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Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:13 pm
by Yankovic-Gretzky
The 1996 edition of Joel Whitburn's Billboard 100 Top Pop Singles 1955-1996 lists the Top 10 charting Novelty/Comedy Artists of all time on page 850. Later editions of this book don't show this statistic.
01. Dickie Goodman (Buchanan & Goodman)
02. Ray Stevens
03. David Seville/Chipmunks
04. Cheech & Chong
05. "Weird Al" Yankovic
06. Stan Freberg
07. Sheb Wooley/Ben Colder
08. Roger Miller
09. Jerry Reed
10. Allan Sherman
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:20 pm
by TMBJon
Who is Dickie Goodman and how can we destroy this man?
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:31 pm
by Yankovic-Gretzky
White & Nerdy and Canadian Idiot from 2006 have helped Al move ahead of Cheech & Chong and David Seville/Chipmunks, but we don't have any written proof yet in the Billboard books. I wonder if they will ever list this category again in any future editions.

Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 8:56 pm
by minnick27
Really, you dont know who Dickie Goodman is? Along with his partner Bill Buchanan they pioneered the break in interviews that are Whimsical Will's stock in trade, and that Al himself uses on his specials. It does surprise me that he ranks so high on the list, albeit a 14 year old list. I would expect so see Al a little higher, I would think it would be C&C, Al, Stan then Chipmunks. Im sure the following list he moved up quite a bit due to BHD
Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:18 pm
by scottidog
Ray Stevens is higher than Al?
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:50 pm
by Wizzerkat
Ray's been around for ages so it isn't too shocking. Goodman had success with stuff like "Mr. Jaws" and such.
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:52 pm
by weird_el
Ray Stevens has had 2 #1 songs. Everything is Beautiful (not novelty) and The Streak (definitely novelty).
Al is the only one on that list who's still got hit-making potential.
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:31 pm
by Yankovic-Gretzky
This is only for the Singles Chart, not Albums Chart. The Billboard 200 Book has never listed the all-time statistics for novelty/comedy acts. Maybe someday.
Re: Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:32 pm
by Yankovic-Gretzky
minnick27 wrote:Really, you dont know who Dickie Goodman is? Along with his partner Bill Buchanan they pioneered the break in interviews that are Whimsical Will's stock in trade, and that Al himself uses on his specials. It does surprise me that he ranks so high on the list, albeit a 14 year old list. I would expect so see Al a little higher, I would think it would be C&C, Al, Stan then Chipmunks. Im sure the following list he moved up quite a bit due to BHD
This list includes the singles from Bad Hair Day, but not the singles from Straight Outta Lynwood.
Weird Al's Rank on Billboard among Novelty/Comedy acts!
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:40 am
by minnick27
I missed it saying that it included 96 records. I figured the 96 edition only goes to 95, which would not include BHD. And why would you assume I would think it had SOL singles, its pretty obvious they aren't