December 1971: Cheech and Chong Release SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY

By the year 1971, fledgling comedy duo Cheech and Chong were ready for the big-time. Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin signed to Warner Bros. Records, and released their now-iconic self-titled album in August of that year. Packed with fan favorites (most notably the classic skit "Dave"), Cheech and Chong crashed the Billboard 200 chart to peak at #28 over the week of September 25, 1971.

Given the duo's newfound success in the world of rock 'n' comedy, Cheech and Chong rolled up a very special standalone single just for the holidays: "Santa Claus and His Old Lady." Released in December 1971, the stoned story of Santa gets quite the remix. Cheech Marin wove a hilarious tale of the Claus' living in a commune with a crew of midgets (AKA elves), and the perils of delivering toys to all of the good kiddies around the world. Among them: being stopped at the border, and hassled by the police in the Southern United States.

"Santa Claus and His Old Lady" was an instant hit, especially on free-form FM radio around the country. The skit shot up Billboard's Christmas Singles Chart at #3 in 1971.

While the track never appeared on any of Cheech and Chong's album, the skit has gone on to become one of the duo's most popular bits; it pops up on Christmas playlists (and FM radio stations) every holiday season. It became such a rock 'n' comedy staple that "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" hit #3 on the same chart for the years 1972 and 1973.

Tune in and get a laugh out of this classic Cheech and Chong routine below.