Novelty Music

Fresh Air producer Amy Salit interviews Yankovic, who now has eight parody albums under his belt. Before he writes his version of a song, he secures permission with the original artist -- which has given him the opportunity to meet several musicians he admires.

Robert Kaplow and the Punsters' Basil Starling visits the show to play Valentine's Day songs.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker considers two New York acts who are known for their humor: folk-singer Christine Lavin, and the eclectic rock group, They Might Be Giants. Lavin's album, "Attainable Love" is on Rounder Records. They Might Be Giants' album is "Flood," and it's on Elektra.

Robert Kaplow and The Punsters return to Fresh Air with advice on how to get through the new school year. The Punsters are Kaplow, Tim Korzun, Carmen Presti, Michael Townsend, Marc Lanzoff, Ken Cohen, and Lou Ippolitio. (Produced by Tim Korzun)

Songwriter Fred Koller. He's one of Nashville's top songwriters. His songs have been recorded by Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dave Edmunds and Hank Williams Jr. He has also collaborated with John Prine, John Hiatt and Pat Alger. But in his book How to Pitch and Promote Your Song, Koller guides the novice songwriter through the music business, with tips on how best to present your songs. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Critic-at-Large Laurie Stone reviews the work of the young singer Alva Rogers. Rogers has performed in clubs throughout the New York City area over the last several weeks.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles one of the most eccentric rock groups from the other side of the Atlantic - the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (circa late 1960s). They infused their music with a typically British brand of humor, such as that associated with Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Rock historian Ed Ward gets a jump on April Fool's Day by sharing what he classifies as "the worst music ever recorded."

Pianist and bandleader Paul Weston and singer Jo Stafford. They're better known as Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, satirists of inept musicianship.

Jazz singer, songwriter David Frishberg. This is the first part of two-part interview. Throughout the 60s, Frishberg wrote songs like "I'm Hip" and "Peel Me a Grape." Then in the early 70s, he started singing his own songs. Frishberg will also play a few songs throughout both parts of the interview.

Folk singer Michael Cooney performs a song so bad that it's good.

Two novelty tunes from the 20s and 30s performed by singer and songwriter Michael Cooney.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles some of rock's most memorable break-in records, which are singles made up of snippets of many different records. These include records by Bill Buchanan and Dickie Goodman's Flying Saucer.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker will review the novelty song "Elvis is Everywhere," by Skid Roper and Mojo Nixon.

Composer John Morris is film director Mel Brooks' longtime collaborator. In addition to writing the music for comedies, Morris also scored David Lynch's The Elephant Man.

Tom and Dick Smothers are known as the "Smothers Brothers," a musical comedy duo that began by satirizing the folk acts of their day. Their popularity in the 1960s led to a Sunday night variety show. The show, with its topical content, often clashed with censors, and in 1969, the brothers were fired. The Smothers Brothers reunited in 1980.

Composer Peter Schickele invented the fictitious, forgotten son of J.S. Bach and writes music under that name. Schickele believes that a more lighthearted approach to classical music could expand the genre's audience.

Christopher Cerf's educational songs for children are featured on the television show Sesame Street. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about how he chooses his subject material and the popular songs he pays tribute to. An album of Sesame Street music, titled Born to Add, features many songs he wrote and performed.

Country musician Kinky Friedman is know by some as "Texas Jew Boy." His songs, including "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore" and "Ride 'Em Jew Boy," often have anti-semitic, racist, and sexist lyrics. While some take the lyrics seriously, others appreciate the satire. He joins the show to discuss his work.

Dr. Demento, whose real name is Barret Eugene Hansen, hosts a popular radio show where he plays humorous and obscure records.