed ''Chocolate and Cheese'' at #45 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |title=Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994 |date=July 14, 2014 |work=[[Guitar World|GuitarWorld.com]] |accessdate=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715053900/http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> ==Track listing== <small>All tracks written by Ween except as noted.</small> {{tracklist | title1 = Take Me Away | length1 = 3:01 | title2 = Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down) | length2 = 2:53 | title3 = [[Freedom of '76]] | writer3 = Ween/Ed Wilson | length3 = 2:51 | title4 = I Can't Put My Finger on It | length4 = 2:48 | title5 = A Tear for Eddie | length5 = 4:50 | title6 = Roses Are Free | length6 = 4:35 | title7 = Baby Bitch | length7 = 3:04 | title8 = Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony? | length8 = 2:55 | title9 = Drifter in the Dark | length9 = 2:32 | title10 = [[Voodoo Lady EP|Voodoo Lady]] | length10 = 3:48 | title11 = Joppa Road | length11 = 3:03 | title12 = Candi | length12 = 4:03 | title13 = Buenas Tardes Amigo | length13 = 7:07 | title14 = The HIV Song | length14 = 2:10 | title15 = What Deaner Was Talkin' About | length15 = 2:00 | title16 = Don't Shit Where You Eat | length16 = 3:20 | total_length = 55:00 }} ==Personnel== ;The band *Dean Ween - [[Guitar]], [[Vocals]], [[Drums]] *Gene Ween - Vocals *Claude Coleman - Drums ;Additional personnel *Mean Ween - Bass *Greg Frey - Engineer *Howie Weinberg - Mastering *Andrew Weiss - Producer, Engineer, Mixing *Kirk Miller - Live Sound *Ashley Savage - Model *[[Danny Clinch]] - Photography *John Kuczala - Photography *Reiner Design Consultants - Design *Patricia Frey- drums *Scott Lowe - programming *[[Stephan Said]] - Spanish guitar ==Chart performance== ===Album=== *1994 ''Chocolate and Cheese'', [[Top Heatseekers|Heatseekers]] No. 10 ===Singles=== *1994 "Voodoo Lady", [[Modern Rock Tracks]] No. 32 ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwBxptrWUfA ''The H.I.V. Song''] on [[YouTube]] * [http://www.ween.net ''Ween.Net''] {{Ween}} [[Category:Ween albums]] [[Category:1994 albums]] [[Category:Elektra Records albums]] [[Category:Neo-psychedelia albums]]'