The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic
Greatest hits album by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Released	October 27, 2009
Recorded	1979–2006
Genre	Comedy, parody
Length	76:43 (Disc 1) 76:31 (Disc 2) 29:01 (Disc 3)
Label	Volcano Way Moby Legacy
Producer	Rick Derringer, "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology
Internet Leaks (2009) The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic (2009) Alpocalypse (2011)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Mojo	[2]
Paste	8.8/10 [3]
PopMatters	[4]
Under the Radar	[5]

The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is a two disc compilation album by the American parody musician "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]

Track listing

Disc 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Parody of	Length
1.	"Another One Rides the Bus" (from Another One Rides the Bus (EP), 1981; later included on "Weird Al" Yankovic , 1983)	John Deacon "Weird Al" Yankovic	"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen	2:40
2.	"Polkas on 45" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D , 1984)	Various writers: Lew Brown Wladimir Timm Jaromir Vejvoda Václav Zeman Mark Mothersbaugh Ritchie Blackmore Ian Gillan Roger Glover Jon Lord Ian Paice John Crawford Terri Nunn David Diamond John Lennon Paul McCartney Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek John Densmore Doug Ingle Billy Roberts David Byrne Chris Frantz Jerry Harrison Tina Weymouth Lou Gramm Mick Jones Bob Calame Frank Loesser Lawrence Welk Sting Topper Headon Mick Jones Paul Simonon Joe Strummer Mick Jagger Keith Richards Bill Wyman Pete Townshend Yankovic	A polka medley including: "Beer Barrel Polka" by Jaromir Vejvoda "Jocko Homo" by Devo "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple "Sex (I'm a ...)" by Berlin "Hey Jude" by The Beatles "L.A. Woman" by The Doors "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly "Hey Joe" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner "Bubbles in the Wine" by Bob Calame (1913–1967), Lawrence Welk's long-standing theme song "Every Breath You Take" by The Police "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones "My Generation" by The Who "Ear Booker Polka" by "Weird Al" Yankovic	4:23
3.	"Eat It" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)	Michael Jackson Yankovic	"Beat It" by Michael Jackson	3:21
4.	"I Lost on Jeopardy" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)	Greg Kihn Steve Wright Yankovic	"Jeopardy" by The Greg Kihn Band	3:26
5.	"Yoda" (from Dare to Be Stupid , 1985)	Ray Davies Yankovic	"Lola" by The Kinks	3:58
6.	"One More Minute" (from Dare to Be Stupid)	Yankovic	Style parody of Elvis Presley-like doo-wop	4:04
7.	"Like a Surgeon" (from Dare to Be Stupid)	Billy Steinberg Tom Kelly Yankovic	"Like a Virgin" by Madonna	3:32
8.	"Dare to Be Stupid" (from Dare to Be Stupid)	Yankovic	Style parody of Devo	3:25
9.	"Dog Eat Dog" (from Polka Party! , 1986)	Yankovic	Style parody of Talking Heads	3:42
10.	"Lasagna" (from Even Worse , 1988)	Traditional, arr. by Ritchie Valens, Yankovic	"La Bamba" by Los Lobos and Ritchie Valens	2:45
11.	"Melanie" (from Even Worse)	Yankovic	Original	3:58
12.	"Fat" (from Even Worse)	Jackson Yankovic	"Bad" by Michael Jackson	3:37
13.	"UHF" (Single version) (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff , 1989)	Yankovic	Original	3:49
14.	"The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" (from UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff)	Yankovic	Style parody of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot	6:50
15.	"Trigger Happy" (from Off the Deep End , 1992)	Yankovic	Style parody of The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean	3:46
16.	"Smells Like Nirvana" (from Off the Deep End)	Kurt Cobain Dave Grohl Krist Novoselic Yankovic	"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana	3:42
17.	"You Don't Love Me Anymore" (from Off the Deep End)	Yankovic	Original	4:01
18.	"Bedrock Anthem" (from Alapalooza , 1993)	Anthony Kiedis John Frusciante Flea Chad Smith Yankovic	"Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers	3:43
19.	"Frank's 2000" TV" (from Alapalooza)	Yankovic	Style parody of R.E.M.'s early work	4:07
20.	"Jurassic Park" (from Alapalooza)	Jimmy Webb Yankovic	"MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris	3:55

Disc 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Parody of	Length
1.	"Since You've Been Gone" (from Bad Hair Day , 1996)	Yankovic	Original a cappella song	1:23
2.	"Amish Paradise" (from Bad Hair Day)	Coolio Doug Rasheed Larry Sanders Stevie Wonder Yankovic	"Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.	3:21
3.	"Gump" (from Bad Hair Day)	Chris Ballew Yankovic	"Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America	2:12
4.	"Everything You Know Is Wrong" (from Bad Hair Day)	Yankovic	Style parody of They Might Be Giants	3:48
5.	"The Night Santa Went Crazy" (Extra gory version) (from "Amish Paradise" single, 1996; original version from Bad Hair Day)	Yankovic	Style Parody of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum	4:03
6.	"Your Horoscope for Today" (from Running with Scissors , 1999)	Yankovic	Style parody of Third Wave Ska	3:59
7.	"It's All About the Pentiums" (from Running with Scissors)	Sean Combs Stephen Jacobs Jason Phillips Danny Styles Christopher Wallace Kimberly Jones Deric Angelettie Yankovic	"It's All About the Benjamins (Rock remix)" by Puff Daddy	3:34
8.	"The Saga Begins" (from Running with Scissors)	Don McLean Yankovic	"American Pie" by Don McLean	5:28
9.	"Albuquerque" (from Running with Scissors)	Yankovic	Style parody of The Rugburns	11:21
10.	"eBay" (from Poodle Hat , 2003)	Andreas Carlsson Max Martin Yankovic	"I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys	3:37
11.	"Bob" (from Poodle Hat)	Yankovic	Style parody of Bob Dylan	2:29
12.	"Hardware Store" (from Poodle Hat)	Yankovic	Original	3:43
13.	"I'll Sue Ya" (from Straight Outta Lynwood , 2006)	Yankovic	Style parody of Rage Against the Machine	3:51
14.	"Canadian Idiot" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)	Billie Joe Armstrong Yankovic	"American Idiot" by Green Day	2:24
15.	"Pancreas" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)	Yankovic	Style parody of Brian Wilson	3:48
16.	"Don't Download This Song" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)	Yankovic	Style parody of 1980s charity songs	3:52
17.	"White & Nerdy" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)	Hakeem Seriki Juan and Oscar Salinas Anthony Henderson Yankovic	"Ridin'" by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone	2:52
18.	"Trapped in the Drive-Thru" (from Straight Outta Lynwood)	Robert Kelly Jimmy Page Robert Plant John Paul Jones Yankovic	Trapped in the Closet by R. Kelly; contains interpolation of "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin	10:51

Disc 3 (3.0 version only)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Parody of	Length
1.	"Ricky" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic)	Mike Chapman Nicky Chinn Yankovic	"Mickey" by Toni Basil	2:37
2.	"Midnight Star" (from "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D)	Yankovic	Original	4:35
3.	"Living with a Hernia" (from Polka Party!)	Dan Hartman Charlie Midnight Yankovic	"Living in America" by James Brown	3:20
4.	"Good Old Days" (from Even Worse)	Yankovic	Style parody of James Taylor	3:20
5.	"Wanna B Ur Lovr" (from Poodle Hat)	Yankovic	Style parody of Beck	6:14
6.	"Genius in France" (from Poodle Hat)	Yankovic	Style parody of Frank Zappa	8:58

Charts

Chart performance for The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [7]	45

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 (November 5, 2009). ""Weird Al" Yankovic: The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
4. ""Weird Al" Yankovic: The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic, PopMatters". January 6, 2010.
5. "The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic".
6. "The Essential Me". "Weird Al" Yankovic. September 2, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
7. "Weird+Al"+Yankovic&titel=The+Essential&cat=a "Australiancharts.com – "Weird Al" Yankovic – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2025.