Serious Fun (The Knack album)
Encyclopedia
Serious Fun is an album by power pop
/new wave
band The Knack
released by Charisma Records
on January 16, 1991. It was their fourth record- a comeback
after a decade long separation- and was accompanied by a public reunion and tour. Although the album did not achieve either commercial or critical success, it resulted in the hit single
'Rocket O' Love', which reached #9 in Billboard's
Mainstream Rock Chart.
on January 16, 1991. Musician Don Was
, better known as a member of the group Was (Not Was)
, produced
the album. He was a friend of Knack frontman Doug Fieger
since high school.
The Knack split up in 1981 just a few weeks after the release of Round Trip, which failed to achieve critical success although it reached #93 in the Billboard 200. Serious Fun represented a reunion after around a decade of separation. The album represented a more hard rock
sound for the band, reminiscent of the Raspberries
. Serious Fun also failed to achieve either commercial or critical success. However, it resulted in the popular single
'Rocket O' Love', which reached #9 in Billboard's
Mainstream Rock Chart. The band created a rarely seen music video
for the song.
A deluxe CD
reissue complete with 24-bit
digital remastering, bonus tracks, and detailed liner notes
was released in 2002 by parent company Virgin Records
. It includes a cover of the Martha & the Vandellas song 'Nowhere to Run' done in the Knack's power pop
style. The official website for the band states that: "The Knack's fourth studio album is serious fun! Some of the best music the band ever made."
The songs 'I Want Love' and 'Rocket O' Love' were incorporated into the greatest hits album The Retrospective: The Best of the Knack, which was released by Capital Records on November 16, 1992. 'Rocket O' Love' was also included in the greatest hits album Very Best of the Knack, released by Rhino Records on May 19, 1998.
panned the album, stating that "Anyone who believes the musical legacy of the '70s is nothing to be ashamed of might want to reconsider after hearing this one." Critic Stewart Mason of Allmusic gave a mixed review. He remarked that even though "the songs are neat little packages of appropriately crunchy guitar hooks and harmonies", still "Serious Fun doesn't manage to be quite as much fun as it could be." Critic William Ruhlmann, also with Allmusic, commented that "it's hard to imagine anyone other than die-hard Knack fans expressing any interest in it."
and Doug Fieger
unless noted
/Doug Fieger
unless noted
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
/new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band The Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
released by Charisma Records
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
on January 16, 1991. It was their fourth record- a comeback
Comeback
A comeback is the return of a person of public interest, a style or fashion in the mid-point of media interest. The term is predominantly used in politics, sports and pop music. In the case of a band, the term reunion is used...
after a decade long separation- and was accompanied by a public reunion and tour. Although the album did not achieve either commercial or critical success, it resulted in the hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
'Rocket O' Love', which reached #9 in Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Chart.
Overview
The album was released by Charisma RecordsCharisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
on January 16, 1991. Musician Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
, better known as a member of the group Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was)
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Contributions:* A Christmas Record - "Christmas Time In The Motor City"* That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk - "Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are"...
, produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
the album. He was a friend of Knack frontman Doug Fieger
Doug Fieger
Douglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
since high school.
The Knack split up in 1981 just a few weeks after the release of Round Trip, which failed to achieve critical success although it reached #93 in the Billboard 200. Serious Fun represented a reunion after around a decade of separation. The album represented a more hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound for the band, reminiscent of the Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
. Serious Fun also failed to achieve either commercial or critical success. However, it resulted in the popular single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
'Rocket O' Love', which reached #9 in Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Chart. The band created a rarely seen music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song.
A deluxe CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
reissue complete with 24-bit
Audio bit depth
In digital audio, bit depth describes the number of bits of information recorded for each sample. Bit depth directly corresponds to the resolution of each sample in a set of digital audio data...
digital remastering, bonus tracks, and detailed liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
was released in 2002 by parent company Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. It includes a cover of the Martha & the Vandellas song 'Nowhere to Run' done in the Knack's power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
style. The official website for the band states that: "The Knack's fourth studio album is serious fun! Some of the best music the band ever made."
The songs 'I Want Love' and 'Rocket O' Love' were incorporated into the greatest hits album The Retrospective: The Best of the Knack, which was released by Capital Records on November 16, 1992. 'Rocket O' Love' was also included in the greatest hits album Very Best of the Knack, released by Rhino Records on May 19, 1998.
Reviews
MusicianMusician (magazine)
Musician was a monthly magazine that covered news and information about American popular music. Initially called "Music America", it was founded in 1976 by Sam Holdsworth and Gordon Baird. The two friends borrowed $20,000 from relatives and started the publication in a barn in Colorado...
panned the album, stating that "Anyone who believes the musical legacy of the '70s is nothing to be ashamed of might want to reconsider after hearing this one." Critic Stewart Mason of Allmusic gave a mixed review. He remarked that even though "the songs are neat little packages of appropriately crunchy guitar hooks and harmonies", still "Serious Fun doesn't manage to be quite as much fun as it could be." Critic William Ruhlmann, also with Allmusic, commented that "it's hard to imagine anyone other than die-hard Knack fans expressing any interest in it."
Original release
All songs are by Berton AverreBerton Averre
Berton Averre is the guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack. They had a #6 UK/#1 US hit with "My Sharona", which sold 10 million copies in the US...
and Doug Fieger
Doug Fieger
Douglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
unless noted
- "Rocket O' Love" [3:10]
- "I Want Love" [4:02] (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger, Prescott NilesPrescott NilesPrescott Niles is an American rock bassist. He is best known as bassist with The Knack, who had a #1 US/#6 UK hit with My Sharona.-References:...
, Pat TorpeyPat TorpeyPat Torpey is an American rock and roll drummer, known as the drummer of the hard rock band Mr. Big. He has also played for Impellitteri, The Knack, David Lee Roth Band and the Exile Social Club. He is noted by Neil Peart for composing unique rhythms such as that of "Take Cover", a rock song from...
) - "Serious Fun" [4:32]
- "One Day at a Time" [4:25]
- "River of Sighs" [5:30]
- "Let's Get Lost" [4:10]
- "Can Tickle" [0:40]
- "Shine" [3:52]
- "Won't Let Go/Aces & Eights" [4:55]
- "Body Talk" [4:24] (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger, Prescott Niles, Pat Torpey)
- "(I'll Be Your) Mau Mau" [3:52]
- "Doin' the Dog" [3:45]
New release
All songs are by Berton AverreBerton Averre
Berton Averre is the guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack. They had a #6 UK/#1 US hit with "My Sharona", which sold 10 million copies in the US...
/Doug Fieger
Doug Fieger
Douglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
unless noted
- Rocket O' Love [3:10]
- I Want Love [4:02] (Written by Berton AverreBerton AverreBerton Averre is the guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack. They had a #6 UK/#1 US hit with "My Sharona", which sold 10 million copies in the US...
/Doug FiegerDoug FiegerDouglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
/Prescott NilesPrescott NilesPrescott Niles is an American rock bassist. He is best known as bassist with The Knack, who had a #1 US/#6 UK hit with My Sharona.-References:...
/Pat TorpeyPat TorpeyPat Torpey is an American rock and roll drummer, known as the drummer of the hard rock band Mr. Big. He has also played for Impellitteri, The Knack, David Lee Roth Band and the Exile Social Club. He is noted by Neil Peart for composing unique rhythms such as that of "Take Cover", a rock song from...
) - Serious Fun [4:32]
- One Day at a Time [4:25]
- River of Sighs [5:30]
- Let's Get Lost [4:10]
- Can Tickle [0:40]
- Shine [3:52]
- Won't Let Go/Aces & Eights [4:55]
- Body Talk [4:24] (Written by Berton AverreBerton AverreBerton Averre is the guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack. They had a #6 UK/#1 US hit with "My Sharona", which sold 10 million copies in the US...
/Doug FiegerDoug FiegerDouglas Lars "Doug" Fieger was an American singer-songwriter-musician. He was the lead singer of the power pop band The Knack, and co-wrote "My Sharona", the biggest hit song of 1979 in the USA, with lead guitarist, Berton Averre.-Life and career:Fieger's father was Jewish, and his mother of...
/Prescott NilesPrescott NilesPrescott Niles is an American rock bassist. He is best known as bassist with The Knack, who had a #1 US/#6 UK hit with My Sharona.-References:...
/Pat TorpeyPat TorpeyPat Torpey is an American rock and roll drummer, known as the drummer of the hard rock band Mr. Big. He has also played for Impellitteri, The Knack, David Lee Roth Band and the Exile Social Club. He is noted by Neil Peart for composing unique rhythms such as that of "Take Cover", a rock song from...
) - (I'll Be Your) Mau Mau [3:52]
- Doin' the Dog [3:45]
- Down w/the Blond (Pts. I & II) [7:14]
- The Spinning Song [3:43]
- Nowhere to Run [3:56] (Written by Holland–Dozier–Holland)
- A Prayer [4:15]
External links
- Serious Fun at Rhapsody.com
- The Knack website