"Weird Al" Yankovic Forest Hills NY

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Volcano Records, 1983

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 01/08/2000

I remember back when I was in grade school, after parody ubermensch "Weird Al" Yankovic made it to the big time with "Eat It," I discovered that he had an album out prior to In 3-D. The only problem was that the little mom-and-pop store I frequented didn't have the tape in stock, and it took three weeks to get via special order. (Keep in mind this was back in 1984, before the days of the music superstores.) But when "Weird Al" Yankovic did arrive, I treated it like unearthed treasure.

It's been 17 years since this album (originally released on Rock & Roll Records) hit an unsuspecting public like a kick to the crotch, but the album shows Yankovic's fans two things after all these years. One: Yankovic knew how to write a good parody. Two: His songwriting was still developing, so this album isn't quite up to par with the rest of his discography.

This disc will forever be known for the parodies, of course. Long before I knew (much less cared) who Yankovic was, I remember seeing the video for "I Love Rocky Road" on HBO's "Video Jukebox." (Anyone else remember the funky animated robot from the intro to that show?) It was definitely low budget, but it was funny as hell - and it was as elusive as the Publisher's Clearing House van to find when you wanted to.

Even now, "I Love Rocky Road" is fun to listen to, even if you're not totally familiar with the original song, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts's "I Love Rock 'N Roll." Likewise, "Ricky" - another video that stuck with you once you saw it - does a good job reworking Toni Basil's "Mickey," only it doesn't have the same staying power as "I Love Rocky Road" does.