Novelty records have been chart-toppers as long as there have been charts. But novelty artists disappear quickly from the public’s memory. Accordion-toting parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic has defied the odds, lasting in showbiz for over forty years.

In 1984, Yankovic released his second album, “Weird Al” Yankovic In 3-D, with a food-focused parody of Michael Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” as its centerpiece. At the time, it seemed inevitable he would be known forever as “The ‘Eat It’ Guy.” However, the secret to Yankovic’s longevity is present on this breakthrough album. His deftness with wordplay may inspire laughter, but his attention to sonic detail makes both the parody songs and comic originals on In 3-D as pleasurable to hear (and re-hear) as any other well-made pop record.

The rise of MTV offered Weird Al’s adeptness with audio mimicry a perfect visual analogue. The “Eat It” video is a modern classic thanks to how closely it reproduces the Jackson original but tweaks the details to highlight Yankovic’s absurd humor and charming dweebiness. In 3-D not only created the roadmap for Yankovic’s future, it also paved the way for musical-visual comedy acts like The Lonely Island and Flight of the Conchords.