Off the Deep End

Off the Deep End
Studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic
Released	April 14, 1992
Recorded	June, December 1990, January 1992
Genre	Comedy rock
Length	41:36 with the song "Bite Me"
Label	Scotti Brothers Records (original issue) Volcano Records (reissue)
Producer	"Weird Al" Yankovic
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
"Weird Al" Yankovic chronology
UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989) Off the Deep End (1992) The Best of Yankovic (1992)
Singles from Off the Deep End
"Smells Like Nirvana" Released: April 1992 "You Don't Love Me Anymore" Released: June 1992 "Taco Grande" Released: August 1992 "The White Stuff" Released: Unreleased "I Can't Watch This" Released: Unreleased

Off the Deep End is the seventh album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This is also Al's first self-produced album, after six albums with Rick Derringer. The lead-off song, "Smells Like Nirvana," is a parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The album cover also parodies the cover of Nirvana's album Nevermind, which depicts an infant in the deep end of a pool chasing after a dollar bill on a hook and line. The Off the Deep End cover shows Yankovic in the baby's place apparently chasing after a donut on a string. The CD, liner notes, and artwork continue the parody of Nirvana's album, borrowing the same blue, wave-light graphics from the printed surface of Nevermind. As well, some pressings of the album contain a hidden track called "Bite Me", referencing the hidden track at the end of Nevermind "Endless, Nameless".

"You Don't Love Me Anymore" is misprinted on the cassette as "Don't You Love Me Anymore."

Recording and release

After Yankovic's 1989 movie, UHF, Yankovic returned to the studio to record his new album. On June 6, recording officially began, with "Airline Amy". After the five originals ("Airline Amy," "Trigger Happy", "When I Was Your Age", "You Don't Love Me Anymore", and "Waffle King"^[1]) were done Yankovic switched to the parodies. At the time, only three parodies had been envisioned ("The White Stuff", "I Can't Watch This", and "The Plumbing Song"^[1]). After waiting for about a year for the "next big thing" to come out, Yankovic went on a slight hiatus in order to find the right lead-off parody/single. The album sat in a completely unfinished state for almost one year. In late 1991, Yankovic asked permission to record a parody of "Black or White" by Michael Jackson, but was turned down (See below). Finally by early 1992, Nirvana's Nevermind was making waves in the rock and pop scene. As the popularity of 80's pop gave way to alternative rock, Yankovic decided it was time to record a parody of the Seattle-based band's huge hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It was during this time that "I was Only Kidding" was recorded. Originally, "Waffle King" was supposed to appear on Off the Deep End. However, by the time the recording of the parodies for this album began, Al had written all the original songs that were to appear on his next album, which eventually was released as Alapalooza. Because he was concerned that one of the jokes from the song "I was Only Kidding" might be dated by the time his next album would finally be released (a line that references the movie Wayne's World: "I really love you-- NOT!"), he included "I Was Only Kidding" on Off the Deep End in place of "Waffle King". "Waffle King" was instead used as the b-side of the Smells Like Nirvana single ^[2] and would later resurface on Alapalooza. Off the Deep End was released April 1992, and up to that point, became Yankovic's best selling album. The albums lead-off single, "Smells Like Nirvana" was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at number 35. It also charted on Hot 100 Singles Sales (at number 12) and the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (at number 35). Both the album and hit single helped to reenergize Yankovic's career.

Refused parodies

Yankovic had two parody ideas that were refused. They include:

• A parody of Michael Jackson's hit "Black or White" entitled "Snack All Night." Although Jackson was a big supporter of Yankovic's work, he felt that a parody might damage the song's true message.^[3] Jackson told Yankovic that he could, if he wanted to, parody another song off his then recently released album, but just not "Black or White".^[3] Yankovic later settled on a Nirvana parody. Yankovic, has, however, performed the song live in concert.

• A parody of Paul McCartney's 70's hit "Live and Let Die" (as covered by Guns N' Roses) entitled "Chicken Pot Pie." Paul McCartney, another supporter of Yankovic's work, earnestly wanted Yankovic to do a parody of one of his songs, but when asked about a parody of "Live and Let Die", he begrudgingly refused, due to the fact that, as a vegetarian, he couldn't condone the eating of animal flesh. Yankovic, a fellow vegetarian, has stated that he respects McCartney's decision.^[4]

Track listing

Outtakes

Personnel

• "Weird" Al Yankovic - accordion, keyboards, vocals, background vocals
• Brad Buxer - synthesizer
• Alisa Curran - background vocals
• Jim Haas - background vocals
• Steve Jay - bass, background vocals
• Tommy Johnson - tuba
• Jon Joyce - background vocals
• Warren Luening - trumpet
• Cheech Marin - vocals on "Taco Grande"
• Gene Morford - background vocals
• Peggy Newman - background vocals
• Joel Peskin - clarinet
• Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz - percussion, drums
• Carmen Twillie - background vocals
• Julia Waters - background vocals
• Luther Waters - background vocals
• Maxine Waters - background vocals
• Oren Waters - background vocals
• Jim West - banjo, guitar, background vocals
• Jerry Whitman - background vocals

Production

• Producer: "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Engineer: Tony Papa
• Arranger: "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Overdubs: Marlene Aragon, Edith Fore, Neil Ross, Beau Weaver

Charts

Album

References