Original Air Date: November 3, 1994. 8:10 A.M. Original Location: WPNT 100.3 FM FM100. Broadcasting from Chicago, Il. Original Interviewer: Steve Cochran, w/ Abby Polonsky and Eric Stallone Transcribed by: Marty Lick martyl@emsphone.com Type of interview: Phone [Pre-interview] Steve: You know what? This is amazing to me. As a musician, a boxed set signifies the compilation of your life work. It is a true mark of an artist to get to the stage where he can have a boxed set. Can you hand me the boxed set, if you would? A box set is a compendium of all the creativity that one has over the course of a career. Eric: Well, "Weird Al" has done a lot of stuff. Steve: Oh he has like "My Bologna". [pronounced Baloney] yeah. Abby: "Eat It" Steve: "I Love Rocky Road", "Mr. Popeil", "King of Suede", "Lasagna". Eric: See, a lot of these were funnier at the time the hit song that he was parodying was out. Steve: "I Think I'm a Clone Now", "I Wanna New Duck". Oh yeah, I mean these are all great. "Smells Like Nirvana". We all remember it. Abby: That box looks like a Colorforms set. Steve: Yes it does, doesn't it? Well, "Weird Al" Yankovic joins us on the phone next and we will salute the man and his career milestone, his box set, just in time for the holidays. 8:10 FM 100. [Commercials] [Interview] Steve: Possibly the greatest artist in the history of recorded man now joins us on the telephone. Hold on a second. We didn't get Springsteen? Voice: No sir. Steve: Oh, I'm sorry. "Weird Al" is on the phone though so we're alright. Al: Hey, how ya doin'? Steve: Hi Al. Al: [low voice] Hi Steve. Steve: AL! Al: STEVE! Steve: AL!!! Al: STEVE!!! Steve: Alright, that's all we need. Al: Okay. Steve: Look at this Abby. Look what I'm holding here. Abby: I know. Its- It looks like a box of Colorforms. Steve: Listen to this. Listen to this. Listen to how solid this is. [thud] That's quality. Abby: I know. Al: That's a whole box of quality there. Steve: "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Permanent Record: Al in the Box" is now out. How many CDs are in here? 20? Al: That's a four CD set. You know, I think this is the first sign of the Apocalypse. A "Weird Al" box set. Abby: That is true. It does and it looks like a box of Colorforms. Remeber those, Al? Al: Oh, we should've included those. Steve: It's your greatest hits. They're all here. Al: Every single one. Steve: How nutty is this? Al: It's wacky! Steve: It's cooky. It's Al! Al: Woo-hoo [Like Homer Simpson does] Steve: "Weird Al" Yankovic is on the phone to plug this. Is this available for the holidays, and what a lovely gift it would make. Al: Oh yes. I'm giving one to everybody this Christmas. Steve: Well, why not. You probably get them for free. Al: Uh-huh. Steve: What's this other CD I'm holding? What's "Christmas at Ground Zero" and "Headline News"? What's that? Al: Oh, that's the CD single, I guess. Steve: Oh, this is the new one? Al: You're just a lucky boy. You're just rife with Al products. Steve: You know what my favorite thing is you ever did? Al: No, please tell me Steve. Steve: "One More Minute" Al: Oh, I like that too. Steve: It's beautiful. Al: Yeah, I had broken up with my girlfriend many years ago and wasn't feeling like being very funny at the time, so I wrote that song to kinda get over it and a very cathartic experience for me. Steve: "One More Minute". That was beautiful thing that song was. Abby: Now did she break up with you before you became "Weird Al" or after? Al: uhhhh....I guess..it was after, yeah. Steve: Let's see what was your first one? "My Bologna"? [pronounced Baloney] Al: "My Bologna" [pronounced Baloney] Yeah, that was first- the first one that I ever wrote was released. In fact the original bathroom recording is on the box set. Steve: Nutty. How much money do you have, right now? How much- Al: Right now? In my pocket? Steve: Yeah. Al: Oh, about 30 bucks. Steve: How much did you make? How much have you made from "My Bologna" then now. I want the exact figure. Get your accountant on the phone. We'll hold. Al: Oh, you know there's just like a huge pile of money in the middle of the room. I haven't even gotten around to counting it all. Steve: It's "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Permanent Record". It's "Al in the Box". It's a complete boxed set. Abby, I have to go to the bathroom, so you go ahead and finish the interview now. Abby: Okay. Steve: Go ahead. Ask him anything you want. Abby: Hey Al? Al: Yes Abby? Abby: Did you ever do any legitimate straight music before the parodies came along? Al: No, I- I- I came out of the womb playing parodies. I played parodies as an embryo. My whole life is revolving around this, and yet you mock me. You mock my pain! Oh Abby! [begins to cry] Abby: I mocking with you, Al. With you all the way. Al: Oh thank you, I feel much better. Abby: Are you a fan of the Power Rangers? Al: I am a Power Ranger. Abby: Which one are you? Al: I'm the blue guy. Steve: Billy. Abby: The blue one? Al: You're Billy, the blue guy. Abby: Steve's back from the bathroom. Steve: Okay Al. Anything else we need to talk about? Al: I think we covered about everything. Steve: How much does this cost? What does this cost? Because, it's ya know- Al: This is a toll call. Steve: No- what! No, not the call! Abby: The box set, of course. Al: Oh, the box set. Steve: By the way, this is the only interview we've ever done where we called the artist collect. [general laughter] Steve: How much does this cost? If I went out and paid for it, and I'm not going to, but everyone else is- Al: It's cheap at twice the price. Steve: What, 100? 150 dollars? What's it cost? Al: I don't know. I think, on sale, it's like forty bucks for the CD collection. Steve: Forty bucks! Boy, I hope people are drinking. [general laughter] Steve: No, it's a- it's a great gift. AL! Al: Well, STEVE! Abby: Al, when ya gonna come to Chicago? Al: Am I invited? Steve: Well- Abby: Sure, you can stay at Steve's house. Steve: Mayor Daley's got national guard all over the highway, in case you try to get in here again, Mister! "Weird Al" Yankovic, he's gonna be at...the White Hen over on Wacker...signing ...box sets of the CD...tomorrow from noon to four. Be there. Al: I am? Oh, alright. Steve: Alright, so here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna play "One More Minute" now, and we're gonna dedicate it to all men and women who've broken up. Well, that should take care of just about everybody. Anybody who's ever broken up, it's dedicated to all of you. It's "One More Minute". [song starts] We're gonna play it now. Do you have any last words? Al: Yeah, GOODBYE! Steve: I think that appropriately sums it up for all of us. Hey Abby, why don't you bring up that Colorforms thing a few more times? Abby: Okay, right after this. Steve: Talk about locking on an idea and not letting go. Al? [vocals start] [post interview and song] Al: Hello, this is "Weird Al" Yankovic, and you're listening to my good buddy, my close personal friend, my life long pal...uh [papers shuffle] Steve.....St...S..Steve Cochran! uh...heh..heh....heh? Eric: Did we pay him? Steve: He's a dink.