Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham

{{Infobox album

| name = Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham

| type = studio

| artist = Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

| cover = Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1991

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = Reaction Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| genre = Instrumental rock

| length = 40:31

| label = Cargo

| producer = Coyote Shivers

| prev_title = Savvy Show Stoppers

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook

| next_year = 1993

}}

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.{{cite web |first=Ira |last=Robbins |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=shadowy_men_on_a_shadowy_planet |title=Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet |website=Trouser Press |year=2007 |accessdate=March 16, 2013}}{{cite book |last1=Dovercourt |first1=Johnny |title=Any Night of the Week: A D.I.Y. History of Toronto Music, 1957-2001 |date=2020 |publisher=Coach House Books}}

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |first=Nitsuh |last=Abebe |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r17779|pure_url=yes}}|title=Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham |website=AllMusic |accessdate=March 16, 2013}}

|rev2 = Calgary Herald

|rev2score = B{{cite news |last1=Muretich |first1=James |title=Recent Releases |work=Calgary Herald |date=Jan 19, 1992 |page=C4}}

}}

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."{{cite news |last1=Lepage |first1=Mark |title='Alternative' guitars keep clanging while drum machines hog spotlight |work=The Gazette |date=Nov 9, 1991 |page=E5}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Howell |first1=Peter |title=Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham |work=Toronto Star |date=Jan 25, 1992 |page=K10}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, except where noted

| title1 = Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham

| length1 = 0:50

| title2 = Reid's Situation

| length2 = 1:18

| title3 = I Know a Guy Named Larry

| note3 = contains an interpolation of "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Louis Prima

| length3 = 1:19

| title4 = Exit from Vince Lombardi High School

| length4 = 1:30

| title5 = Aunt's Invasion

| length5 = 1:52

| title6 = Running Meredith

| length6 = 2:11

| title7 = Bang Bang

| note7 = writer: Sonny Bono

| length7 = 2:00

| title8 = Hot Box Car

| length8 = 1:33

| title9 = In My Room

| note9 = writers: Gary Usher, Brian Wilson

| length9 = 2:14

| title10 = Dewy Drops of Spring

| length10 = 0:22

| title11 = 5 American 6 Canadian

| length11 = 1:26

| title12 = Who Painted Whistler's Mother

| length12 = 2:16

| title13 = Case of the Missing Lady Fingers

| length13 = 2:02

| title14 = Jackpot

| length14 = 2:01

| title15 = D. Tour

| length15 = 1:53

| title16 = Hunter S. Thompson's Younger Brother

| length16 = 1:54

| title17 = Misogomy & the Object

| length17 = 2:12

| title18 = Ben Hur Picked Off in a Gazebo

| length18 = 0:54

| title19 = Who's Afraid of Alison Hymer/Wow Flutter Hiss

| length19 = 3:24

| title20 = You Spin Me Round '86

| length20 = 1:56

| title21 = Babakganoosh

| length21 = 1:52

| title22 = Siesta Cinema

| length22 = 2:50

| title23 = Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham

| note23 = Reprise

| length23 = 0:48

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD issue

| title24 = Thanks for Buying Our CD

| length24 = 0:52

| title25 = Shakin' All Over

| length25 = 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

External links

{{Discogs master |master=299828 |name=Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham |type=album}}

Category:Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet albums

Category:1991 debut albums

Category:Cargo Records (Canada) albums

Category:Albums produced by Coyote Shivers