by Kathy O’Connell, Host of Kids Corner, XPN

In 1982, “Weird” Al Yankovic’s major claim to fame lay in his appearances on Dr. Demento’s nationally-syndicated radio program, where “My Bologna” (based on The Knack’s “My Sharona”) and “Another Ones Rides the Bus” (Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”) were huge hits. My friends from New York’s WBAI radio and I knew about “Weird” Al because we played his records, but we were very small fish in the even smaller pond of radio shows featuring comedy and novelty music. The big fish in that pond was and is, of course, Dr. Demento. Learn all about the Doctor (born Barret Hansen) at www.drdemento.com.

In 1982, Dr. Demento brought his live stage show to New York City’s Bottom Line, a now-vanished venue full of memories for music lovers. Dr. D’s live stage show was built around Dr. Demento sitting at a table with piles of records. He played records and told stories about the artists. Not the most spectacular of visual entertainment, but for a novelty music fan, this was Woodstock.

Dr. Demento’s show at the Bottom Line opened with Benny Bell, an elderly gentleman whose “demented” hit was “Shaving Cream.” A couple of sample stanzas:

I have a sad story to tell you.
It may hurt your feelings a bit.
Last night when I walked into my bathroom,
I stepped in a big pile of …

Chorus:
Shaving cream, be nice and clean.
Shave everyday and you’ll always look keen.

I think I’ll break off with my girlfriend.
Her antics are queer I’ll admit.
Each time I say, “Darling, I love you,”
She tells me that I’m full of …

(chorus)

It has been said that there are infinite verses to “Shaving Cream.” As Benny Bell droned on and on that night, it only seemed like infinity. Finally he stopped, and “Weird” Al came out with his band.

That night I learned what Spike Jones taught earlier generations — that it takes real musical ability to play goofy stuff. “Weird” Al and his band were as tight as any rock and roll band. And Al somehow transformed the accordion into a real rock instrument. He opened with a song I have never heard since that performance — “It’s Still Billy Joel to Me,” a spoof on the poet laureate of Long Island. He performed songs we knew by heart, including “Oh Ricky,” “My Bologna,” and “Yoda.” And he proved that a comedy performer could rock out like Elvis Costello.

I still have an image of Dr. Demento sitting at the table, playing records and mesmerizing the audience with stories. He was great. But the most memorable musical moment of that show at the Bottom Line for this Long Island girl was “Weird” Al Yankovic and a song he still hasn’t released on an album: “It’s Still Billy Joel to Me.”

“Weird” Al’s first national TV appearance, on Tom Snyder’s “Tomorrow” show: