If you're a die hard Weird Al fan, you probably already own all these songs in some format. But for those of you who love Weird Al but don't want to buy all his cds, get this, and you won't be disappointed. This includes the best material from every album of his up to Alapalooza. I laugh every time I listen to this, and I think you will too. I highly suggest this underappreciated box set.

Weird Al's utterly hilarious music spans a decade and a half, and this box set does justice to his three major musical styles - the parodies, the funny originals, and the immortal polkas. The parodies range in imitative quality from the early accordion-played "My Bologna" (the Knack's "My Sharona" to the quality imitation "Addicted to Spuds" (Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love") and "Headline News" (the Crash Test Dummies "Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm") which are almost indistinguishable from the real thing, bar Al's zany lyrics of course. They're not all about food: "Smells Like Nirvana" parodies the incomprehensible lyrics in "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Ricky" is a "Mickey"-take of Toni Basil centred around "I Love Lucy". Of the original songs, the best are those where Al mercilessly brings together a happy style with depressing lyrics, such as "Happy Birthday" or "Trigger Happy". The polkas are what made Weird Al famous. No-one has lived until they've heard "Smoke On The Water", "Losing My Religion" or "Hey Joe" played polka. A top-notch album which brings home everything Weird Al's ever had to offer.

About seven years ago I might have given this package 5 stars. This box set was great in its heyday, but I'm afraid it is severely outdated now. I think it's time for a new one. Weird Al Yankovic is definitely famous enough to warrant a second box set. Hell, Led Zeppelin has two box sets. Why shouldn't Al?

This only covers Al's career from early 1980, to about 1993 or thereabouts. Nothing from "Bad Hair Day, Running With Scissors," or "Poodle Hat" is included, not to mention his latter-day film theme songs like "Spy Hard," or "Polkamon." If you are one of those people who lives in the past, though, or one of those misguided fools who thinks Al should have retired some time back in 1989, then this is the perfect purchase for you. It has a couple of rarities that can't be heard anywhere else, like Al's original accordion version of "My Bologna," and "Headline News" the parody of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by the Crash Test Dummies, which was written specially for this box set. The brief bio booklet that comes with the set is pretty cool too. It was written by Dr. Demento, and it chronicles Al's youth, college days as an architecture major, and his rise to fame. Overall, this is a great buy for the casual fan, but if you are like me and you are obsessed, I suggest you do like I did and just buy all of the CDs.

Weird Al is definitely the best entertainer I have ever heard and this box set is wonderful because it gives a great sampling of his best songs (not that he had any bad ones). It also has a cool 64 page booklet with pictures from his youth on up. If you already own lots of his CD's, it's not that worth it, but if you don't, it's a great way to start your collection!

After long and hard years of making fun of artist's such as Mike
Jackson, Coolio & lots more Weird Al comes out with the ultimate
compliction. And I mean let's face it who is better than Weird
Al at making fun of people and making there songs look like
nobody. Which is why you should get this CD because if you're
tierd of your average everyday Rapper Weird Al makes those average guys look lik inferior. Never the less it's your choice
but if you're a fan of parady artists Werid Al counqers them all
with PERMANENT RECORD [BOX SET]. Also did you know that Weird Al
was sued by Coolio in 1996 for no permission to use the
Gangsta's Paradise parady Amish Paradise. And he has met & worked with lots of artist's thourgh the 80's and the 90's. I also hope Werid Al makes a come back CD like Coolio and Jackson did.