| Serious Fun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by The Knack | ||||
| Released | January 16, 1991 | |||
| Genre | Power pop, new wave, hard rock | |||
| Label | Charisma Records | |||
| Producer | Don Was | |||
| The Knack chronology | ||||
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Serious Fun is an album by power pop/new wave band The Knack released by Charisma Records on January 16, 1991.[1] It was their fourth record- a comeback after a decade long separation- and was accompanied by a public reunion and tour.[2] 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.[1]
Contents |
The album was released by Charisma Records on January 16, 1991. Musician Don Was,[1] better known as a member of the group Was (Not Was),[3] produced the album. He was a friend of Knack frontman Doug Fieger since high school.[1]
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.[4] 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.[5] However, it resulted in the popular single 'Rocket O' Love', which reached #9 in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.[1] The band created a rarely seen music video for the song.[6]
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.[5] 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."[7]
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.[8] 'Rocket O' Love' was also included in the greatest hits album Very Best of the Knack, released by Rhino Records on May 19, 1998.[9]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [10] |
| Musician | (Unfavorable)[11] |
Musician 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."[12] 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."[1] 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."[5]
All songs are by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger unless noted[1]
All songs are by Berton Averre/Doug Fieger unless noted[5]
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