Retroactive Thinking: 30 Years Of Getting Weird With Al Yankovic

Back in 1983, Dr. Demento favorite “Weird Al” released his self-titled debut album. Yankovic has been one of my musical heroes; he represents everything that’s great about music, and he’s someone who the world thought would be a novelty act and a one hit wonder. Instead, he wowed them with an impressive career (outlasting about 90% of the artists he’s parodied) who can do justice to any genre and make us laugh time and time again. He’s won multiple awards, had a feature length film become a cult classic, is considered one of the greatest live performers of all time and had a beef with at least two hip-hop legends (Coolio and Eminem).

To celebrate the 30 years of music I’ve decided to sit down, relisten to every album and rank them from worst to best. There’s a few things we should discuss beforehand about what elements I was looking for in these albums:

First, we choose not to cover any of the compilations or greatest hits releases. This seems like a no brainer, but I feel like someone out there will complain that “The Food Album” isn’t ranked and that’s their favorite Yankovic record.

Second, this isn’t the most important albums or best selling albums list. This is based on how good the album is. My factoring was based on (a) how good the songs are, (b) if the parodies hold up, and (c) how good the originals are.

Third, there’s no favoritism to a popular song. Just because Fat (possibly Al’s best parody) appears on Even Worse, that doesn’t justify the record as being his best unless the other tracks hold that same strength. Again a no brainer, but people will point out that the album with their favorite song on it being ranked low. It’s not a comment on the song’s quality, but the record as a whole.

Finally, there is no bad Weird Al album. Even the lowest ranked album on this list is still a great record. Yankovic (in my highly biased opinion) can do literally no wrong.

14.Alpalooza

I’m confident that I’m going to lose people on this first one. They’ll say “But what about Polka Party?” and “I really like Bedrock Anthem”. First off, Bedrock Anthem is definitely one of the worst parodies Al ever did, even Red Hot Chili Peppers were disappointed and felt it was a phoned in parody. If you ask me, most of this album feels phoned in. It really is his “sell-out” album. Many of the songs (Bedrock Anthem, Talk Soup) were recorded for other projects (Flintsones movie soundtrack and a new theme song to the E! show). It’s contains all of Al’s worst originals and lackluster parodies. The only highlights are Livin in the Fridge and Bohemian Polka.

13. Peter and the Wolf

Few people know this record exists. I didn’t until Al was giving it away for a charity auction. I eventually tracked down a copy of it and was mostly disappointed. It’s funny. But it’s worth one listen and nothing more. The only reason this isn’t lower is that I have to admit that it’s a very ambitious project, specifically given that just 2 years earlier Polka Party’s poor sales almost ruined his career. Yankovic had JUST gotten himself back into the public eye and followed it up with this easily forgettable (and frankly unmarketable) album. If  you can track down a copy it’s worth a listen… but not much more.

12. UHF Soundtrack

UHF is one of the funniest movies ever made. Sadly, the soundtrack doesn’t contain many laughs. The highlights of the record include the theme song, the Money for Nothing parody and the handful of fake commercials from the movie. However, when you remove the visuals from those commercials it’s not nearly as entertaining. It contains all of Al’s weakest parodies and personally my least favorite polka (as I’m not a huge Rolling Stones fan). Its poor sales and the disappointing box office release basically ended Yankovic’s career until Nirvana gave Al a reason to reemerge.

11. Poodle Hat

Despite having two previous releases (Bad Hair Day and Running with Scissors) being massive hits, Poodle Hat is one of Al’s worst selling records. There’s two reasons for this. First is that there was never a music video made for any songs (Eminem halted production of the Couch Potato music video) and secondly… it’s not that good of a record. It pains me to say that because I love songs on this album but it takes forever for the album to really pick up (not until the Angry White Boy Polka at track 5; which happens to be my favorite of all the polkas). Most of the parodies are forgettable and the originals (excluding the insanely impressive Hardware Store) are pretty mediocre. It’s a shame really because the few songs that work… are amazing but the rest hit the ground with a thud.

10. Polka Party!

This was/is Al’s lowest selling album (with the UHF soundtrack being a very close second). This record would have killed his career if it wasn’t for Fat two years later. Most people would probably rank this as his worst album (I’m sure even Al would) but I simply can’t: I’ve learned that while the parodies eventually become out-dated, it’s the originals that really determine the relisten value of Yankovic’s records and Polka Party simply has too many great originals to completely dismiss. Christmas At Ground Zero is a hilarious juxtaposition of post-apocalyptic story telling over a cheesy christmas tune and his Talking Heads style parody Dog Eat Dog is almost as spot on as his Devo (Dare to Be Stupid) and They Might Be Giants (Everything You Know is Wrong) style parodies

9. Off The Deep End

After a lull in his career following the disappointing box office draw of UHF Yankovic was struck by inspiration when Nirvana blew up on the scene. Off the Deep End is like the reverse of Poodle Hat. Poodle Hat I complained it took too long to get going, Off the Deep End starts off so strong and then falls apart near the end (but is saved by the beautiful closing track You Don’t Love Me Anymore). However despite complaints when this album succeeds, it succeeds in a big way. Smells Like Nirvana was huge because it was a beautiful parody of not just Nirvana but the entire grunge movement.

8. Even Worse

This is one of three albums that saved Al’s career (the second being the previously mentioned Off the Dead End). After Polka Party’s poor response Al leaped back into the public eye by lampooning Michael Jackson once again and he went big (literally). Fat is leaps and bounds a better song (and video) than Eat It. On that sad day when Al leaves this world forever it will be Fat and Amish Paradise that he will be most remembered for (you may quote me on that). Strangely enough, it was also the only song on the album to get a music video. It’s a shame since it has some fantastic tracks on it (including Lasagna, You Make Me and his Beastie Boys parody Twister). The third album to save his career was…

7. Straight Outta Lynwood

Yankovic followed up the disappointing Poodle Hat with his highest selling record (at the time) thanks to the massive White & Nerdy. This album deserved all the praise it received. Beyond the fact that all the parodies work and most of the originals are equally great this is the first album where we find Al using his comedy to get a little political. Songs like I’ll Sue Ya and Don’t Download This Song are hilarious but still contain a statement about our society. This has continued into his new more recent music.

6. In 3-D

The sophmore slump certainly didn’t exist in the world of Al Yankovic. His 2nd album was undeniably his biggest of the 80’s (and one of his biggest of all time). It was on this record that the “Weird Al” we know and love came out more strongly. In 3-D gave us our first ever Weird Al polka and our first of 2 massive Michael Jackson parodies. However while Eat It was a massive hit my favorite track is the follow up single I Lost on Jeopardy. I still can’t hear Greg Kihn Band’s original version and not immediately think of the parody lyrics instead.

5. Apocalypse

Straight Outta Lynwood was Al’s highest selling record until the following album release which outsold it and hit his highest billboard position. It contains nothing but perfect parodies and originals as he blasts through parodies of todays top artists and does style parodies for some classic groups like Queen, Meat Loaf and The Doors. Continuing the ‘sincere statements’ hidden in comedy songs found on Straight Outta Lynwood is TMZ (a parody of Taylor Swifts You Belong to Me) which discuss our generations obsession with celebrities. The highlights though are Ringtone and Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me.

4. “Weird Al” Yankovic

I’ve read/heard that Al is not particularly proud of his debut. What’s ironic is one of his complaints (There’s an accordian on every song) is part of the appeal to me. Yankovic always had an anarchic approach to music but his debut could almost be called punk rock. Between his nasally voice, his covers of The Knack and Joan Jett and the dark humored lyrics of songs like Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung all help make this record the underappreciated gem in his collection.

3. Running With Scissors

After the massive success of Amish Paradise, Al Yankovic disappeared for a few years until he found the perfect parody. It came not from a new song or artist but the long awaited Star Wars Prequel The Phantom Menace. He blended it with American Pie (released 3 decades earlier) and a massive hit was born. While I do love The Saga Begins I think the highlight of the album is in either the follow-up single It’s All About the Pentiums or the 11 minute long ranble-fest called Albuquerque. It’s hard to really pick a favorite on the record though since basically every song hits the ball out of the park.

2. Dare to Be Stupid

It may not have sold as well as In 3-D and didn’t contain a hit as massive as Eat It but Dare to Be Stupid is the highlight of Yankovic’s early career. This is the record where I believe Al’s brilliant originals really started to show their power. Songs like One More Minute, This is the Life and the title track are all the highlights of the album. On top of those classics it also contains fan-favorite (and long time encore/closing song) Yoda. This is “Weird Al” stewed to perfection. In fact only one record has been able to one up it in the 27 years since it’s release.

1. Bad Hair Day

One could argue I’m being biased. This was the first “Weird Al” album I ever owned, Amish Paradise was the first song I ever heard by him and it’s one of his most famous releases. Regardless of all that, this album has stood the test of time better than any other record he’s made. Not only do all the parodies still retain the same comedic value over a decade later but the originals are all masterpieces however the highlight of this record (and to this day the best style parody Al has ever done will always be his They Might Be Giants inspired Everything You Know is Wrong. If you are a child of the 90’s this entire album probably always will have a place in your heart.

Matt Kelly is the host of The Saint Mort Show podcast, active on twitter and constantly updating his blog Pure Mattitude.