Original Air Date: Spring, 1992. Original Airing: The Dr. Demento Show Original Interviewer: Dr. Demento Transcribed by: Marty Lick martyl@emsphone.com Dr. D: We're here under the smogberry trees with your pal and mine, "Weird Al" Yankovic! Welcome back to dementia, Al. Al: Thanks Doctor. Feels great to be back. Dr. D: And Al has just handed me a copy hot the CD pressing machine of his latest album. His long awaited latest album and it's called...Off the Deep End and I see you're going swimming in this blue pool here on the front cover. Kind of looks like this one very famous rock album, let see by the- that group called Ni...Ni...Nir.... Al: Yeah something- Nirvana, I think it was. Dr. D: Except instead of a dollar bill, of course, being "Weird Al" you are chasing after a... Al: A doughnut. That's on there. Dr. D: Yes, that's a- What kind of doughnut is that Alfred? Al: I think that's a glazed doughnut. Dr. D: A glazed doughnut. Al: We were gonna call the album "Diving for Doughnuts". That was out alternate title, because diving for doughnuts was one of my favorite hobbies as a kid right behind spit on the gopher and jump in the compost. They rank right up there. Dr. D: Well, what did it taste like with all that chlorinated water on it? Al: It's a whole new taste treat. I highly recommend it. Dr. D: And when did you learn to swim, by the way? Al: [laughs] I learned to swim especially for that photo shoot. There's nothing I won't do for art. Dr D: Right. Okay. Well, this, of course, decorates another great new "Weird Al" Yankovic CD and without further adieu let's plunge head first into the deep waters of "Off the Deep End" and listen to the first single and first cut of the album, "Smells Like- Al: Nirvana!" [Smells Like Nirvana is played] Dr. D: Well, I think you caught I good one there, Al. Al: Oh thanks, Doctor. Dr. D: Even betten than a chlorinated doughnut, I would say. Now available on CD and cassette and I guess a single too, eh? Al: That's right. Dr. D: Yes, "Smells Like Nirvana." And that's from "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Off the Deep End" on the Scotti Brothers CD and tape label. No records, eh? Al: No, this is the first time there hasn't been an LP. Dr. D: That is too bad. Al: Yeah, I kinda miss vinyl. I mean there's so many great things you can do with vinyl. You can play it at the wrong speed. You can make ashtrays out of it if you leave it in the oven for a while, and the 45s too. You can stick 45s on your ears and walk around like a geek. I mean there's- you're so limited with a CD. Dr. D: I have seen people make earings out of the little three inch CDs, but it does get a little overbearing with a full size. Al: Aw, guess it's a trade off. I don't know. Dr. D: You just signed a new deal with the Scotti Brothers folks didn't you? Al: Yes, another thousand albums I'll be with them for. Dr. D: [both laugh]. A thousand albums? Al: A thousand albums. Dr. D: Well, at the pace it took you to make this one, that gonna be a couple.... Al: Yeah, it was a pop culture eternity, wasn't it. Dr. D: Yes. Al: It was about over two and a half years now. I don't have any really good reason why it took so long other than the fact that I was waiting for Michael Jackson's new album to come out, and I was thinking- well everybody was saying "Well, you know his new album's just gonna be out next month or in a few months or maybe a year or maybe a year and a half..." Ya know, and I thought "Well, it's worth waiting for." and it finally came out and I was gonna do a "Black or White" parody and it turned out that Michael felt sensitively about that for obvious reasons because he was getting so much media attention, I think, and also becasuse it's his message song about racial equality and he didn't feel comfortable with me doing that. So that's like the obvious question. I just- Dr. D: Okay. Al: I can completely understand where he's comming from with this and it's not just- He in fact... He said he'd be open to me doing something else from the album maybe like later in the year for another album perhaps. So he's certainly not saying no forever. It's just for "Black or White". Dr. D: But meanwhile you had a deadline... Al: Yeah, and Nirvana came along and we thought, you know, Nirvana is one of my favorite new bands and their certainly making a big mark and I guess they'd be called a phenonmenon, so it seemed like a good idea. Dr. D: Why sure. You've got some other parodies too. I know we'll here another one a little later on. Tell me about some of the others you've done. Al: On this album? Lets see, I guess you're gonna be hearing the Hammer parody a little later. This is- Actually I recorded back when he was MC Hammer, so I guess some of the songs on this album are a year- year and a half old, because I've been writing and recording all during this period. Also, there's a New Kids on the Block parody and a Milli Vanilli parody which, I guess, is kind of redundant at this point, but... Dr. D: Do you sing on it? Al: Yes, I actually sing that's the big difference, right. [Dr. D. Laughs] And there's a Gerardo parody. A parody of "Rico Suave" and I got Cheech Marin to do a little rap in the middle of it. So that was a big treat to hear. Dr. D: Oh yeah, I just noticed him here on the cover credits. Al: Yeah. Dr. D: Yeah, looking forward to hearing that, but instead I think I'd like to play one of your originals. Al: Okay, yeah. I decided to go a whole new direction, because- ya know you release novelty album after novelty album people think that all you do is funny songs, and I thought it was time to go for a little different direction and I wanted to write a very serious straight love song for a change. Dr. D: Well, every comedian wants to play Hamlet. Al: Yes, yes, yes. I thought it was about time for me to do the same. So this is my bid for that kind of respect, and this is called "You Don't Love Me Anymore." Dr. D: "Weird Al" Yankovic ["You Don't Love Me Anymore" is played] Dr. D: "You Don't Love Me Anymore" Al: It's very sad. Dr. D: Yes, "Weird Al" Yankovic is my guest under the smogberry trees on the Dr. Demento Show, and that's one of the originals included on Al's latest CD and tape called "Off the Deep End." What are you going to be doing to promote this new project? QAl: Oh, I thought I'd like, do like, appearances at shopping malls like Tiffany or something. I don't know. We're hopefully going to be going a tour this summer. I know I've said that before and it hasn't come true, but economy willing, I'll be going out and playing at a venue near you. As well, we're trying to get an MTV special together, and of course, there's a video for the first single which probably as of the airing of this interview will have already been played on MTV. I feel kind of weird, because it's like we're in a time warp right now. Dr. D: Oh yes. Well, I just played an interview with Allen Sherman, who's been gone for 19 years just a couple weeks ago. So why not? Al: Right. So as of this airing, my album's probably number one. I'm on the cover of Time and Newsweek, so I've have to like pretend like it hasn't happened yet. It's oh so strange. Dr. D: But anyway there is, now as you hear this, a video. Al: That- Yes, it's airing right now. Turn on MTV. It's on right now. Dr. D: Well, wait until this show is over. Al: Okay. Dr. D: And meanwhile let's hope that you will be swimming in pools all over the nation to promote "Off the Deep End." Al: Okay. Dr. D: Of course, you're going to have a little competition in the media this summer because this is one of those years when America tries to choose a new president. Al: Oh yes. Dr. D: And so it got me to thinking... compared to some of the other clowns that are running for president, maybe "President Yankovic" doesn't have such a bad sound to it. Al: It kinda rolls off the tongue. Dr. D: Well, you are one of the most brilliant people I know. [Al laughs] You were validictorian of your class in high school. You have a degree in Architecture. You could rebuilt this country! Al: Well okay! Dr. D: Do you have any ideas of what you might do if you were president? Al: Yeah, I'd hang around in a shopping mall and say "hey babe, I'm the President. President right here. I'm the President." Dr. D: Well, some would say that you'd be doing a better job than some of the people who have actually held that office. Al: Yes, lets see what else. I could- I could put a ban on styrofoam and New Kids albums and I'd make Spike Jones birthday a national holiday. Both: Hooray! Dr. D: "Weird Al" Yankovic my guest on the Dr. Demento show. We'll be right back. [commercials] QDr. D: "Weird Al" Yankovic my guest here under the smogberry trees and Weird has just brought me his brand new cassette and CD called "Off the Deep End." Splash! And it's already making quite a splash and we'll be listening to another cut from it shortly, but Al, you've always been quite a television fan, and I mean, we know you're dedication to "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch" and many other show you have immortalized on CDs and vinyl albums and so on. What are some of your favorites among the new television shows today? Al: Oh, the ones currently in production? Dr. D: Yes. Al: Actually one of very favorites right now is "Ren and Stimpy". An animated show that's on MTV and Nickelodeon. Some really incredible off the wall animation there. "The Simpsons" is one of my favorites, I think that's probably some of the best writing on tv right now, and I've always been a fan of "Saturday Night Live" and David Letterman. What else is on? "Seinfeld" is a very good show. My old friend Michael Richards from my movie is a key player. Dr. D: Oh yes. Al: It's always a treat to watch him. Dr. D: Seen some good movies lately? Al: What have I seen lately? The last movie I saw was "Wayne's World". Dr. D: Oh, okay. Al: I'd say it didn't suck. [both laugh] Dr. D: Alright. Al: It's kinda like Bill and Ted's excellent UHF, in a way. Dr. D: [laughs] Okay. Referrng to an excellent movie you made a few years ago. Al: Yeah, thanks. What else have I seen? What other- some other comedy was it? "JFK" that was it! That was pretty funny. Dr. D: Have you though of making another movie. Would you like to do that sometime. Al: I would someday. I would like to get my recording career resuscitated and ya know, get back in gear with that, but at some point, sure. I'd love to do that. Dr. D: "Weird Al", there's one difference between this album and all the other fine albums that you've done. This is, if I see here by the small print, the first time that you have produced your own recordings. Al: Yeah, that's true. Dr. D: What was it like? I mean you've had Rick Derringer, and he's done great work for you, but what was it like taking over the controls yourself? Al: Well, it's something I've been gradually doing all this time. Rick has produced my first six albums, and over the years I've taken more prominent role in production and it got to the point- I mean, Rick and I don't have creative differences or ya know, anything like that. There wasn't any kind of falling out at all. Rick's a wonderful guy and I'd love to work with him again at some point, but it just got to the point where I felt I could capably produce myself. So, that's what I'm doing now. Dr. D: Do you have any ambition, maybe, to produce some other people? Al: Well, I've done Desi Arnez so far. So- [laughs] Dr. D: Oh yeah, that's right. "Babalu Music!" Al: We'll see if anybody else lines up. Dr. D: Okay. "Weird Al" Yankovic rapper and "I Can't Watch This." ["I Can't Watch This" is played] Dr. D: "Weird Al", the ultimate television critic. "I Can't Watch This" from the new album, "Off the Deep End." Ka-splash! on the Dr. Demento show. Al is my guest. I want to thank you- oh, I had one other question I want to ask you. Al: Okay. Dr. D: Do you think technology has gone too far? Al: Well, ya know everytime I start thinking we'd be better off if there were no technology, I think "that would mean we'd have no egg scramblers! No pocket fishermen! No Chia Pets! No Clappers! No...." Dr. D: No! No! Al: I- I- I can't live like that! Dr. D: NO! NO!!! Al: It's impossible! [they laugh] Dr. D: Of course. Well, thank goodness we have CDs and cassettes to bring us the music of "Weird Al" Yankovic even if we can't hear the new one on vinyl, at least not in the country. "Off the Deep End", go- go- go get it. Go to your nearest- Al: World's book [???] [both laugh] Dr. D: pool and pick it up. "Weird Al" Yankovic my guest on the Dr. Demento show. Don't forget to stay demented.