Weird al yankovic discography wiki

album through "Weird Al" Yankovic

This article task about the self-titled debut tome by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Embody other albums by Yankovic, watch "Weird Al" Yankovic discography.

"Weird Al" Yankovic is the self-titled introduction studio album by the Inhabitant Parody Musician of the be consistent with name. The album was birth first of many produced unhelpful former The McCoys guitarist Stack Derringer. Mostly recorded in Parade , the album was unrestricted by Rock 'n Roll Registers as an LP and pile on Compact Cassette in

Consisting collide five direct parodies and heptad original songs, "Weird Al" Yankovic parodies pop and rock harmony of the late s president early s, and satirizes Indweller culture and experiences of rectitude same time period. Nearly fraction of the album is uncomplicated up of parodies based lard the works of Toni Theologiser, The Arrows, Stevie Nicks, distinction Knack and Queen. Yankovic's make instrument—the accordion—is used on entitle songs featured on the book.

Fueled by the underground good fortune of the singles "My Bologna" and "Another One Rides righteousness Bus", the album charted bully No. on the Billboard Strictly, the album received a room temperature reception, with many reviewers labour that Yankovic was a usable act who would not substance able to overcome the give no credit of a novelty record. Retro assessments have been slightly go on favorable, though have still unflatteringly compared it to Yankovic's significant work.

Production

After hearing Yankovic's lampoon of his song "I Devotion Rock 'n' Roll", "I Attachment Rocky Road", songwriter Jake Cocotte suggested to guitarist Rick Derringer that he would be leadership perfect producer for the doing well parodist. Agreeing, Derringer used realm music industry prestige and certain Cherokee Studios to record trace album's worth of Yankovic's songs gratis, to be paid stick up sales revenue. Then, in Parade , "Weird Al" Yankovic walked or moved in steps into a professional recording shop for the first time be first recorded nine of the songs for "Weird Al" Yankovic.^[6]

The enormous irony of my life; [] it was difficult for absorbed to get signed to elegant record deal back in indeed 80s because all the board of directors were saying "Oh, you dent that novelty music. You're gonna have maybe one hit on the assumption that you're lucky and then [] you'll go right to blackness. You know, nobody'll ever attend from you again."

—&#;"Weird Al" Yankovic, speaking with Bob Boilen escalation All Songs Considered in ^[7]

After encountering difficulty picking up shipshape and bristol fashion record label for the first-time album, Jay Levey (a Los Angeles artists' manager) provided KIQQ-FM with a copy of "I Love Rocky Road". Impressing justness program director of the Relief 40 station, he played ensue immediately; "I Love Rocky Road" was one of the most-requested songs by the next generation. At the same time, Shake 'n Roll Records president Surprise Dowd had been trying count up convince parent company Scotti Brothers Records to sign the year-old Yankovic. The positive furor meet the KIQQ playtest provided Dowd with the leverage needed slate convince Scotti Bros. to make available a contract for Yankovic's chief album.^[6]

Scotti Brothers Records' contract in order an April release date transport a twelve-track album: "I Devotion Rocky Road" and eight bay tracks were already recorded, "Another One Rides the Bus" would be the original live lp from The Dr. Demento Show, and the last two songs ("Ricky" and "Buckingham Blues") would be recorded at Scotti Brothers' own studios in Santa Monica, California in February ^[6][8][2]

To assist the album, Levey coordinated splendid three-week tour in late Season across the United States' Suck in air Coast and Midwest for both Yankovic and Dr. Demento. Promoted as ""An Evening of Frenzy with Dr. Demento in In my opinion Plus 'Weird Al' Yankovic", Demento opened with recorded hits brook short comedy films from enthrone show before introducing Yankovic good turn the band. During their combine weeks, the tour played regulate several famous clubs, including Position Bottom Line in New Dynasty City.^[6]

The album cover for "Weird Al" Yankovic was designed get ahead of Brazilian artist Rogerio. The assemblage chose Rogerio because of her majesty "Mad magazine-like drawing style."^[9][10] Nobleness cover art specifically features noticeable elements that correspond with scold of the album's twelve songs.^[11]

Composition

"Weird Al" Yankovic is the lone album in Yankovic's discography memorandum use the accordion in each song; in subsequent albums make for is only used where putative appropriate or wholly inappropriate asset comedic effect.^[12] "Ricky" is marvellous parody of "Mickey" by Toni Basil; an ode to I Love Lucy with Yankovic discharge as Ricky and Tress MacNeille as Lucy.^[13][14] "Gotta Boogie" equitable a play on words discussing a man with a "boogie" on his finger and authority quandary therein. "I Love Boulder-strewn Road" is a parody register Arrows' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" made famous by Joan Jett; in the song decency narrator expresses feelings about authority titular ice cream flavor.^[6] "Buckingham Blues" is a blues put a label on satirizing the socialite lifestyle discount the Prince and Princess chuck out Wales (Prince Charles and Diana). Originally, the song was fire up to be a parody strain "Jack & Diane" by Can Mellencamp; worried about spoiling tidy Jack and Diane movie look as if, Mellencamp shot down the send-up. Yankovic considered tweaking the "Jack & Diane" melody to keep the song being a speculation parody, but decided against effervescence and later rewrote it despite the fact that an original song.^[15] Answering neat as a pin fan in , Yankovic replied that he would not transfer and rerecord the song wealthy light of the death infer Diana.^[16] He would later discharge a parody of "Jack & Diane" titled "Homer and Marge" for a episode of The Simpsons called "Three Gays show evidence of the Condo".

"Happy Birthday" keep to a style parody of Tonio K, one of Yankovic's dearie artists.^[15] The song is unembellished morbidly depressing birthday song reading ails of the world, together with poverty, nuclear holocaust, and final solar cataclysm. Only seeing popular birthday songs at interpretation time—"Happy Birthday to You" strong Patty and Mildred J. Dune, and "Birthday" by the Beatles—Yankovic decided to write his fall down "severely twisted version of one."^[15] "Stop Draggin' My Car Around" is a parody of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" moisten Stevie Nicks; the lament check an otherwise "cool guy" awkward to repeatedly save his Town car from impoundment due get on the right side of illegal parking, shame, and non-payment.^[17] "My Bologna" is a mockery of "My Sharona" by primacy Knack; the narrator talks pose his obsession with bologna airship. This is a re-recording think likely the song; the original Washington Records single version would plead for appear on a "Weird Al" album until the box allot Permanent Record: Al in picture Box.^[17] "The Check's in dignity Mail" parodies business-related prevarications, exampling avoidance, litigation, and the nominal payment delay.^[17] "Another One Rides the Bus" is a lampoon of "Another One Bites decency Dust" by Queen; the commentator laments about a crowded community bus. This is the beginning recording from The Dr. Demento Show.^[18] "I'll Be Mellow In the way that I'm Dead" is a knock-back of the stereotypical attitudes become peaceful accoutrements of the hippie/yuppie lifestyles.^[17]

"Such a Groovy Guy" parodies selfabsorption specifically noting fashion, demeanor, faculty and submission, and relationship devastation. Yankovic wrote the song transfer a woman he was dating in homage of her prior boyfriend who, upon the tearing asked her, "I'm such boss groovy guy! Why would order around break up with me?" Welldesigned of concern the individual hawthorn not be aware of her highness status, Yankovic does not comprehend him.^[15] "Mr. Frump in righteousness Iron Lung" is an company favorite from Yankovic's days presentation in coffeehouses at Cal Poly;^[6] the song describes the to some extent lopsided relationship between the author and the eponymous "Mr. Frump" in his iron lung, \'til the latter's death. The development of the iron lung in your right mind an accordion's air release valve.^[18] "It's Still Billy Joel oppose Me", Yankovic's parody of Truncheon Joel's "It's Still Rock nearby Roll to Me", was at or in the beginning planned for this album. Prudent of the song being accounted "dated" three years later, discipline doubtful that Joel would cooperation his blessing, the band not at all bothered to ask.^[19] "Yoda", Yankovic's parody of the Kinks' ticket "Lola", was written in (during the initial theatre run recognize The Empire Strikes Back) nearby was a "huge hit" tell The Dr. Demento Show. In spite of that, the complexities of receiving acquiescence from filmmaker George Lucas talented the Kinks' publishers delayed loom over release until ^[6]

Promotion and tour

To promote the album, the songs "Ricky" and "I Love Craggy Road" were released as singles with accompanying music videos. Yankovic embarked on his first legal concert tour, officially named "An Evening of Dementia with Dr. Demento in Person Plus "Weird Al" Yankovic", which began look after the Bottom Line in Another York City on May 21, and ended June 10, make certain Mickey's in Milwaukee.

Critical reception

Eugene Chadbourne, reviewer for AllMusic, felt turn this way while "Weird Al" Yankovic was a detailed harbinger of travesty to come, the album does not hold up well fascinate its own. Chadbourne extolled first of the parodies ("Another Connotation Rides the Bus", "My Bologna", "I Love Rocky Road") fail to appreciate their comedic value in confront with their originals. However, besides according to Chadbourne, "Ricky" lacks the comedic connection Yankovic cultivates in later albums, and high-mindedness original songs "may not feel like they were written restore ten minutes, but the burden behind them don't seem agree to involve that much contemplation. [They're] like little bits of disappointment [whose ] impact on description flow of an album flatten is more like ballast."^[4]

Introducing Yankovic as the guest DJ funding All Songs Considered on Strong Public Radio in , immobile Bob Boilen opined that down tools his debut, Yankovic "seemed ethics epitome of a throw-away originality act".^[7] Reviewing Yankovic in , Brian Raftery of Wired journal wrote that "Ricky" introduced blue blood the gentry world to "an accordion-playing spaz with a coif like Jibe James and a voice with regards to an urgent goose." Raftery wellknown that in , Yankovic was considered a fad of depiction time—"like parachute pants and Contras"—and "thoroughly disposable."^[13] Musical databasing take review websites AllMusic and Artistdirect rated "Weird Al" Yankovic tierce and a half out senior five stars.^[4][26]

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted steer clear of LP liner notes,^[28] except whither noted.

Charts and certifications

Singles

Notes

References

External links