Cover of song originally by:
- Jingle Bells (brief instrumental section in background at end only)
Alternate versions:
- Two different mixes have been released. The original album and single, as well as most other releases, have the standard mix, while the "Headline News" CD single contains an alternate mix created around the same time. The main difference between the two in Al's mind was the air raid siren.
- This is Al's explanation of the alternate mix: [Engineer] Tony Papa and I liked the alternate mix because we thought it sounded more "Phil Spector-y" but ultimately decided that the official mix was better for purposes of the album.
- Dr. D plays the standard mix unless otherwise specified. The two mixes are very similar and not easy to tell apart. Here are numerous minor, but not overly interesting, differences:
- The bells in the intro on the alternate mix get louder in the left channel as the intro progresses, and are generally more pronounced in that mix, while in the standard mix they stay the same volume and don't overpower the sleigh bells as they do in the alternate mix.
- The wood block tick-tock sound seems to get louder in the alternate mix at the end of the intro, and has echo, while in the standard mix it stays the same volume and is relatively without effects.
- The intro bomb descending is centered in the alternate mix, while at the end of the intro in the standard mix another descending sound comes in from the left channel.
- The explosion after the intro is in stereo on the alternate mix, while it's mono on standard mix.
- The drums are generally louder in the right channel in the standard mix, while they're mostly centered in the alternate mix, although both actually have the drums spread across the stereo picture.
- Al's vocal is a slightly different recording for the lyrics "...in the crowd. We can dodge debris while we trim the tree underneath..." while the rest of the vocal is the same take.
- The standard mix has an air raid siren in the solo section, while the alternate mix either doesn't have it or it's completely buried.
- The glockenspiel/bell sounds in the solo in the standard mix are almost unnoticeable in the alternate mix.
- The siren goes on a bit longer at the end of the alternate mix.
Also credited as:
- Alfred Yankovic
- "Weird Al" Yankovic & Wendy Carlos
- "Weird Al" Yankovic & The Amino Acids
- "Weird Al" Yankovic w/ The Amino Acids
Common misspellings:
- Wierd Al Yankovich
General type of music:
- parody
- comedy
Real name:
- Alfred Matthew Yankovic
Group members:
- "Weird Al" Yankovic (accordion/vocals)
- Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (drums)
- Steve Jay (bass)
- Jim West (guitar)
Based in:
- southern California
Also recorded with:
- Mike Weyrck & Steve Willis
- Vince Sanchez
- Tom Walters, Jon Iverson, & Joel Miller
- Richard "Bopcat" Bennett
- Barnes & Barnes
- Brian Wilson
- Wendy Carlos
- The Amino Acids
interesting facts (click to see playlist of show on which fact was mentioned, if applicable):
- First submitted a song to Dr. Demento in 1973.
- Dr. Demento first aired one of his songs in 1976.
- First national release was 1979.
- The most-requested artist in the history of "The Dr. Demento Show".
- During college in the late 1970s, was a DJ at the campus radio station, KCPR, San Luis Obispo, CA.
- Graduated from California Polytechnic State University in 1980 with a degree in architecture.
- regular sidekick on the live KMET version of the show in the early 1980s
- His 2006 hit "White & Nerdy" was a #9 single, surpassing his previous high of #12 with "Eat It" in 1984.
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