The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. A limited edition "3.0" version of the album has a third disc. It is published by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings as part of their The Essential series. Yankovic selected the songs for inclusion on the album after seeking fan feedback for the choice between one of two polkas.[6]

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
Greatest hits album by
"Weird Al" Yankovic
ReleasedOctober 27, 2009
Recorded1979-2006
GenreComedy, parody
Length76:43 (Disc one)
76:31 (Disc two)
29:01 (Disc three)
LabelLegacy
ProducerRick Derringer, "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology
Internet Leaks
(2009)		 The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
(2009)		 Alpocalypse
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Mojo[2]
Paste8.8/10[3]
PopMatters[4]
Under the Radar[5]

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Parody ofLength
1."Another One Rides the Bus" (from Another One Rides the Bus (EP), 1981; later included on "Weird Al" Yankovic, 1983)
"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen2:40
2."Polkas on 45" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D, 1984)4:23
3."Eat It" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)
"Beat It" by Michael Jackson3:21
4."I Lost on Jeopardy" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)
"Jeopardy" by The Greg Kihn Band3:26
5."Yoda" (from Dare to Be Stupid, 1985)
"Lola" by The Kinks3:58
6."One More Minute" (from Dare to Be Stupid)YankovicStyle parody of Elvis Presley-like doo-wop4:04
7."Like a Surgeon" (from Dare to Be Stupid)
"Like a Virgin" by Madonna3:32
8."Dare to Be Stupid" (from Dare to Be Stupid)YankovicStyle parody of Devo3:25
9."Dog Eat Dog" (from Polka Party!, 1986)YankovicStyle parody of Talking Heads3:42
10."Lasagna" (from Even Worse, 1988)Traditional, arr. by Ritchie Valens, Yankovic"La Bamba" by Los Lobos and Ritchie Valens2:45
11."Melanie" (from Even Worse)YankovicOriginal3:58
12."Fat" (from Even Worse)
  • Jackson
  • Yankovic
"Bad" by Michael Jackson3:37
13."UHF" (Single version) (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff, 1989)YankovicOriginal3:49
14."The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff)YankovicStyle parody of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot6:50
15."Trigger Happy" (from Off the Deep End, 1992)YankovicStyle parody of The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean3:46
16."Smells Like Nirvana" (from Off the Deep End)
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana3:42
17."You Don't Love Me Anymore" (from Off the Deep End)YankovicOriginal4:01
18."Bedrock Anthem" (from Alapalooza, 1993)
"Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers3:43
19."Frank's 2000" TV" (from Alapalooza)YankovicStyle parody of R.E.M.'s early work4:07
20."Jurassic Park" (from Alapalooza)
"MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris3:55

Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Parody ofLength
1."Since You've Been Gone" (from Bad Hair Day, 1996)YankovicOriginal a cappella song1:23
2."Amish Paradise" (from Bad Hair Day)
"Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.3:21
3."Gump" (from Bad Hair Day)
"Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America2:12
4."Everything You Know Is Wrong" (from Bad Hair Day)YankovicStyle parody of They Might Be Giants3:48
5."The Night Santa Went Crazy" (Extra gory version) (from "Amish Paradise" single, 1996; original version from Bad Hair Day)YankovicStyle Parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum4:03
6."Your Horoscope for Today" (from Running with Scissors, 1999)YankovicStyle parody of Third Wave Ska3:59
7."It's All About the Pentiums" (from Running with Scissors)
"It's All About the Benjamins (Rock remix)" by Puff Daddy3:34
8."The Saga Begins" (from Running with Scissors)
"American Pie" by Don McLean5:28
9."Albuquerque" (from Running with Scissors)YankovicStyle parody of The Rugburns11:21
10."eBay" (from Poodle Hat, 2003)
"I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys3:37
11."Bob" (from Poodle Hat)YankovicStyle parody of Bob Dylan2:29
12."Hardware Store" (from Poodle Hat)YankovicOriginal3:43
13."I'll Sue Ya" (from Straight Outta Lynwood, 2006)YankovicStyle parody of Rage Against the Machine3:51
14."Canadian Idiot" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)
"American Idiot" by Green Day2:24
15."Pancreas" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)YankovicStyle parody of Brian Wilson3:48
16."Don't Download This Song" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)YankovicStyle parody of 1980s charity songs3:52
17."White & Nerdy" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)
"Ridin'" by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone2:52
18."Trapped in the Drive-Thru" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)
Trapped in the Closet by R. Kelly; contains interpolation of "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin10:51

Disc three (3.0 version only)
No.TitleWriter(s)Parody ofLength
1."Ricky" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic)
"Mickey" by Toni Basil2:37
2."Midnight Star" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)YankovicOriginal4:35
3."Living with a Hernia" (from Polka Party!)
"Living in America" by James Brown3:20
4."Good Old Days" (from Even Worse)YankovicStyle parody of James Taylor3:20
5."Wanna B Ur Lovr" (from Poodle Hat)YankovicStyle parody of Beck6:14
6."Genius in France" (from Poodle Hat)YankovicStyle parody of Frank Zappa8:58

References
  1. Jason Lymangrover. "The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic". Allmusic. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  2. Mojo (Publisher) (p.121) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]e ensured rock didn't take itself too seriously."
  3. Nrt4 on November 14, 2009. ""Weird Al" Yankovic: The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  4. http://www.popmatters.com/review/118328-weird-al-yankovic-the-essential-weird-al-yankovic/
  5. http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_essential_weird_al_yankovic/
  6. "The Essential Me". "Weird Al" Yankovic. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
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