This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
You know, Weird Al has a place on the list. I dunno if this is the right album, but I get the sentiment.
Comedy rock. Versiones cómicas de canciones famosas. Innecesario. Un 2.
Every Weird Al album should be on here
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!
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.
Definitely worth hearing - it's pure silliness from a silly, silly man.
Weird
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: I’ll be mellow when I’m dead
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
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)
It was fine
At least it was short.
NO. 1/5.