Wonderful musings, Joe. I think you nailed the pleasures and discomforts of the band. And I’ve always thought “Round Trip” had some gems on it. Very brave of you to praise “Pay the Devil,” which even Averre says was the wrong choice as the single. But I came to the song and the album as a narrow-minded youth. It’s interesting how ears mature. I’ve become a real fan of “One Day At a Time,” a rare ballad.
Thanks, John! Yeah it is interesting how we hear songs differently at diff stages of life.
Def had you and Pat in the back of my mind as I wrote this. I fondly recall the Knack two-fer the Item played one night, and I distinctly remember listening to...but the little girls understand at your house one afternoon—30+ years ago?
Fantastic — they played pretty much every song I wanted to hear, and sounded as if no time had passed at all. And it was hilarious watching the steam coming out of my then-girlfriend’s ears as Fieger leered along to every lyric; she’d been a Knack fan since 1979, but I think she’d somehow always thought that their sexism was ironic instead of the real deal.
"Get The Knack" is one of the albums from that year that makes that time so special. Something amazing happened that year. That and Off Broadway's "On" are the pieces of candy I will eat for the rest of my life.
Appreciate this a great deal, on so many levels. These records are a powerful prism through which to revisit our younger selves, and a somehow more innocent (and yet more complicated) world. Also appreciate the Q107 callback, for better or worse.... Don't forget DC101!
Back around '79 I was in a band that covered 2 songs by Doug Fieger's early band Sky. "How's That Treatin' Your Mouth Babe" & "Let It Lie Low." Got into The Knack right away. Great stuff!
Wow! I had no idea they had a third album! The cut you included sounds SO unlike everything I remember about the Knack. Interesting reading!
There's some other stylistically surprising stuff on the album, but nothing tops these!
Wonderful musings, Joe. I think you nailed the pleasures and discomforts of the band. And I’ve always thought “Round Trip” had some gems on it. Very brave of you to praise “Pay the Devil,” which even Averre says was the wrong choice as the single. But I came to the song and the album as a narrow-minded youth. It’s interesting how ears mature. I’ve become a real fan of “One Day At a Time,” a rare ballad.
Thanks, John! Yeah it is interesting how we hear songs differently at diff stages of life.
Def had you and Pat in the back of my mind as I wrote this. I fondly recall the Knack two-fer the Item played one night, and I distinctly remember listening to...but the little girls understand at your house one afternoon—30+ years ago?
Come to think, maybe it was a Dave Clark Five twofer? Anyway, I do remember you guys playing a great version of Your Number Or Your Name.
Great stuff. Gary was back in the band for a bit in the mid-90s; I saw them play a show with him at the Viper Room with the Muffs opening.
Thanks! Yeah, and he plays on their '96 cover of "No Matter What."
How was the show?
Fantastic — they played pretty much every song I wanted to hear, and sounded as if no time had passed at all. And it was hilarious watching the steam coming out of my then-girlfriend’s ears as Fieger leered along to every lyric; she’d been a Knack fan since 1979, but I think she’d somehow always thought that their sexism was ironic instead of the real deal.
haha the truth will out
Great article, Joe. Thanks. I needed this!
Thanks so much, Joe. Cheers!
"Get The Knack" is one of the albums from that year that makes that time so special. Something amazing happened that year. That and Off Broadway's "On" are the pieces of candy I will eat for the rest of my life.
Oh yeah, Off Broadway, same year. Great records!
Appreciate this a great deal, on so many levels. These records are a powerful prism through which to revisit our younger selves, and a somehow more innocent (and yet more complicated) world. Also appreciate the Q107 callback, for better or worse.... Don't forget DC101!
Thanks, Seth,. Haha, no, DC101 is forever embedded in me!
Back around '79 I was in a band that covered 2 songs by Doug Fieger's early band Sky. "How's That Treatin' Your Mouth Babe" & "Let It Lie Low." Got into The Knack right away. Great stuff!
Deep, deep cuts!