User Submitted Album

"Weird Al" Yankovic

1983

3.08

Rating

102

Votes

Distribution

Rock

Album Summary

"Weird Al" Yankovic is the debut studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album was the first of many produced by former the McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Mostly recorded in March 1982, the album was released by Rock 'n Roll Records as an LP and on Compact Cassette in May 1983. Consisting of five direct parodies and seven original songs, "Weird Al" Yankovic parodies pop and rock music of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and satirizes American culture and experiences of the same time period. Nearly half of the album is made up of parodies based on the works of Toni Basil, the Arrows, Stevie Nicks, the Knack and Queen. Yankovic's trademark instrument—the accordion—is used on all songs featured on the album. Fueled by the underground success of the singles "My Bologna" and "Another One Rides the Bus", the album charted at No. 139 on the Billboard 200. Critically, the album received a lukewarm reception, with many reviewers feeling that Yankovic was a throw-away act who would not be able to overcome the stigma of a novelty record. Retrospective assessments have been slightly more favorable, though have still unfavorably compared it to Yankovic's subsequent work.

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Sep 02 2025 Author

I was so happy this came up. I really thought it should be in the proper list. As a 15-year-old boy, this came out right when I needed it and I truly believe it has stood the test of time. When I saw a 15-year-old student of mine come to class last week wearing a Weird Al t-shirt from the concert I had also attended this summer, I shed a tear. Some teens need rage music, some need love songs, some need the morose, but I was always drawn to those who pointed out and celebrated the absurdity of life and made me laugh. Yankovic is rightfully celebrated for his song parodies, but his own compositions are pretty wonderful as well. "Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung" is one that really blew my mind in the day. As for the parodies, "Stop Dragging My Car Around" is the one that made me laugh out loud today, as I hadn't heard it in way way too long.

Aug 28 2025 Author

I think this is actually appropriate for the list. This really goes back to the very start. I had the 45 of Another One Rides the Bus / Gotta Boogie way back. Weird Al was just a novelty back then, but he is really talented and has so many genuinely good songs. I was really happy to hear this one. It has a couple songs I didn't know, but it is kind of a greatest hits of the early Dr. Demento played tracks and early singles. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Aug 31 2025 Author

Y'know, it's kind of an enigma - Weird Al's like 80% fart and "random xd" humor - but hating on him is infinitely lamer than being a fan of his. Shame that he got assassinated by Madonna's mafia back in '85 though. Maybe in another timeline he went on to release better albums called something like "Running With Scissors" or "Poodle Hat". (Weak 3/5)

Oct 01 2025 Author

Frank Zappa asked: Does humor belong into music? I would say certainly, as I'm a big fan of acts like Zappa and Ween. Too bad this album aged like milk and Weird Al is a great guy, but it at its current status this album is a collection of daddy joke and daddy rock songs. With pretty mediocre instrumentation, especially the accordion parts in My Bologna and Another One Rides the Bus. I still like "Fat" and "Like a Surgeon", but not this one.

Sep 10 2025 Author

Respect Al. But this is so dumb :D 1

Aug 25 2025 Author

An excellent album and well deserving of being on the 1001 albums list. I was a fan since the early days, I can still remember hearing My Bologna on the Dr. Demento show for the first time. 4 stars.

Sep 01 2025 Author

Real oddball cohort of completionists in this round, but OK. Instant nostalgia - I'm old enough to remember older kids of friends of the family buying 45 singles of Larry Groce's "Junk Food Junkie" back in the 70s (my prototype of the parody/novelty song). I was just the right age for the material when this album came out and I distinctly remember it becoming a cultural phenomenon. It feels like the era of a nationally relevant parody song is pretty well past, such goofs still exist but their targets have narrowed to fandom niches and they live almost exclusively in the realms of social media. Objectively this is three star material - Al's songwriting was underdeveloped and there's a fair bit of forgettable filler. But it's an easy extra point for what an undeniable nice guy Al is, a nod to the wholesome fact of how the silly kid's fantasy in the cover cartoon of playing his accordian to adoring arena crowds actually became a reality, plus an RIP for Rick Derringer.

Aug 26 2025 Author

You know, Weird Al has a place on the list. I dunno if this is the right album, but I get the sentiment.

Aug 25 2025 Author

Comedy rock. Versiones cómicas de canciones famosas. Innecesario. Un 2.

Sep 09 2025 Author

Weird Al is definitely a genius to some degree. To be able to create whole parody songs out of preexisting ones is a skill to hear every time. On this album he takes some older classics and turns them into funny bits. Only issue with this is it’s not something that’s easy to revisit. I used to enjoy weird Al back when I was in middle school but now it’s just fine. For an album this is impressive but I wouldn’t revisit it. 5.5/10

Sep 16 2025 Author

Weird Al definitely deserves recognition on the list, but surely there was a better collection of his songs somewhere out there? This is the one time I feel a greatest hits LP would be warranted as an add.

Sep 10 2025 Author

Probably funny if I was 10

Aug 30 2025 Author

Weird Al: to me, you are perfect

Aug 30 2025 Author

Every Weird Al album should be on here

Sep 02 2025 Author

15 year old me picked up this cassette and became an instant fan. Even my dad would laugh when I played the songs - he was an especially big fan of “Gotta Boogie” and would sing that often… While the parodies brought me into the album, it was the original tracks like “Gotta Boogie,” “I’ll Be Mellow when I’m Dead,” “The Check’s In The Mail,” “Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung” and his other great accordion originals that gave this even more staying power. “Weird Al” deserves a place on this list and this was the album that hit me at a perfect moment to begin a lifelong love of his music. There’s nothing like him… thanks for getting him on this list!

Sep 08 2025 Author

Delightfully silly. I hadn’t heard the non-parody songs and they’re funny too.

Sep 18 2025 Author

There HAS to be a Weird Al album on this list, and I think - honestly - that they’re mainly interchangeable and reflect upon what Weird Al you first imprinted upon, kinda like what Tim Curry you think of when you think of him. My pick would have been 3D, but this one is just as valid and just as entertaining. 75% parody goodness; 25% dross; 100% satirical genius. Oh, and don’t forget the accordion virtuosity. Bravo, submitter. I doff my cap and reveal my Bad Hair Day (also another worthy option).

Sep 24 2025 Author

You can't deny that Weird Al is the king of parody music. This deserves 5 stars.

Nov 08 2025 Author

The goat when it comes to parodying music and songs. He absolutely should be in the rock and roll hall of fame. This is one of his many masterpiece albums. I’ve seen him live twice, and would love to see him again.

Aug 26 2025 Author

Really surprised and glad this was on the list. Weird Al definitely invented a spin on the novelty/humor style that made it into the mainstream over an extended period of time. Lots of folks have been doing Dr. Demento parody music, but this really elevated the genre.

Sep 03 2025 Author

Definitely worth hearing - it's pure silliness from a silly, silly man.

Sep 04 2025 Author

While I don’t believe it’s aged nearly as well as his later albums, it’s still iconic. Definitely my least favorite of his, but I understand why someone would want to include it. Dude is a legend.

Sep 06 2025 Author

Such a talenten guy. And funky too

Oct 04 2025 Author

kiva

Oct 24 2025 Author

Such fun! Al is the ultimate satirical answer to life, the universe and everything

Nov 27 2025 Author

So glad this is on here. While not my favourite record of his (that would likely be Dare to be Stupid) it is where it all started. “Weird Al” has a special place in music that I don’t think anyone else will ever have.

Aug 25 2025 Author

Weird

Aug 26 2025 Author

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: I’ll be mellow when I’m dead

Aug 26 2025 Author

Haha, good choice. This definitely has more of a homemade/Dr. Demento kind of feel compared to Al's later stuff, and it's a little silly for me to just want to listen to it all the way through again. But it was a fun listen, and who doesn't enjoy a little Weird Al? Fave Songs: My Bologna, Stop Draggin' My Car Around, I Love Rocky Road, Buckingham Blues

Sep 02 2025 Author

It was fine

Sep 11 2025 Author

I like a parody song but I’m not sure I needed a whole album of it. Some songs I didn’t even know the original which made it a bit tricky.

Sep 17 2025 Author

This is a clever, funny and silly covers album. Do I think it should be on the orginal list? Nope. Did I enjoy listening to it today? Yes I did.

Oct 17 2025 Author

Very clever............ ........but is it music?

Nov 02 2025 Author

Hadn't listened to the complete album before---more hand fart noises than I would have guessed.

Nov 13 2025 Author

He’s not that weird

Aug 27 2025 Author

At least it was short.

Oct 06 2025 Author

I so much wanted to like this but it's not my humour I'm afraid & it doesn't translate very well outside the US

Oct 23 2025 Author

One can find this passingly amusing, be impressed (even amazed) by his career longevity (to have lasted so long and keep making the same records in a very silly vein seems a minor miracle), and allow for the reality that the list proper could use more accordion (and perhaps less cowbell), while still thinking this is a total waste of time and in no ways necessary to be included on the list proper. And one knows major fans – people whose opinion one respects – who consider WAY a genius and recommender deserves props for thinking outside the box and making a distinctly different choice. Still … one can’t be bothered.

Aug 29 2025 Author

NO. 1/5.

Oct 08 2025 Author

A slightly whimsical one song moment in about 1985 (not one of these songs) in retrospect is a bontempi organ version of some well known songs with 6th form humour lyrics and nobody should have to listen to this again.

Oct 16 2025 Author

Should have been left where it was