I recently heard this song on one of those download music sites. It sounds live, and it is actually quite good (funny). But I own all of Weird Al's albums (sans UHF) and there aren't any live tracks on any of them, least of all this one.
Oh, and it definitely sounds dated. Like, it sounds very 1982-ish due to the references Al uses in the song.
Snowmaker
03-16-05, 03:43 PM
Never heard of it, and I have most of his CDs and have seen him twice.
You sure its Al? I've seen a lot of parody songs listed as his that really weren't. Maybe Bob Rivers?
GoVegan
03-16-05, 04:48 PM
Never heard of it, and I have most of his CDs and have seen him twice.
You sure its Al? I've seen a lot of parody songs listed as his that really weren't. Maybe Bob Rivers?
No, it's him. I think it was released on an old Dr. Demento LP.
Buttmunker
03-16-05, 04:54 PM
Yeah, its definitely him. I'd know his voice anywhere. And I know its vintage because it has his accordian, which he used almost exclusively in the old days.
Lokimok
03-16-05, 09:00 PM
I don't think it was ever released. I vaguely remember an old interview where he mentioned that Billy Joel wasn't happy & he felt kind of bad about it. & we all know that Al always asks permission. It was years before he was able to put "Yoda" on a record.
I saw Al live in '85 & a definite highlight was his Fabulous Food Medley which included classics like My Bologna along with unreleased songs like Whole Lotta Lunch (Zeppelin), Don't You Forget About Meat (Simple Minds?), Avocado (Eagles), & probably others I've forgotten.
Michael Corvin
03-16-05, 10:35 PM
I've heard it once. Like others said, I don't think it was ever released.
What about B-sides? Those are usually easy to forget. Did Al ever have actual "singles?"
Tscott
03-16-05, 11:12 PM
I saw Al live in '85 & a definite highlight was his Fabulous Food Medley which included classics like My Bologna along with unreleased songs like Whole Lotta Lunch (Zeppelin), Don't You Forget About Meat (Simple Minds?), Avocado (Eagles), & probably others I've forgotten."It's Moldy Now" to the tune of "Hold Me Now" by Thompson Twins is the one I most remember when I saw him live back then. "I had a pizza" was the first line, instead of "I had a picture". Here's a link to the full lyrics (http://www.lyrical.nl/song/2554)
Adam Tyner
03-16-05, 11:22 PM
No, it's him. I think it was released on an old Dr. Demento LP.Yup. Volume 5 of "Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes". As far as I know, that's the only official release it's gotten.
JP5683
03-17-05, 02:40 AM
Every volume of the Basement Tapes has one Weird Al rarity. I have Volume 6, I was only in the Demento Society for one year. It has the original version of Yoda.
There are many unreleased Al songs.
Some just don't fit on the albums, others he doesn't get clearance to officially release but can perform in concert.
I remember seeing him live in 2000 and he did two songs that have never been released. "Laundry Day" using "Come Out and Play" by the Offspring (gotta keep 'em separated!), and "Free Delivery" using "My Heart Will Go On" (near, far, I'll jump in my car, something something, the toppings will go on!)
EDIT: Anyone know where to get copies of the other basement tapes? Or how many there are? I think I got #6 in 1999, but I could be wrong.
GoVegan
03-17-05, 09:47 AM
EDIT: Anyone know where to get copies of the other basement tapes? Or how many there are? I think I got #6 in 1999, but I could be wrong.
Back when Sharingthegroove still existed, someone put up a torrent of every unreleased Al song. It was 5 CDs, but I didn't see it until CDs 1-2 were already dead and I've never seen it since. I'm sure you could find someone out there who has the whole collection, though.
Mazje
03-17-05, 09:53 AM
I'd love to get my hands on some copies of unreleased Al stuff. So if anyone has any, drop me an email at darthlurker@hotmail.com. Thanks.
UAIOE
03-17-05, 02:17 PM
I remember seeing him live in 2000 and he did two songs that have never been released. "Laundry Day" using "Come Out and Play" by the Offspring (gotta keep 'em separated!), and "Free Delivery" using "My Heart Will Go On" (near, far, I'll jump in my car, something something, the toppings will go on!)
Al did "Free Delivery" at the concert i went to last year. :D
Buttmunker
03-17-05, 02:19 PM
Billy Joel is a big stiff for not giving Al permission to use her songs - I realize that not one Billy Joel song was ever used in Al's 20+ years.
Draven
03-17-05, 02:32 PM
Billy Joel is a big stiff for not giving Al permission to use her songs - I realize that not one Billy Joel song was ever used in Al's 20+ years.
Not true. The Spiderman song on his latest album is to the tune of "Piano Man."
Snowmaker
03-17-05, 02:38 PM
I saw Al live in '85 & a definite highlight was his Fabulous Food Medley which included classics like My Bologna along with unreleased songs like Whole Lotta Lunch (Zeppelin), Don't You Forget About Meat (Simple Minds?), Avocado (Eagles), & probably others I've forgotten.
He always seems to have a food medley. When I saw him on the Off the Deep End tour, he included Chicken Pot Pie (Paul McCartney or G 'n R).
Numanoid
03-17-05, 05:14 PM
Billy Joel is a big stiff for not giving Al permission to use her songsI think it's an unfortunate side effect of the sex change.
Buttmunker
03-17-05, 05:19 PM
Not true. The Spiderman song on his latest album is to the tune of "Piano Man."
I forgot about that one. I guess Ms Joel okay'ed it because it wasn't derogatory towards Joel himself or his music.
Such strange clause-considerations.
kvrdave
03-17-05, 06:26 PM
I thought parody was something you didn't need permission to use. Do you mean that permission wasn't given and Al chooses to go along with the wishes of the artists?
Triple S
03-17-05, 07:33 PM
With the exception of Coolio, yes.
Michael Corvin
03-17-05, 09:51 PM
I thought parody was something you didn't need permission to use. Do you mean that permission wasn't given and Al chooses to go along with the wishes of the artists?
Correct. He asks permission to release them. If the artist says no, he moves on.
Dr. DVD
03-17-05, 10:16 PM
Coolio was a case where Al's reps told him to move ahead when he in fact didn't give permission. Al really did regret it and apologized to Coolio.
Interesting note: apparently when he did his spoof of "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits', Mark Knopfler only granted permission if he himself could play guitar on it. Also, the title for "Like a Surgeon" was first developed by Madonna.
I think that's kind of neat; the artists are like "well if you're going to make fun of me, do it the right way."
Buttmunker
03-18-05, 03:15 PM
Coolio was a case where Al's reps told him to move ahead when he in fact didn't give permission.
In the case of Amish Paradise, Coolio didn't, in fact, own the rights to the song. While Coolio didn't want it used for parody, he had no control since the owners of the song (whoever they are - the record label, I guess it was) granted Yankovic permission. I guess the record company saw $$$ instead of artistic integrity.
UAIOE
03-18-05, 03:37 PM
I think that's kind of neat; the artists are like "well if you're going to make fun of me, do it the right way."
And i give artists that much more respect if they can joke around and don't mind someone else poking fun at them
Unlike Eminem.
Adam Tyner
03-18-05, 04:20 PM
In the case of Amish Paradise, Coolio didn't, in fact, own the rights to the song. While Coolio didn't want it used for parody, he had no control since the owners of the song (whoever they are - the record label, I guess it was) granted Yankovic permission. I guess the record company saw $$$ instead of artistic integrity.Dr. DVD's description is what I've always heard -- someone at Al's label assured him that Coolio gave him the thumbs-up, which never happened. Coolio was incensed because he thought the song delivered an important message and shouldn't be parodied in that way. I don't think there was ever any doubt that Stevie Wonder was behind the music -- Al's pretty savvy about that sort of thing.
Buttmunker
03-18-05, 04:48 PM
Eminem was cool. He did, after all, allow Al to use Lose Yourself (the song) but just forbid him to make a video. What difference it would have made, I have no idea.
JP5683
03-19-05, 03:29 AM
Isn't Gangsta's Paradise based on a Stevie Wonder song? I'm too lazy to look it up. Maybe Stevie approved it. He doesn't have a problem with parodies it seems, if I remember.
Michael Corvin
03-19-05, 10:10 AM
:hscratch: Have you not been reading the thread?
UAIOE
03-19-05, 02:55 PM
Eminem was cool. He did, after all, allow Al to use Lose Yourself (the song) but just forbid him to make a video. What difference it would have made, I have no idea.
Fobidding the video and his attitude towards certains insulting dog puppets makes me wonder if Eminem can really take a joke or not.
I just don't see how it was ok for Al to do the song, but not the video. If a song means that much to you i mean, really...you can say "NO". (assuming you have the power to say no)
JP5683
03-19-05, 10:31 PM
OK. the song was Pasttime Paradise. Maybe Al's reps asked Stevie and he ok'ed it, but they neglected to ask Coolio.
I remember Coolio said he said it was making light of a serious song and that's why he didn't approve.
I meant that Stevie shouldn't have a problem with parodies. Remember that 'commercial' that was on SNL?
Adam Tyner
03-20-05, 12:29 AM
OK. the song was Pasttime Paradise. Maybe Al's reps asked Stevie and he ok'ed it, but they neglected to ask Coolio.If you'd take a minute and read the entire thread, you'd have the answers to all of your questions.
shaun3000
03-20-05, 01:01 AM
Wait, other people say stuff on this thing? :hscratch:
JP5683
03-27-05, 03:22 AM
Ok. I'm not stupid you know. Obviously Coolio wasn't asked directly. Or Al would have gotten his answer. That's all I'm trying to say. Maybe the people who Al gets to ask permission didn't think it necessary to ask him because the song was heavily sampling an old song. Therefore, they should ask the artist of the 'original' song.
Ok. 'nuff about that.
Not really exactly on topic, but click HERE (http://jp5683.tripod.com/music/yoda.mp3) for the MP3 of the 'original' version of Yoda.
This is from my copy of Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes #6. It's on my Tripod space, dunno how many hits it can take.
Adam Tyner
03-27-05, 09:21 AM
Ok. I'm not stupid you know. Obviously Coolio wasn't asked directly. Or Al would have gotten his answer. That's all I'm trying to say. Maybe the people who Al gets to ask permission didn't think it necessary to ask him because the song was heavily sampling an old song.Yeah, but it's already established that that's not the case. Al was told Coolio gave the idea the thumbs-up. Coolio didn't. That's the problem.
harpo787
03-28-05, 02:13 AM
I think I remember hearing about his "Smells Like Teen Spirit" cover...asking Cobain about it, and Cobain saying something about "just don't make it about food." Maybe it's something my brain made up on me....I dunno.
Buttmunker
03-28-05, 05:45 AM
Yeah, but it's already established that that's not the case. Al was told Coolio gave the idea the thumbs-up. Coolio didn't. That's the problem.
I wrote about this earlier in this thread. Al's publishists asked the owners of Gangstas Paradise, not the artist. Coolio, or Stevie Wonder for that matter, do not own the rights to either song (Gangstas or Pasttime Paradise).
Same equalvalent if Al wanted to do a Beatles song - whether or not Paul McCartney wanted it to happen or not is irrevelant because Paul doesn't own the rights to those songs.
Heat
03-28-05, 09:20 PM
Gee, I wonder why Billy Joel didn't care for it?
What's the matter with the songs he's singing can't you tell that they're pretty lame
After listening to a double album well they all start to sound the same
Always trying to change his musical style
He's drops all the ballads in the circular file
...
Decker
03-29-05, 02:06 AM
Gee, I wonder why Billy Joel didn't care for it?
I think it's time for a sequel:
He hasn't written a song in a dozen years
Wraps his car 'round a tree when he drinks too many beers
Adam Tyner
03-29-05, 06:33 PM
I wrote about this earlier in this thread. Al's publishists asked the owners of Gangstas Paradise, not the artist. Coolio, or Stevie Wonder for that matter, do not own the rights to either song (Gangstas or Pasttime Paradise).Can you post a source? I'm not trying to be obnoxious, but every article I've read about this for close to a decade has said there was a miscommunication and that Al thought Coolio had given his blessing.
One of many, many examples:
drDrew.com: Does Coolio still have a beef with you over ``Amish Paradise''?
WAY: The whole thing with Coolio was based on miscommunication. It was my people talking to his people, and somewhere, things got all screwed up. He was pretty upset about ``Amish Paradise.'' I was under the impression he had given his permission and he was fine with it. After the album was out somebody asked him how he felt about it and he said, ``I didn't sanction that and feel like he desecrated my work.'' So I wrote him a very sincere letter of apology.
I doubt the ownership of the song plays nearly as much of a role in his asking for permission as your post seems to indicate too. Al's asking permission is more of a courtesy than an obligation.
Buy: