Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham

1991 studio album by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

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

Savvy Show Stoppers
(1988)

Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham
(1991)

Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook
(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.^[1]^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Calgary Herald	B^[4]

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."^[5] 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."^[6]

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

CD issue
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.