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{{Short description|1983 album by "Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{good article}}
{{About|the self-titled debut album by "Weird Al" Yankovic|other albums by Yankovic|"Weird Al" Yankovic discography}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| type       = studio
| artist     = [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]
| cover      = Weird Al Yankovic - Weird Al Yankovic.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = May 3, 1983<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weirdal.com/catalog/weird-al-yankovic/ |website=[["Weird Al" Yankovic]] |title=Studio Albums |access-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref>
| recorded   = September 14, 1980 – February 11, 1983<ref name=recordingdates/>
| studio     =
* [[Cherokee Studios|Cherokee]] ([[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]])
* Santa Monica Sound Recorders (Santa Monica)
* [[KMET (FM)|KMET]] (Los Angeles)
| genre      = [[Comedy music|Comedy]]<ref name="y!music">{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/release/102248 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704042942/http://music.yahoo.com/release/102248 |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |title=Weird Al Yankovic by Weird Al Yankovic on Yahoo! Music |access-date=October 17, 2010 |website=[[Yahoo! Music]] |publisher=[[Yahoo!|Yahoo!, Inc.]] |location=[[Sunnyvale, California]], [[United States|USA]]
}}</ref>
| length     = 32:59<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/weird-al-yankovic-mw0000262791 |last=Chadbourne |first=Eugene |title=Weird Al Yankovic - "Weird Al" Yankovic Album Reviews, Songs & More |access-date=January 18, 2023 |work=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>
| label      =
* [[Rock 'n Roll Records|Rock 'n Roll]]
* [[Scotti Brothers Records|Scotti Brothers]]
| producer   = [[Rick Derringer]]
| prev_title = [[Another One Rides the Bus (EP)|Another One Rides the Bus]]
| prev_year  = 1981
| next_title = [["Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D|"Weird Al" Yankovic {{nowrap|in 3-D}}]]
| next_year  = 1984
| misc       = {{Singles
| name        = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[Another One Rides the Bus]]
| single1date = February 1981<ref name="dmdbdisco">{{cite web |url=http://dmdb.org/discographies/al.disco.txt |title='Weird Al' Disc/Video/Bibliography (U.S. Only) |access-date=October 23, 2008 |last=Schwartz |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Schwartz (drummer) |format=[[text file]] |work=The Demented Music Database |publisher=Jeff Morris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018220508/http://dmdb.org/discographies/al.disco.txt |archive-date=October 18, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| single2     = [[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]
| single2date = May 3, 1983<ref name="praitb" />
| single3     = [[I Love Rocky Road]]
| single3date = July 5, 1983<ref name="dmdbdisco" />
}}
}}
'''''"Weird Al" Yankovic''''' is the debut studio album by the American parody musician [["Weird Al" Yankovic]].<!-- I (user:Fourthords) used the full name intentionally here only to clearly differentiate from the album's name --> 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 album|LP]] and on [[Compact Cassette]] in 1983.
Consisting of five direct parodies and seven original songs, ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' parodies [[pop music|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]], [[Joan Jett]], [[Stevie Nicks]], [[the Knack]] and [[Queen (band)|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|''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.
==Production==
[[File:Rick Derringer.jpg|thumb|upright|left|"Ace rock guitarist" Rick Derringer (pictured in 1974) produced ''"Weird Al" Yankovic''.]]
After hearing Yankovic's parody of his song "[[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]]", "I Love Rocky Road", songwriter [[Jake Hooker (musician)|Jake Hooker]] suggested to guitarist [[Rick Derringer]] that he would be the perfect producer for the burgeoning parodist. Agreeing, Derringer used his music industry prestige and convinced [[Cherokee Studios]] to record an album's worth of Yankovic's songs gratis, to be paid from sales revenue. Then, in March 1982, "Weird Al" Yankovic stepped into a professional recording studio for the first time and recorded nine of the songs for ''"Weird Al" Yankovic''.<ref name="praitb">{{cite AV media notes|title = Permanent Record: Al in the Box|others = [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]|year = 1994|url = http://dmdb.org/al/booklet.html|first = Barret|last = Hansen|author-link = Dr. Demento|type = liner|publisher = [[Scotti Brothers Records]]|location = [[California]], [[United States]]}}</ref>
{{blockquote|The huge irony of my life; [...] it was difficult for me to get signed to a record deal back in early 80s because all the executives were saying "Oh, you do that ... [[novelty song|novelty music]]. You're gonna have maybe one hit if you're lucky and then [...] you'll go right to oblivion. You know, nobody'll ever hear from you again."|"Weird Al" Yankovic|speaking with Bob Boilen on ''[[All Songs Considered]]'' in 2006<ref name="20061102NPR" />}}
After encountering difficulty picking up a 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 the program director of the [[Top 40]] station, he played it immediately; "I Love Rocky Road" was one of the most-requested songs by the next day. At the same time, [[Rock 'n Roll Records]] president Tad Dowd had been trying to convince parent company [[Scotti Brothers Records]] to sign the 22-year-old Yankovic. The positive furor over the KIQQ playtest provided Dowd with the leverage needed to convince Scotti Bros. to offer a contract for Yankovic's first album.<ref name="praitb" />
Scotti Brothers Records' contract planned an April 1983 release date for a twelve-track album: "I Love Rocky Road" and eight other tracks were already recorded, "[[Another One Rides the Bus]]" would be the original 1980 live recording from ''[[Dr. Demento|The Dr. Demento Show]]'', and the last two songs ("[[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]" and "Buckingham Blues") would be recorded at Scotti Brothers' own studios in [[Santa Monica, California]] in February 1983.<ref name="praitb" /><ref name="buy.com">{{cite web
|url          = http://www.buy.com/prod/weird-al-yankovic/q/loc/109/60343834.html
|title        = Weird Al Yankovic – Weird Al Yankovic – CD – Buy.com
|access-date  = October 21, 2008
|publisher    = [[Buy.com]]
|location     = [[Aliso Viejo, California]], [[United States|USA]]
|archive-date = June 7, 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104819/http://www.buy.com/prod/weird-al-yankovic/q/loc/109/60343834.html
|url-status   = dead
}}</ref><ref name=recordingdates>{{cite web |url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/recording-dates/ |title=Recording Dates |work= The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>
[[File:Dr Demento (flipped).jpg|thumb|Dr. Demento helped promote ''"Weird Al" Yankovic''. ({{start date|2004|08|15}}, David Rossi)]]
To promote the album, Levey coordinated a three-week tour in late Summer 1983 across the United States' [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] for both Yankovic and [[Dr. Demento]]. Promoted as "<!-- original CAPITALIZED quotation: AN EVENING OF DEMENTIA WITH DR. DEMENTO IN PERSON PLUS 'WEIRD AL' YANKOVIC -->"An Evening of Dementia with Dr. Demento in Person Plus 'Weird Al' Yankovic", Demento opened with recorded hits and short comedy films from his show before introducing Yankovic and the band. During their three weeks, the tour played in several famous clubs, including [[The Bottom Line (venue)|The Bottom Line]] in [[New York City]].<ref name="praitb" />
The [[album cover]] for ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' was designed by [[Brazil]]ian artist Rogerio. The band chose Rogerio because of his "[[Mad (magazine)|''Mad'' magazine]]-like drawing style."<ref name="199907askal">{{cite web
| url         = http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0799
| title       = 'Ask Al' Q&As for July, 1999
| access-date  = October 22, 2008
| last        = Yankovic
| first       = Alfred M.
| author-link  = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| date=July 1999 | work        = The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110042/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm| archive-date= December 8, 2008<!--Added by DASHBot-->|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="199611askal">{{cite web
|url         = http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1196
|title       = Midnight Star 'Ask Al' Q&As for November/December, 1996
|access-date  = October 22, 2008
|last        = Yankovic
|first       = Alfred M.
|author-link  = "Weird Al" Yankovic
|date        = November–December 1996
|work        = The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110042/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#1196
|archive-date = December 8, 2008
|url-status     = dead
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>  The cover art specifically features individual elements that correspond with each of the album's twelve songs.<ref name="199909askal">{{cite web
| url         = http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0999
| title       = 'Ask Al' Q&As for September, 1999
| access-date  = October 22, 2008
| last        = Yankovic
| first       = Alfred M.
| author-link  = "Weird Al" Yankovic
| date=September 1999 | work        = The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110042/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm| archive-date= December 8, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Composition==
[[File:Joan Jett Beaumont 2010.jpg|thumb|left|[[Joan Jett & The Blackhearts]]' version of "[[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]]" is parodied on the album.]]
''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' is the only album in Yankovic's discography to use the [[accordion]] in every song; in subsequent albums it is only used where deemed appropriate or wholly inappropriate for comedic effect.<ref name="199901askal">{{cite web| url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0199|title= 'Ask Al' Q&As for January, 1999|access-date=October 22, 2008|last=Yankovic|first= Alfred M.|author-link= "Weird Al" Yankovic |date=January 1999|work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site}}</ref> "[[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]" is a parody of "[[Mickey (Toni Basil song)|Mickey]]" by [[Toni Basil]]; an ode to ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' with Yankovic performing as [[Ricky Ricardo|Ricky]] and [[Tress MacNeille]] as [[Lucy Ricardo|Lucy]].<ref name="20080922wired">{{cite news|last=Raftery|first=Brian|title=Weird Al: Forefather of the YouTube Spoof|url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-10/ff_weirdal|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]| date=September 22, 2008|access-date=October 21, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081021051438/http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-10/ff_weirdal| archive-date= October 21, 2008|url-status=live}}
</ref><ref name="199906askal">{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0699| title= 'Ask Al' Q&As for June, 1999| access-date=October 21, 2008|last=Yankovic|first=Alfred M.| author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic|date=June 1999| work= The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110042/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm| archive-date= December 8, 2008|url-status=live
}}</ref> "Gotta Boogie" is a play on words discussing a man with a "[[Dried nasal mucus|boogie]]" on his finger and his quandary therein. "[[I Love Rocky Road]]" is a parody of [[Arrows (British band)|Arrows']] "[[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]]" made famous by [[Joan Jett]]; in the song the narrator expresses feelings about the titular ice cream flavor.<ref name="praitb" /> "Buckingham Blues" is a [[blues]] song [[satire|satirizing]] the socialite lifestyle of the [[Charles III|Prince]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess of Wales]] (Prince Charles and Diana). Originally, the song was going to be a parody of "[[Jack & Diane]]" by [[John Mellencamp]]; worried about spoiling a ''Jack and Diane'' movie deal, Mellencamp shot down the parody. Yankovic considered tweaking the "Jack & Diane" melody to avoid the song being a true parody, but decided against it and later rewrote it as an original song.<ref name="setlist1"/> Answering a fan in 1998, Yankovic replied that he would not rewrite and rerecord the song in light of the [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|death of Diana]].<ref name="199803askal">{{cite web|url= http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0398|title= Midnight Star 'Ask Al' Q&As for March/April, 1998|access-date=October 21, 2008|last= Yankovic|first= Alfred M.|author-link= "Weird Al" Yankovic| date=March 1998| work= The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site
"Happy Birthday" is a style parody of [[Tonio K]], one of Yankovic's favorite artists.<ref name="setlist1"/> The song is a morbidly depressing [[List of birthday songs|birthday song]] detailing ails of the world, including [[poverty]], [[nuclear holocaust]], and [[Sun#Life phases|eventual solar cataclysm]]. Only seeing two popular birthday songs at the time—"[[Happy Birthday to You]]" by [[Patty Hill|Patty]] and [[Mildred J. Hill]], and "[[Birthday (The Beatles song)|Birthday]]" by [[the Beatles]]—Yankovic decided to write his own "severely twisted version of one."<ref name="setlist1"/> "Stop Draggin' My Car Around" is a parody of "[[Stop Draggin' My Heart Around]]" by [[Stevie Nicks]]; the lament of an otherwise "[[cool (aesthetic)|cool]] guy" forced to repeatedly save his 1964 [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] car from impoundment due to [[parking violation|illegal parking]], [[shame]], and non-payment.<ref name="19840322PI">{{cite news|title= A Success At Last, and He's Eating It Up| last = Bianculli|first=David|work= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]| publisher=[[Brian Tierney]]| location=[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States|USA]]| page= D01 | date= March 22, 1984}}</ref> "[[My Bologna]]" is a parody of "[[My Sharona]]" by [[the Knack]]; the narrator talks about his obsession with [[bologna sausage]]. This is a re-recording of the song; the original Capitol Records single version would not appear on a "Weird Al" album until the 1994 box set ''[[Permanent Record: Al in the Box]]''.<ref name="19840322PI"/> "The Check's in the Mail" parodies business-related prevarications, exampling [[conflict avoidance|avoidance]], [[Lawsuit|litigation]], and the titular payment delay.<ref name="19840322PI"/> "[[Another One Rides the Bus]]" is a parody of "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]" by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]; the narrator laments about a crowded [[transit bus|public bus]]. This is the original 1980 recording from ''The [[Dr. Demento]] Show''.<ref name="tomorrowshow">{{cite AV media|date= November 4, 2003|title=[["Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection]]|medium= DVD|publisher=[[Volcano Entertainment]]|location=[[Los Angeles]], [[United States]]}}</ref> "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" is a rejection of the stereotypical attitudes and accoutrements of the [[hippie]]/[[yuppie]] lifestyles.<ref name="19840322PI"/>
"Such a Groovy Guy" parodies [[narcissism]] specifically noting [[fashion]], [[behavior|demeanor]], [[dominance and submission]], and [[relationship breakup]]. Yankovic wrote the song for a woman he was dating in homage of her previous boyfriend who, upon the [[relationship breakup|breakup]] asked her, "I'm such a groovy guy! Why would you break up with me?" Out of concern the individual may not be aware of his status, Yankovic does not identify him.<ref name="setlist1"/> "Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung" is an audience favorite from Yankovic's days playing in [[coffeehouse]]s at [[California Polytechnic State University|Cal Poly]];<ref name="praitb" /> the song describes the rather lopsided relationship between the narrator and the eponymous "Mr. Frump" in his [[Negative pressure ventilator|iron lung]], until the latter's death. The sound of the iron lung is an accordion's air release valve.<ref name="tomorrowshow"/> "It's Still Billy Joel to Me", Yankovic's 1980 parody of [[Billy Joel]]'s "[[It's Still Rock and Roll to Me]]", was originally planned for this album. Wary of the song being considered "dated" three years later, and doubtful that Joel would give his blessing, the band never bothered to ask.<ref name="200004askal">{{cite web| url= http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#040| title = 'Ask Al' Q&As for April, 2000|access-date=October 21, 2008| last=Yankovic|first=Alfred M.| author-link= "Weird Al" Yankovic|date=April 2000| work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site
==Promotion and tour==
To promote the album, the songs "[[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]" and "[[I Love Rocky Road]]" were released as singles with accompanying [[music video]]s. Yankovic embarked on his first official concert tour, officially named "An Evening of Dementia with Dr. Demento in Person Plus "Weird Al" Yankovic", which began at [[The Bottom Line (venue)|the Bottom Line]] in [[New York City]] on May 21, 1983 and ended June 10, 1983 at Mickey's in [[Milwaukee]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ "An Evening of Dementia with Dr. Demento in Person Plus "Weird Al" Yankovic"<br>(List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/live-performances/#first|title=Live Performances {{!}} "Weird Al" Yankovic|last=Yankovic|first=Weird Al|website="Weird Al" Yankovic|language=en|access-date=2018-05-25}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Date
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| City
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Venue
|-
! colspan="4" | North America<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nightlife |journal=New York Magazine |date=May 23, 1983 |volume=16 |issue=21 |page=136 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8oBAAAAMBAJ&dq=weird+al+1983+perform&pg=PA136 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |publisher=New York Media, LLC |language=en |issn=0028-7369 |quote=5/21, Dr. Demento with special guests "Weird Al" Yankovic and Benny Bell.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zebora |first1=Jim |title=The Club Scene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XddHAAAAIBAJ&dq=weird+al+1983+perform&pg=PA10&article_id=1767,2852213 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |publisher=[[Record-Journal]] |date=May 20, 1983 |location=[[Meriden, Connecticut]] |page=17 |language=en |quote=Dr. Demento and "Weird Al" Yankovic will team up at Toad's on Wednesday}}</ref>
|-
|May 21, 1983
|[[New York City]]
|rowspan="7"|United States
|[[The Bottom Line (venue)|The Bottom Line]]
|-
|May 22, 1983
|[[Roslyn, New York|Roslyn]]
|[[My Father's Place]]
|-
|May 24, 1983
|[[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]
|[[Toad's Place]]
|-
|May 26, 1983
|[[Boston]]
|Jonathan Swift's
|-
|May 28, 1983
|[[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
|Lost Horizon
|-
|May 31, 1983
|[[Rochester, New York|Rochester]]
|Red Creek
|-
|June 1, 1983
|[[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]
|Tralfamadore
|-
|June 3, 1983
|[[Toronto]]
|Canada
|[[El Mocambo]]
|-
|June 8, 1983
|[[Cleveland]]
|rowspan="3"|United States
|[[Agora Theatre and Ballroom|Agora Ballroom]]
|-
|June 9, 1983
|[[Chicago]]
|[[Park West (music venue)|Park West]]
|-
|June 10, 1983
|[[Milwaukee]]
|Mickey's
|}
==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic" />
| rev2 = The Daily Vault
| rev2Score = B−<ref>[http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=948 The Daily Vault Music Reviews]</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]''
| rev3Score = 8.2/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/weird-al-yankovic-squeeze-box-the-complete-works-of-weird-al-yankovic/ |title="Weird Al" Yankovic - Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |access-date=December 7, 2017 |last=Thomas Erlewine |first=Stephen|date=December 7, 2017 }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name ="rolling stone book">{{cite book| last1 = Brackett | first1 = Nathan | first2 = Christian | last2 = Hoard | title = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | location = New York City, New York | pages = [https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/893 893] | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac| url-access = registration | quote = rolling stone weird al yankovic alapalooza review. }}</ref>
}}
[[Eugene Chadbourne]], reviewer for [[AllMusic]], felt that while ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' was a detailed harbinger of parody to come, the album does not hold up well on its own. Chadbourne extolled most of the parodies ("Another One Rides the Bus", "My Bologna", "I Love Rocky Road") for their comedic value in contrast with their originals. However, also according to Chadbourne, "Ricky" lacks the comedic connection Yankovic cultivates in later albums, and the original songs "may not seem like they were written in ten minutes, but the ideas behind them don't seem to involve that much contemplation. [They're] like little bits of puff [whose ...] impact on the flow of an album side is more like ballast."<ref name="AllMusic"/>
Introducing Yankovic as the guest DJ for ''[[All Songs Considered]]'' on [[National Public Radio]] in 2006, host [[Bob Boilen]] opined that upon his debut, Yankovic "seemed the epitome of a throw-away novelty act".<ref name="20061102NPR">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15960999 |title=Guest DJ "Weird Al" Yankovic |last=Boilen |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Boilen |access-date=October 30, 2008 |date=November 2, 2006 |work=[[All Songs Considered]] |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |quote=Singer, songwriter and satirist "Weird Al" Yankovic has been spoofing artists and making his own original comic tunes for nearly 30 years. His latest album, ''Straight Out Of Lynwood''{{sic}}, is his first to break the top-ten. On this edition of ''All Songs Considered'', Yankovic talks about his music and shares some of the songs that have inspired him over the years. Hear an eclectic mix of music by the Bonzo Dog Band, Tom Lehrer, [[The Trashmen]] and more. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081122021436/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15960999| archive-date= November 22, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewing Yankovic in 2008, Brian Raftery of [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'' magazine]] wrote that "Ricky" introduced the world to "an accordion-playing spaz with a coif like [[Rick James]] and a voice like an urgent [[goose]]." Raftery noted that in 1983, Yankovic was considered a [[fad]] of the time—"like [[parachute pants]] and [[Contras]]"—and "thoroughly disposable."<ref name="20080922wired" /> Musical databasing and review websites [[AllMusic]] and [[Artistdirect]] rated ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' three and a half out of five stars.<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name="Artistdirect">{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,188926,00.html |title=Weird Al Yankovic : "Weird Al" Yankovic |access-date=November 14, 2008 |work=Artistdirect.com |publisher=[[Artistdirect]]}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| extra_column    = Parody of
| headline = Side one
| title_width   = 28%
| writing_width = 37%
| extra_width   = 35%
| title1          = [[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]
| writer1         = [[Mike Chapman]], [[Nicky Chinn]], [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]
| extra1          = "[[Mickey (Toni Basil song)|Mickey]]" by [[Toni Basil]]
| length1         = 2:36
| title2          = Gotta Boogie
| writer2         = Yankovic
| extra2          = Original
| length2         = 2:14
| title3          = [[I Love Rocky Road]]
| writer3         = [[Alan Merrill]], Jake Hooker, Yankovic
| extra3          = "[[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]]" by [[Joan Jett & the Blackhearts]]
| length3         = 2:36
| title4          = Buckingham Blues
| writer4         = Yankovic
| extra4          = Original
| length4         = 3:13
| title5          = Happy Birthday
| writer5         = Yankovic
| extra5          = Style parody of [[Tonio K]]<ref name="setlist1">{{cite news |title=Set List: 'Weird Al' Yankovic |first=Nathan|last = Rabin|author-link = Nathan Rabin|url = https://www.avclub.com/weird-al-yankovic-1798226810 |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |publisher=[[The Onion|The Onion, Inc]] |location=[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] |date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701100237/http://www.avclub.com/articles/weird-al-yankovic,58244/ |archive-date=July 1, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}</ref>
| length5         = 2:28
| title6          = Stop Draggin' My Car Around
| writer6         = [[Tom Petty]], [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell]], Yankovic
| extra6          = "[[Stop Draggin' My Heart Around]]" by [[Stevie Nicks]] & [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]]
| length6         = 3:16
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title_width   = 28%
| writing_width = 37%
| extra_width   = 35%
| extra_column = Parody of
| title7          = [[My Bologna]]
| writer7         = [[Doug Fieger]], [[Berton Averre]], Yankovic
| extra7          = "[[My Sharona]]" by [[the Knack]]
| length7         = 2:01
| title8          = The Check's in the Mail
| writer8         = Yankovic
| extra8          = Original
| length8         = 3:13
| title9          = [[Another One Rides the Bus]]
| writer9         = [[John Deacon]], Yankovic{{#tag:ref|While Yankovic wrote new lyrics for the song, on February 2, 1981, he transferred copyright of the parody to John Deacon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Another One Rides The Bus|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=7&ti=1,7&Search%5FArg=Another%20One%20Rides%20The%20Bus&Search%5FCode=TALL&CNT=25&PID=zWgAFWLEmJWXk6x1Ox6hHvg26i&SEQ=20151117150118&SID=1|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref> This is reflected in the liner notes for the album itself, which lists only Deacon as the parody's writer.<ref name="WeirdAlLinerNotes">{{cite AV media notes |title="Weird Al" Yankovic |author=[["Weird Al" Yankovic]] |year=1983 |type=LP liner notes |publisher=[[Rock 'n Roll Records]] |id=PZ 38679 |location=[[California]], [[United States]]}}</ref>|group="nb"}}
| extra9          = "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]" by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]
| length9         = 2:40
| title10          = I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead
| writer10         = Yankovic
| extra10          = Original
| length10         = 3:39
| title11          = Such a Groovy Guy
| writer11         = Yankovic
| extra11          = Original
| length11         = 3:02
| title12          = Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung
| writer12         = Yankovic
| extra12          = Original
| length12         = 1:54
| total_length    = 32:59
}}
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from LP liner notes,<ref name="WeirdAlLinerNotes"/> except where noted.
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
'''Musicians'''
* "Weird Al" Yankovic&nbsp;– [[accordion]], lead vocals, backing vocals
* [[Rick Derringer]]&nbsp;- guitars, backing vocals
* [[Steve Jay]]&nbsp;– bass guitar, backing vocals
* [[Jon Schwartz (drummer)|Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz]]&nbsp;– drums, percussion, backing vocals
* [[Richard Bennett (guitarist)|Richard Bennett]]&nbsp;– [[banjo]], [[ukulele]]; guitar solo (track 10); additional guitar{{refn|The credits on ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' give special thanks to [[Jim West (guitarist)|Jim West]]. West was playing guitar with Yankovic and the band at live performances, but was not present for recording the album. Most of the guitar playing on the album was done by producer Rick Derringer, but Jon Schwartz's brother, Richard Bennett, contributes additional guitar as well as banjo and ukulele.<ref name="199904askal">{{cite web |url=http://weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/ask-al/#0499 |title='Ask Al' Q&As for April, 1999 |access-date=October 21, 2008 |last=Yankovic |first=Alfred M. |author-link="Weird Al" Yankovic |date=April 1999 |work=The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site}}</ref>|group="nb"}}
* William K. Anderson&nbsp;– [[saxophone]], [[harmonica]]
* Joel Miller&nbsp;– [[Bongo drum|bongos]]
* "Musical Mike" Kieffer&nbsp;– musical hands
* Dorothy Remsen&nbsp;– [[harp]]
* [[Tress MacNeille]]&nbsp;– voice of [[Lucy Ricardo|Lucy]] (track 1)
* Dawn Smithey&nbsp;– female backing vocals
* Zaidee Cole&nbsp;– female backing vocals
* Joan Manners&nbsp;– female backing vocals
* Jay Levey&nbsp;– male backing vocals
* Damaskas (Dan Hollombe)<ref name="Players">{{cite web |url=https://www.weirdal.com/archives/miscellaneous/players/ |title=Players |website=[["Weird Al" Yankovic]] |access-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref>&nbsp;– male backing vocals
* Jake (Jake Hooker)<ref name="Players"/>&nbsp;– male backing vocals
* The Doctor ([[Dr. Demento]])<ref name="Players"/>&nbsp;– male backing vocals
'''Technical'''
* Rick Derringer&nbsp;– producer
* Tony Papa&nbsp;– engineer (tracks 1, 4)
* Peter Kelsey&nbsp;– engineer (tracks 2–3, 5–12)
* [[Ted Jensen]]&nbsp;– mastering
{{div col end}}
==Charts and certifications==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1984)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|[[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="awards">{{Cite web| url = http://www.weirdal.com/awards.htm| url-status = dead| title = Awards| access-date = April 3, 2013| last = Yankovic| first = Alfred M.| author-link = "Weird Al" Yankovic| year = 2003| work = The Official "Weird Al" Yankovic Web Site| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090203145148/http://www.weirdal.com/awards.htm| archive-date = February 3, 2009| df = mdy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|139
|}
{{col-2}}
===Certifications===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Country
![[Music recording sales certifications|Certification]]<br /><small>([[List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds]])</small>
|-
|[[Recording Industry Association of America|United States]]
| style="text-align:center;"|Gold<ref name="riaa">{{Cite web | title = Gold & Platinum – Search Results: 'Weird Al' Yankovic | publisher = Recording Industry Association of America | url = https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=weird+al#search_section
| access-date = December 21, 2016 }}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}
===Singles===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Song
!colspan="1"| Peak<br>position
|- style="font-size:85%;line-height:1.3;vertical-align:top"
!style="width:4em"| <small>[[Billboard Hot 100|US<br />100]]<br /><ref name="awards" /></small>
|-
| 1981
| "[[Another One Rides the Bus]]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 104
|-
| 1983
| "[[Ricky ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)|Ricky]]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 63
|-
| 1983
| "[[I Love Rocky Road]]"
| style="text-align:center;"| 106
|}
==Notes==
<references group="nb" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://weirdal.com/catalog/weird-al-yankovic/ ''"Weird Al" Yankovic'' at the official "Weird Al" Yankovic website]
* {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r82658|label="Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weird Al Yankovic}}
[[Category:"Weird Al" Yankovic albums]]
[[Category:1983 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rick Derringer]]
[[Category:Articles with quotation marks in the title]]
[[Category:Rock 'n Roll Records albums]]