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Download or read book The Weird Accordion to Al written by Nathan Rabin and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-27 with total page 502 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Author: Nathan Rabin
Publisher:
Published: 2020-01-11
Total Pages: 388
ISBN-13: 9781658788472
DOWNLOAD EBOOKFrom veteran pop culture scribe Nathan Rabin, former head writer of the A.V Club and the man who wrote the book on, and with, "Weird Al" Yankovic in the 2012 coffee table book Weird Al: The Book (Nathan Rabin with Al Yankovic) comes The Weird Accordion to Al, an even more essential guide to an American original's life and work. Adapted from the column on its author's website, Nathan Rabin's Happy Place, with 52 hilarious, sometimes obscure and often oddly beautiful new original illustrations from Felipe Sobreiro and an introduction from Al himself, The Weird Accordion to Al explores every track on all sixteen of Al's records (14 studio albums, the Medium Rarities obscurities collection and Peter & the Wolf, his collaboration with Wendy Carlos) with an obsessiveness thats downright peculiar. Equal parts music criticism, cultural and comedy history, autobiography and comic meditation on nostalgia, television, consumerism, childhood, technology and food, The Weird Accordion to Al does justice to a musical legend and comic genius the extent of whose remarkable achievements are only now being fully understood and appreciated. Praise for The Weird Accordion to Al "A brilliant, heartfelt cry of obsession and love for an already beloved and obsessed-over artist. Share Nathan's madness and be freed!"--Patton Oswalt "This book is pop culture history, music dissertation, and comedic theory. Nathan has exemplified the qualities that make Weird Al an artist who is equal parts Frank Zappa, Mel Brooks, and Mark Twain."--Jonah Ray "You don't have to be a fan of Weird Al to enjoy Rabin's raucous deep-dive into the complete discography. But if you're not a Weird Al fan there's clearly something wrong with you"--Alex Winter "Wonderfully captures the quirks and fun details that have made the Yank-oeuvre ooze with oddness for almost four decades. Nathan really shows you what makes Al's mind tick. Spoiler: It's the neurons. A must read for anyone unemployed, childless, or with ninety spare hours to kill."--Scott Aukerman "The Weird Accordion to Al is the definitive companion to the "Weird Al" catalogue. It's chock full of fascinating insights that left my head spinning like a Frankie Yankovic record (no relation). Nobody covers the Al canon in better depth than Nathan Rabin. It's a must-read for the weirdos in your life. I learned so much from this VERY SPECIFIC book."--Thomas Lennon "Nathan Rabin is obsessive in the best sense of the word. He literally ALREADY wrote the book on Weird Al that Weird Al asked him to write. That wasn't enough for Nathan and that's why we are lucky to have this book. Al's contributions to pop culture deserve the kind of obsession that only Nathan Rabin can bring to the page and he brings it big time in this book. He dares to be very smart about "Dare To Be Stupid.'"--Jake Fogelnest "There is no keener observer of pop culture than Nathan Rabin. His wit, unassuming charm and amazing talent for empathy make him one of the most pleasurable authors to read in a field that far too often devolves into navel-gazing self reference. I will never die, but if I do, I hope Nathan Rabin writes the book about me."--Justin McElroy
Download or read book The Weird Accordion to Al written by Nathan Rabin and published by . This book was released on 2020-01-11 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From veteran pop culture scribe Nathan Rabin, former head writer of the A.V Club and the man who wrote the book on, and with, "Weird Al" Yankovic in the 2012 coffee table book Weird Al: The Book (Nathan Rabin with Al Yankovic) comes The Weird Accordion to Al, an even more essential guide to an American original's life and work. Adapted from the column on its author's website, Nathan Rabin's Happy Place, with 52 hilarious, sometimes obscure and often oddly beautiful new original illustrations from Felipe Sobreiro and an introduction from Al himself, The Weird Accordion to Al explores every track on all sixteen of Al's records (14 studio albums, the Medium Rarities obscurities collection and Peter & the Wolf, his collaboration with Wendy Carlos) with an obsessiveness thats downright peculiar. Equal parts music criticism, cultural and comedy history, autobiography and comic meditation on nostalgia, television, consumerism, childhood, technology and food, The Weird Accordion to Al does justice to a musical legend and comic genius the extent of whose remarkable achievements are only now being fully understood and appreciated. Praise for The Weird Accordion to Al "A brilliant, heartfelt cry of obsession and love for an already beloved and obsessed-over artist. Share Nathan's madness and be freed!"--Patton Oswalt "This book is pop culture history, music dissertation, and comedic theory. Nathan has exemplified the qualities that make Weird Al an artist who is equal parts Frank Zappa, Mel Brooks, and Mark Twain."--Jonah Ray "You don't have to be a fan of Weird Al to enjoy Rabin's raucous deep-dive into the complete discography. But if you're not a Weird Al fan there's clearly something wrong with you"--Alex Winter "Wonderfully captures the quirks and fun details that have made the Yank-oeuvre ooze with oddness for almost four decades. Nathan really shows you what makes Al's mind tick. Spoiler: It's the neurons. A must read for anyone unemployed, childless, or with ninety spare hours to kill."--Scott Aukerman "The Weird Accordion to Al is the definitive companion to the "Weird Al" catalogue. It's chock full of fascinating insights that left my head spinning like a Frankie Yankovic record (no relation). Nobody covers the Al canon in better depth than Nathan Rabin. It's a must-read for the weirdos in your life. I learned so much from this VERY SPECIFIC book."--Thomas Lennon "Nathan Rabin is obsessive in the best sense of the word. He literally ALREADY wrote the book on Weird Al that Weird Al asked him to write. That wasn't enough for Nathan and that's why we are lucky to have this book. Al's contributions to pop culture deserve the kind of obsession that only Nathan Rabin can bring to the page and he brings it big time in this book. He dares to be very smart about "Dare To Be Stupid.'"--Jake Fogelnest "There is no keener observer of pop culture than Nathan Rabin. His wit, unassuming charm and amazing talent for empathy make him one of the most pleasurable authors to read in a field that far too often devolves into navel-gazing self reference. I will never die, but if I do, I hope Nathan Rabin writes the book about me."--Justin McElroy
Author: Nathan Rabin
Publisher:
Published: 2020-02-04
Total Pages: 388
ISBN-13: 9781087859491
DOWNLOAD EBOOKFrom Nathan Rabin, the man who literally wrote the book ON, and with "Weird Al" Yankovic in the form of 2012's Weird Al: The Book returns with the ultimate guide to the man and his music.
Download or read book The Weird Accordion to Al written by Nathan Rabin and published by . This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Nathan Rabin, the man who literally wrote the book ON, and with "Weird Al" Yankovic in the form of 2012's Weird Al: The Book returns with the ultimate guide to the man and his music.
Author: Nathan Rabin
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2022-11-21
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKFormer staff writer forThe A.V. Club and The Dissolve Nathan Rabin wrote the book on, and with, "Weird Al" Yankovic in 2012 Weird Al: The Book. He followed it up with 2020's The Weird Accordion to Al, an even more essential guide to Al's life's work. Then came The Weird Accordion to Al: Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Edition. The original The Weird Accordion to Al explored every track on all of Al's albums. Add an introduction from Al himself and 52 hilarious illustrations from illustrator Felipe Sobreiro, and you have the definitive portrait of Al's musical career. The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Edition went beyond the music to offer a deeper dive into Al's multi-media oeuvre by combining new illustrations from Sobreiro with lengthy appreciations of 1985's The Compleat Al, 1989's UHF, 1997's The Weird Al Show and Al's 2016 season as the sidekick/band-leader of Comedy Bang! Bang! in addition to Al's 2018 Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. That somehow wasn't enough, so The Sincere Movie Cash-In Edition of The Weird Accordion to Al includes an epic exploration of 2022's Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Al's award-winning and one hundred percent truthful biopic, The perfect gift for the "Weird Al" Yankovic fan in your life, the Sincere Movie Cash-In Edition of The Weird Accordion to Al is a heartfelt literary valentine to a pop icon whose music will live on forever. "Wonderfully captures the quirks and fun details that have made the Yank-oeuvre ooze with oddness for over four decades. Nathan really shows you what makes Al's mind tick. Spoiler: It's the neurons. A must read for anyone unemployed, childless, or with ninety spare hours to kill."-Scott Aukerman "A brilliant, heartfelt cry of obsession and love for an already beloved and obsessed-over artist. Share Nathan's madness and be freed!"-Patton Oswalt.
Download or read book The Weird Accordion to Al written by Nathan Rabin and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2022-11-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Former staff writer forThe A.V. Club and The Dissolve Nathan Rabin wrote the book on, and with, "Weird Al" Yankovic in 2012 Weird Al: The Book. He followed it up with 2020's The Weird Accordion to Al, an even more essential guide to Al's life's work. Then came The Weird Accordion to Al: Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Edition. The original The Weird Accordion to Al explored every track on all of Al's albums. Add an introduction from Al himself and 52 hilarious illustrations from illustrator Felipe Sobreiro, and you have the definitive portrait of Al's musical career. The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Edition went beyond the music to offer a deeper dive into Al's multi-media oeuvre by combining new illustrations from Sobreiro with lengthy appreciations of 1985's The Compleat Al, 1989's UHF, 1997's The Weird Al Show and Al's 2016 season as the sidekick/band-leader of Comedy Bang! Bang! in addition to Al's 2018 Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. That somehow wasn't enough, so The Sincere Movie Cash-In Edition of The Weird Accordion to Al includes an epic exploration of 2022's Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Al's award-winning and one hundred percent truthful biopic, The perfect gift for the "Weird Al" Yankovic fan in your life, the Sincere Movie Cash-In Edition of The Weird Accordion to Al is a heartfelt literary valentine to a pop icon whose music will live on forever. "Wonderfully captures the quirks and fun details that have made the Yank-oeuvre ooze with oddness for over four decades. Nathan really shows you what makes Al's mind tick. Spoiler: It's the neurons. A must read for anyone unemployed, childless, or with ninety spare hours to kill."-Scott Aukerman "A brilliant, heartfelt cry of obsession and love for an already beloved and obsessed-over artist. Share Nathan's madness and be freed!"-Patton Oswalt.
Author: Nathan Rabin
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2012-10-01
Total Pages: 222
ISBN-13: 1613123833
DOWNLOAD EBOOKA “fun and colorful” biography of the accordion-toting comedy legend—with rare photos, lyrics, lists, tweets, and more from Al himself (Publishers Weekly). The undisputed king of pop-culture parody, “Weird Al” Yankovic has sold more comedy recordings than any other artist in history, receiving three Grammy Awards (and fourteen nominations) in the process. This is a comprehensive illustrated tribute to this icon of the American humor landscape, the man behind such classics as “Eat It,” “Amish Paradise,” and “White & Nerdy.” Covering more than three decades of hilarious songs, videos, and concert performances, and his life story in words and pictures—and featuring an introduction, lists, tweets, and photo captions from Yankovic himself—Weird Al: The Book is the ultimate companion piece to an extraordinary career. “Part biography and part pop culture museum . . . a treat.” —Huffington Post
Download or read book Weird Al written by Nathan Rabin and published by Abrams. This book was released on 2012-10-01 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A “fun and colorful” biography of the accordion-toting comedy legend—with rare photos, lyrics, lists, tweets, and more from Al himself (Publishers Weekly). The undisputed king of pop-culture parody, “Weird Al” Yankovic has sold more comedy recordings than any other artist in history, receiving three Grammy Awards (and fourteen nominations) in the process. This is a comprehensive illustrated tribute to this icon of the American humor landscape, the man behind such classics as “Eat It,” “Amish Paradise,” and “White & Nerdy.” Covering more than three decades of hilarious songs, videos, and concert performances, and his life story in words and pictures—and featuring an introduction, lists, tweets, and photo captions from Yankovic himself—Weird Al: The Book is the ultimate companion piece to an extraordinary career. “Part biography and part pop culture museum . . . a treat.” —Huffington Post
Author: Lily E. Hirsch
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Published: 2022-04-15
Total Pages: 267
ISBN-13: 1538163519
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis Expanded Edition features even more insights on “Weird Al” Yankovic, including his activities during a tumultuous 2020 and 2021, diving deeper into the world of the iconic man who has made a career out of making us laugh. Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself, creating a fresh take on comedy and music’s complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovic’s jests have always had a deeper meaning, addressing such topics as bullying, celebrity, and racial and gender stereotypes. The Expanded Edition celebrates Yankovic’s vast influence on musicians, comedians, and performing artists as well as what the man has meant to fans—in a time of uncertainty, Yankovic has served as a much-needed bright spot for many. From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact, Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovic’s over forty-year career, this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.
Download or read book Weird Al written by Lily E. Hirsch and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-04-15 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Expanded Edition features even more insights on “Weird Al” Yankovic, including his activities during a tumultuous 2020 and 2021, diving deeper into the world of the iconic man who has made a career out of making us laugh. Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself, creating a fresh take on comedy and music’s complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovic’s jests have always had a deeper meaning, addressing such topics as bullying, celebrity, and racial and gender stereotypes. The Expanded Edition celebrates Yankovic’s vast influence on musicians, comedians, and performing artists as well as what the man has meant to fans—in a time of uncertainty, Yankovic has served as a much-needed bright spot for many. From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact, Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovic’s over forty-year career, this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.
Author: Marion Jacobson
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 2012-03-15
Total Pages: 304
ISBN-13: 9780252093852
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe piano accordion experienced a roller coaster ride of popularity--rise to fame on the airwaves, stage and silver screen, then a deathly decline, followed by a pop culture resurgence. Squeeze This! rolls out a history of the squeezebox with the first book-length study of its fascinating role in twentieth-century American music and culture. Focusing on key moments of transition, ethnomusicologist and accordion enthusiast Marion Jacobson shows how the instrument came to be celebrated by ethnic musical communities and mainstream fans alike. She also explores the accordion's rebirth in contemporary music, from the parodies of "Weird Al" Yankovic to geek rock legends They Might Be Giants to accordion-wielding superstars like Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow. Loaded with images of gorgeous instruments, virtuoso performers, and rabid fans, Squeeze This! presents the untold story of America's rich accordion culture.
Download or read book Squeeze This! written by Marion Jacobson and published by University of Illinois Press. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The piano accordion experienced a roller coaster ride of popularity--rise to fame on the airwaves, stage and silver screen, then a deathly decline, followed by a pop culture resurgence. Squeeze This! rolls out a history of the squeezebox with the first book-length study of its fascinating role in twentieth-century American music and culture. Focusing on key moments of transition, ethnomusicologist and accordion enthusiast Marion Jacobson shows how the instrument came to be celebrated by ethnic musical communities and mainstream fans alike. She also explores the accordion's rebirth in contemporary music, from the parodies of "Weird Al" Yankovic to geek rock legends They Might Be Giants to accordion-wielding superstars like Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow. Loaded with images of gorgeous instruments, virtuoso performers, and rabid fans, Squeeze This! presents the untold story of America's rich accordion culture.
Author: Gary Graff
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Published: 2012-06-12
Total Pages: 240
ISBN-13: 1610585712
DOWNLOAD EBOOKIt's perhaps the relative modernity of rock 'n' roll that makes the genre a minefield of myths and legends accepted as truth. History hasn't had time to dissect the bunk. Until now. Discover the real stories behind rock's biggest crocks, how they came to be but why they have persisted. Did Cass Elliott really asphyxiate herself with a ham sandwich? Did the Beatles spark a spliff in Buckingham? Did Willie Nelson do the same in the White House? Did Keith Richards get a complete "oil change" at a Swiss clinic in 1973 to pass a drug test necessary to embark on an American tour with the Stones? Then there's the freaky (did Michael Jackson own the remains of the Elephant Man?), the quasi-medical (Rod Stewart and that stomach pump?), the culinary (did Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne really do all those things to bats, chickens, etc. onstage?), and the apocryphal (did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the Prince of Darkness in exchange for mastery of the blues?). In all, more than 50 enduring lies are examined, explained, and debunked.
Download or read book Rock 'n' Roll Myths written by Gary Graff and published by Voyageur Press. This book was released on 2012-06-12 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's perhaps the relative modernity of rock 'n' roll that makes the genre a minefield of myths and legends accepted as truth. History hasn't had time to dissect the bunk. Until now. Discover the real stories behind rock's biggest crocks, how they came to be but why they have persisted. Did Cass Elliott really asphyxiate herself with a ham sandwich? Did the Beatles spark a spliff in Buckingham? Did Willie Nelson do the same in the White House? Did Keith Richards get a complete "oil change" at a Swiss clinic in 1973 to pass a drug test necessary to embark on an American tour with the Stones? Then there's the freaky (did Michael Jackson own the remains of the Elephant Man?), the quasi-medical (Rod Stewart and that stomach pump?), the culinary (did Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne really do all those things to bats, chickens, etc. onstage?), and the apocryphal (did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the Prince of Darkness in exchange for mastery of the blues?). In all, more than 50 enduring lies are examined, explained, and debunked.
Author: Sid Holt
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 2022-01-11
Total Pages: 404
ISBN-13: 0231555725
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Best American Magazine Writing 2021 presents outstanding journalism and commentary that reckon with urgent topics, including COVID-19 and entrenched racial inequality. In “The Plague Year,” Lawrence Wright details how responses to the pandemic went astray (New Yorker). Lizzie Presser reports on “The Black American Amputation Epidemic” (ProPublica). In powerful essays, the novelist Jesmyn Ward processes her grief over her husband’s death against the backdrop of the pandemic and antiracist uprisings (Vanity Fair), and the poet Elizabeth Alexander considers “The Trayvon Generation” (New Yorker). Aymann Ismail delves into how “The Store That Called the Cops on George Floyd” dealt with the repercussions of the fatal call (Slate). Mitchell S. Jackson scrutinizes the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and how running fails Black America (Runner’s World). The anthology features remarkable reporting, such as explorations of the cases of children who disappeared into the depths of the U.S. immigration system for years (Reveal) and Oakland’s efforts to rethink its approach to gun violence (Mother Jones). It includes selections from a Public Books special issue that investigate what 2020’s overlapping crises reveal about the future of cities. Excerpts from Marie Claire’s guide to online privacy examine topics from algorithmic bias to cyberstalking to employees’ rights. Aisha Sabatini Sloan’s perceptive Paris Review columns explore her family history in Detroit and the toll of a brutal past and present. Sam Anderson reflects on a unique pop figure in “The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic” (New York Times Magazine). The collection concludes with Susan Choi’s striking short story “The Whale Mother” (Harper’s Magazine).
Download or read book The Best American Magazine Writing 2021 written by Sid Holt and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2022-01-11 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Best American Magazine Writing 2021 presents outstanding journalism and commentary that reckon with urgent topics, including COVID-19 and entrenched racial inequality. In “The Plague Year,” Lawrence Wright details how responses to the pandemic went astray (New Yorker). Lizzie Presser reports on “The Black American Amputation Epidemic” (ProPublica). In powerful essays, the novelist Jesmyn Ward processes her grief over her husband’s death against the backdrop of the pandemic and antiracist uprisings (Vanity Fair), and the poet Elizabeth Alexander considers “The Trayvon Generation” (New Yorker). Aymann Ismail delves into how “The Store That Called the Cops on George Floyd” dealt with the repercussions of the fatal call (Slate). Mitchell S. Jackson scrutinizes the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and how running fails Black America (Runner’s World). The anthology features remarkable reporting, such as explorations of the cases of children who disappeared into the depths of the U.S. immigration system for years (Reveal) and Oakland’s efforts to rethink its approach to gun violence (Mother Jones). It includes selections from a Public Books special issue that investigate what 2020’s overlapping crises reveal about the future of cities. Excerpts from Marie Claire’s guide to online privacy examine topics from algorithmic bias to cyberstalking to employees’ rights. Aisha Sabatini Sloan’s perceptive Paris Review columns explore her family history in Detroit and the toll of a brutal past and present. Sam Anderson reflects on a unique pop figure in “The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic” (New York Times Magazine). The collection concludes with Susan Choi’s striking short story “The Whale Mother” (Harper’s Magazine).
Author: Jon Schwartz
Publisher:
Published: 2022-11-15
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9781948221627
DOWNLOAD EBOOK"Weird Al" Yankovic continues as one of our most beloved comedians, actors, and musicians. A skilled accordion player and lyricist, the California native not only crafts meticulous parodies, but also creates hilarious originals and pop culture-themed polkas. Now in his fifth decade of recording and performing, Al has maintained a career that has outlasted many of the artists that he has lampooned. Since 1980, Al's drummer Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz has been by his side, photographing and documenting his career. Jon has taken more than 20,000 images of Al in his element: on tour, in the studio, on video sets, and backstage. Lights, Camera, Accordion! presents over 300 images of Al, culled from Jon's personal collection of color photography, all restored from the original negatives. This exhaustive volume represents the 25 years that Jon shot Al on 35mm color film, from 1981 to 2006, before switching to digital photography. Jon additionally provides previously unheard stories and anecdotes throughout. From "Eat It" and "Like a Surgeon" to later classics such as "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," and the Star Wars parody "The Saga Begins," Lights, Camera, Accordion! showcases a body of work that spans ten albums, five Grammys, and nearly 2,000 concerts to millions of fans - and is packed with the weirdness and fun that always surrounds the undisputed king of comedic music.
Download or read book Lights, Camera, Accordion! written by Jon Schwartz and published by . This book was released on 2022-11-15 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Weird Al" Yankovic continues as one of our most beloved comedians, actors, and musicians. A skilled accordion player and lyricist, the California native not only crafts meticulous parodies, but also creates hilarious originals and pop culture-themed polkas. Now in his fifth decade of recording and performing, Al has maintained a career that has outlasted many of the artists that he has lampooned. Since 1980, Al's drummer Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz has been by his side, photographing and documenting his career. Jon has taken more than 20,000 images of Al in his element: on tour, in the studio, on video sets, and backstage. Lights, Camera, Accordion! presents over 300 images of Al, culled from Jon's personal collection of color photography, all restored from the original negatives. This exhaustive volume represents the 25 years that Jon shot Al on 35mm color film, from 1981 to 2006, before switching to digital photography. Jon additionally provides previously unheard stories and anecdotes throughout. From "Eat It" and "Like a Surgeon" to later classics such as "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," and the Star Wars parody "The Saga Begins," Lights, Camera, Accordion! showcases a body of work that spans ten albums, five Grammys, and nearly 2,000 concerts to millions of fans - and is packed with the weirdness and fun that always surrounds the undisputed king of comedic music.
