Last June, word came out that this year would see the release of a box set containing all of "Weird Al" Yankovic's studio albums. Over six months have gone by with not much more being revealed, but a few more details have just been announced today.
The appropriately-titled Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic will be released on November 24. Produced by Legacy Recordings, it will be available via PledgeMusic. CD, vinyl and digital versions will be released. Both physical versions will be housed in a replica of Al's own accordion. The set will contain all 14 of Yankovic's studio albums from 1983's "Weird Al" Yankovic to 2014's Mandatory Fun. A 15th disc, entitled Medium Rarities will contain "non-album tracks from across [Yankovic's] remarkable career" and is being put together by Al himself.
Some of the new details to emerge reveal that all of the albums have been remastered by Grammy Award winner Mark Wilder and approved by Yankovic. Six of the albums (from 1992's Off The Deep End to 2006's Straight Outta Lynwood) will be making their vinyl debut in the box. A 100-page book will also be included, featuring "a trove of rare and unseen photos and memorabilia." The tracklisting for the bonus disc has not been revealed, and according to a post from a couple of weeks ago on the Steve Hoffman Forum by Bermuda Schwartz, a longtime member of Al's band who is also working on the box, the exact contents were still being finalized. However, PledgeMusic promises "demos and rarities."
In a career stretching for nearly 40 years, Yankovic has become the preeminent musical comedian/song parodist in the world. He has parodied dozens of the biggest acts in the industry and his career has lasted much longer than some of his comedic targets. He is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and his last album, Mandatory Fun, actually topped the Billboard charts, the first comedy album in over 50 years to reach the peak. Yankovic also remained busy in 2016 as he wrapped up a 2-year tour in support of Fun and completed a gig as the co-host for the fifth season of IFC's Comedy Bang Bang. He currently voices the lead character in DisneyXD's cartoon Milo Murphy's Law.
The Squeeze Box is available for preorder here on PledgeMusic. Once you join the site and pre-order the set, you will receive an AccessPass, which will give you "exclusive artist updates, bonus content, and more." There are also several bundles with extra content (T-shirts, art prints) you may purchase. It is unknown at this time if the box will become available through any other outlet, but it is not expected to reach general retail.
When the full tracklisting for the box is revealed or any more details emerge, we will of course keep you updated.
"Weird Al" Yankovic, Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic (Legacy Recordings, 2017)
Albums included:
- "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983)
- "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D (1984)
- Dare To Be Stupid (1985)
- Polka Party! (1986)
- Even Worse (1988)
- UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989)
- Off The Deep End (1992)
- Alapalooza (1993)
- Bad Hair Day (1996)
- Running with Scissors (1999)
- Poodle Hat (2003)
- Straight Outta Lynwood (2006)
- Alpocalypse (2011)
- Mandatory Fun (2014)
- Medium Rarities (Bonus Disc)
The Weekend Stream: May 17, 2025
The Weekend Stream: July 20, 2024
Release Round-Up: Week of February 3
The Weekend Stream: November 5, 2022
"Some of the new details to emerge reveal that all of the albums have been remastered by Grammy Award winner Mark Wilder and approved by Yankovic."
Excellent news! Though I wonder if Wilder will be allowed to give a dynamic mastering, or if the set will be peak-limited by artist request, sort of like the Isley Brothers box.
I hope both sides of the Capitol single are released this time, along with his Billy Joel demo "It's Still Billy Joel To Me". That one may be my most favorite pre-fame demo, not the least because it's in STEREO!
As a big Billy fan, I resented Al for years over that song.
I got over it, and I think Al's pretty hilarious (though I admit I haven't heard anything new of his for years). But I still hate that song.
Much as I would like this set... when the CHEAPEST version of it rings in at $200 with "all sales final"... it's well beyond anything my budget can handle. I could easily live without the custom box AND the book if it meant a substantial price drop.