"Weird Al" Yankovic (album)
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| "Weird Al" Yankovic | ||
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| Studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic | ||
| Released | April 26, 1983 | |
| Recorded | Between 1979 and 1983 (Some songs were re-recorded from their original release.) | |
| Genre | Comedy | |
| Length | 32:59 | |
| Label | Scotti Brothers | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Derringer | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| "Weird Al" Yankovic chronology | ||
| "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983) |
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D (1984) |
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"Weird Al" Yankovic is the first album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1983. Unlike later albums, all the songs on this album were performed on accordion, without an attempt to duplicate the original song's orchestration.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "Ricky" (Adamson, Chapman, Chinn, Daniel, Yankovic) – 2:36
- parody of "Mickey" by Toni Basil and a tribute to I Love Lucy. This was the first Al song to have a music video.
- "Gotta Boogie" – 2:14
- "Disco" genre parody.
- "I Love Rocky Road" (Yankovic) – 2:36
- parody of "I Love Rock 'N Roll" by Joan Jett, about said flavor of ice cream.
- "Buckingham Blues" – 3:13
- A blues song that ironically laments how "bad" Prince Charles and Princess Diana have it as British royalty, while actually highlighting all the perks of their status. Originally written as a parody of John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane", but Yankovic had to adapt the lyrics into a blues song when it was announced that a movie was being made of the song and a parody wouldn't be possible at the time. Ironically, however, "Weird Al" did get to do a parody of this song on The Simpsons episode Three Gays of the Condo.
- "Happy Birthday" (Yankovic) – 2:28
- A morbid birthday song about the doom of the human race, set to up-tempo, high-energy rock beat. Style parody of Tonio K., particularly "The Funky Western Civilization."
- "Stop Draggin' My Car Around" – 3:16
- parody of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, in which a car that is valued by the narrator is towed away.
- "My Bologna" (Averre, Fieger, Yankovic) – 2:01
- parody of "My Sharona" by The Knack, in which the narrator loves bologna.
- recorded in the Dr. Demento radio station bathroom
- "The Check's In The Mail" – 3:13
- song about general wheeling and dealing among corporate bigwigs.
- "Another One Rides The Bus" [live] (Deacon, Yankovic) – 2:40
- parody of "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen, about a crowded bus. Al's most minimalist parody.
- Was recorded live on the Dr. Demento Radio show
- Was sung by Al on his first national television appearance on "The Tomorrow Show".
- "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" – 3:39
- singer says he will remain hyperactive until the day he dies
- "Such A Groovy Guy" – 3:02
- egocentric singer talks exaggeratingly about himself
- "Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung" – 1:54
- singer has a friend in the hospital dying of lung cancer, and takes the iron lung's noises as statements from the patient
[edit] Personnel
- "Weird Al" Yankovic - accordion, vocals, background vocals
- William K. Anderson - harmonica, saxophone, background vocals
- Richard Bennett - banjo, guitar, ukulele, background vocals
- Zaidee Cole - background vocals
- Rick Derringer - guitar, background vocals
- Dr. Demento - background vocals
- Steve Jay - bass, background vocals
- Tress MacNeille - Lucy
- Joan Manners - background vocals
- Joel Miller - bongos, conga
- Dorothy Remsen - harp
- Rick & Bubba - background vocals
- Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz - percussion, drums, background vocals
- Dawn Smithey - background vocals
[edit] Production
- Producer: Rick Derringer
- Engineers: Peter Kelsey, Tony Papa
[edit] Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Pop Albums | 139 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Ricky" | Pop Singles | 63 |
