UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
Encyclopedia
UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989) is the sixth studio album
by "Weird Al" Yankovic
. The album
featured many music cuts from the film
as well as some of the commercials ("Spatula City") and other parody bits ("Gandhi II"). The album also featured new original material such as "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota", which brought the running order up to album length. Skits written by Jay Levey, such as "Conan the Librarian" and "Plots R Us" are omitted, as is the original score by John Du Prez
. It would be the last Weird Al album to be released as a vinyl record until 2011's Alpocalypse
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
. The album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
featured many music cuts from the film
UHF (film)
UHF is a 1989 American comedy film starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva, in whose memory the film is dedicated.The title refers to Ultra High Frequency...
as well as some of the commercials ("Spatula City") and other parody bits ("Gandhi II"). The album also featured new original material such as "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota", which brought the running order up to album length. Skits written by Jay Levey, such as "Conan the Librarian" and "Plots R Us" are omitted, as is the original score by John Du Prez
John Du Prez
John Du Prez is a musician, conductor, and composer. Du Prez was a member of the 1980s multi-hit Salsa-driven pop band Modern Romance and has since written several Film scores including Oxford Blues and the final Carry On film, Carry On Columbus...
. It would be the last Weird Al album to be released as a vinyl record until 2011's Alpocalypse
Alpocalypse
Alpocalypse is the thirteenth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 21, 2011. It is his first studio release in almost five years, following the release of Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006. It is also his first studio album since 1989's UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and...
.
Notable refused parodies
Yankovic had one parody idea that was refused:- A parody of PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's hit "Let's Go CrazyLet's Go Crazy"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album, Purple Rain. It was the opening track on both the album, and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" is one of Prince's most popular songs, and is almost always a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other...
" entitled "Beverly Hillbillies". Yankovic revealed in the DVD commentary for "UHF" that the concept "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*" was originally a parody of a Prince song. Prince, however, refused, and has been unreceptive to any parody ideas Yankovic has ever presented him with.
Track listing
| Track | Title | Length | (Style) Parody of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*" | 3:11 | "Money for Nothing Money for Nothing (song) "Money for Nothing" is a single by British rock band Dire Straits, taken from their 1985 album Brothers in Arms. It was one of Dire Straits' most successful singles, peaking at number one for three weeks in the United States, and it also reached number one for three weeks on the U.S. Mainstream... " by Dire Straits Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest... |
The song features the slightly altered lyrics of the theme song from the television series The Beverly Hillbillies The Beverly Hillbillies The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr.... which are set to the tune of "Money for Nothing". The song actually appears in its entirety in the film as a computer-animated music video/dream sequence. Mark Knopfler Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977... himself played guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... on the track, the price for allowing Al to make his parody. |
| 2 | "Gandhi II" | 1:00 | Original | A commercial for the action television film with Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement... as the protagonist; references the film Gandhi Gandhi (film) Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both... . Gandhi was played by director Jay Levey. |
| 3 | "Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from a Planet near Mars" | 3:28 | Original | A rock song about a number of mutated hamsters terrorizing the planet. |
| 4 | "Isle Thing Isle Thing "Isle Thing" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Wild Thing" by Tone Lōc.-Track listing:The following tracks are on the promo single:# "Isle Thing" – 3:38# "The Hot Rocks Polka" – 4:51-Lyrics:... " |
3:37 | "Wild Thing Wild Thing (Tone Lōc song) "Wild Thing" is the name of rapper Tone Lōc's 1988 single from the album Lōc-ed After Dark. The title is a reference to the phrase "doin' the wild thing," a euphemism for sex, unlike The Troggs' hit song, "Wild Thing", in which the "wild thing" was a girl.Tone Lōc's song peaked at number two on... " by Tone Lōc Tone Lōc Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:... |
About a girl who introduces the singer to the television show Gilligan's Island Gilligan's Island Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for... . This is also Weird Al's first rap parody, "Twister" being a style parody. Another Tone Lōc Tone Lōc Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:... hit, "Funky Cold Medina Funky Cold Medina "Funky Cold Medina" is a hip hop song written by Young MC, Michael L. Ross and Matt Dike, and first performed by Tone Lōc. It was the second single from Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark . The single was released on March 18, 1989, and rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month... ", is referred to in the lyrics: "Ginger and Mary Ann coulda used some funky cold medina". |
| 5 | "The Hot Rocks Polka" | 4:50 | Polka Medley | A polka medley including the following songs:
All of these songs are by The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up... , arranged with some new music by Weird Al. The name of the song refers to Hot Rocks, a best of album of the Stones. |
| 6 | "UHF UHF (song) "UHF" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic in the key of E major and based on several different riffs. It is the theme song from the film UHF. It is a style parody of themes that are played to advertise television stations... " |
5:09 | Style parody of "State of Shock" by The Jacksons The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana... |
With lyrics written in the style of a TV station's large promotional campaign; title theme to the movie. |
| 7 | "Let Me Be Your Hog" | 0:16 | Original | Rock snippet, heard in the movie as Uncle Harvey lounges in his pool. Contains obvious elements of "I Wanna Be Your Dog I Wanna Be Your Dog "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is a 1969 song by the American rock band The Stooges. The song is featured on their self-titled debut album. Its memorable riff, composed of only three chords , is played continuously throughout the song... " by The Stooges The Stooges The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003... . |
| 8 | "She Drives Like Crazy" | 3:42 | "She Drives Me Crazy She Drives Me Crazy "She Drives Me Crazy" is a song recorded by the Fine Young Cannibals, included on their 1989 album The Raw and the Cooked. The song peaked at #5 as a single in the band's native UK in January 1989 before hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US on 15 April 1989... " by Fine Young Cannibals Fine Young Cannibals Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift... |
About a man's girlfriend with terrible driving habits. |
| 9 | "Generic Blues" | 4:34 | Style parody of Chicago blues Chicago blues The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,... |
A blues-style song with deliberately cliched lyrics, and the refrain, "Maybe I'll blow my brains out mama, or maybe I'll just go bowling instead". According to Yankovic in the liner notes of Permanent Record: Al in the Box Permanent Record: Al in the Box Permanent Record: Al in the Box is a four disc compilation boxed set of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It features his favorite songs from his first eight studio albums, plus alternate versions of "My Bologna", "Happy Birthday", "UHF", and the previously unavailable new single, "Headline News"... collection, B.B. King has mentioned this song as one of his ten favorite blues songs of all time. |
| 10 | "Spatula City" | 1:07 | Original | Commercial for a spatula Spatula The term spatula is used to refer to various small implements with a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift materials including foods, drugs, plaster and paints... outlet store. In the scene, Eldon G. Hallum plays the father, Sherry Engstrom plays the wife, and Sara Allen plays the neighbor. |
| 11 | "Fun Zone" | 1:45 | Instrumental | Theme to Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse, the main show-within-a-show in the film. Originally written for failed Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture... replacement Welcome to the Fun Zone, this song is played at the beginning of every Weird Al concert. |
| 12 | "Spam" | 3:12 | "Stand" by R.E.M. R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's... |
About the canned luncheon meat Spam Spam (food) Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation, first introduced in 1937. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite as a preservative... |
| 13 | "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" by "Weird Al" Yankovic is a lengthy folk-type song about a family road trip to a tourist location in Minnesota. The song was meant by Yankovic as a style parody of the storytelling songs of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot,, and the structure and chord... " |
6:50 | Style parody of "30,000 Pounds of Bananas 30,000 Pounds of Bananas "30,000 Pounds of Bananas", sometimes spelled "Thirty-Thousand Pounds of Bananas", is a song by Harry Chapin from his 1974 album, Verities & Balderdash. The song became more popular in its live extended recording from Chapin's 1976 concert album, Greatest Stories Live that started the phrase... " by Harry Chapin Harry Chapin Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the... |
Lengthy folk-type song about a family road trip to a tourist location in Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... . |
Personnel
- "Weird Al" Yankovic – accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals, backing vocals - Kim Bullard – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Rick DerringerRick DerringerRick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - Steve JaySteve JayEugene Stephen "Steve" Jay is a bass guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic.Jay was born in Florida. He auditioned for Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Jimmy Z. – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
- Mark KnopflerMark KnopflerMark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
– guitar (only on "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*") - Guy FletcherGuy FletcherGuy Wilson Fletcher is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known for his position as the keyboardist in the British rock band Dire Straits from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his involvement in nearly every part of Mark Knopfler's solo work to date.-Biography:Fletcher was born into a...
– synthesizer (only on "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*") - Warren Luening – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Jim Rose – vocals, announcerAnnouncerAn announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
- Jon "Bermuda" SchwartzJon Schwartz (drummer)Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met while recording "Another One Rides the Bus" at the Dr. Demento show on September 14, 1980...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Donny Sierer – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
- The Step Sisters – vocals
- The Waters Sisters – vocals, backing vocals
- Jim WestJim West (guitarist)James "Jim" "Kimo" West is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. West auditioned for Yankovic, after being introduced by Steve Jay, and the two have worked together ever since...
– banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, guitar (except on "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*"), backing vocals, background music
Production
- Producer: Rick Derringer
- Engineers: Daryll Dobson, Tony Papa
- Assistant engineer: Jamey Dell, Bill Malina
- Arranger: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 146 |
