Dr. Demento is host of the appropriately-named "The Dr. Demento Show," a weekly syndicated radio show that has aired for over 25 years. Dr. Demento has described his show as "Mad music and crazy comedy from out of the archives and off the wall. Rare records and outrageous tapes from yesterday, today, and tomorrow."

Dr. Demento (aka Baret Eugene Hansen, aka Barry) graduated from Oregon's Reed College in 1963, but went back for a master's in folk music. While in college Barry Hansen began reviewing records for Rolling Stone Magazine.

The good doctor supposedly got his name when Barry was playing "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus on the radio one day, and someone said, "You've gotta be demented to play that!" Shortly thereafter, the DJ before him announced, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's... Dr. Demento!" A star was born.

Dr. Demento owns 200,000-odd records (some very odd indeed). The Dr. Demento Show is heard on 200 stations in the U.S. and on the Armed Forces Radio Network. He has collected many of the weirdest and wildest songs from his show on numerous compilation albums.

To give you a taste of what you might find on Dr. Demento's show, here's a list he compiled of the worst song titles he's ever encountered. The list appears in The People's Almanac Presents The Book of Lists: The '90s Edition, by David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace. (Note: These are actual songs.)

"Mama Get Your Hammer (There's a Fly on Baby's Head)," by the Bobby Peterson Quintet.
"When There's Tears in the Eyes of a Potato," by the Hoosier Hot Shots.
"I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones," by the Hoosier Hot Shots.
"She Was Bitten on the Udder by an Adder," by Homer & Jethro.
"A Bowl of Chop Suey and You-ey," by Sam Robbins & His Hotel McAlpin Orchestra.
"I've Got Tears in My Ears From Lying on My Back in My Bed While I Cry Over You," performed by Homer & Jethro, music and lyrics written by Harold Barlow.
"How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life," by Fred Astaire and Jane Powell.
"I'd Rather Have a Bottle in Front of Me (Than a Frontal Lobotomy)," by Randy Hanzlick, M.D.

Quotable

"The phonograph has always been my magic wand," Dr. Demento, Newsweek, December 22, 1975.