Get The Knack: A Forgotten Masterpiece

Undoubtedly best known for their huge hit “My Sharona”, The Knack was a Power Pop band from Los Angeles who recorded one of the most underappreciated albums in Rock music, as well as one of my favorites. Despite going platinum in two months and staying at the #1 position on the Billboard charts for five weeks, Get The Knack was panned by critics who deemed the songs “sexist” and “misogynistic”. Subsequent releases that did not live up to the success of their debut relegated The Knack to “one-hit wonder” status. However, they connected with a new generation of listeners during the early 90s Grunge explosion, when Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain said his music sounded like “Black Sabbath playing The Knack” and named Get The Knack as one of his favorite albums of all-time.

The main reason why this record is so special to me is that its songs manage to compile almost every feeling I’ve experienced throughout my life when dealing with the opposite sex. Listening to this album is like taking a trip down memory lane that reunites me with every single ex-girlfriend, crush, and fuck-buddy I’ve ever had.  The female characters Doug Fieger describes in songs like “Frustrated”, “Good Girls Don’t”, and “She’s So Selfish” are all-too-real examples of specific kinds of women that one is sure to encounter in his late teens and early twenties. Who hasn’t met a girl who “makes you wanna scream, wishing you could get inside her pants”? How about one that keeps “pulling the string, but she’ll tie it in a knot before she gives you anything”? Perhaps you’ve crossed paths with a girl who “doesn’t care for nobody else”, but still “leaves you weak in the knees like a lovesick fool”?

If raunchy lyrics aren’t your cup of tea, I suggest you pay close attention to “Your Number or Your Name”, “Oh Tara”, and “Maybe Tonight”. These songs show their narrator to be a vulnerable, caring, and even shy individual as they brilliantly convey the agony of having a crush on a girl and not being able to tell her out of fear of being rejected. Everyone has felt unrequited love at some point in their life, but from the male perspective, finding the courage to confess your feelings to your love interest can be a daunting task. As someone who has lived through this more than once, I can’t help but identify with every line in these songs.

Of course, this wouldn’t mean anything if the music wasn’t top-notch, and aside from a couple of filler tracks, Get The Knack sounds like a greatest hits compilation. In addition to Doug Fieger’s superb ear for melody and charming singing voice, his tight guitar playing perfectly complimented Berton Averre’s creative leads and formed one of the most interesting rhythm-lead guitar combinations in Rock. Averre is a criminally underrated musician; while possessing more than enough technical ability, he avoided the overindulgence that was becoming commonplace in late 70s Rock and only let loose when absolutely necessary.

Producer Mike Chapman’s importance to this record’s overall sound cannot be underestimated. Shocked that his name was not on the short list of producers The Knack wanted to work with, he contacted the band directly and convinced them he was the right man for the job. His idea was to capture the energy of their live show, and the album was recorded in eleven days for a total of $17,000. The Knack’s official website says Chapman “basically hit the record button and let the band play”, as the record is almost completely devoid of overdubs.

The most noticeable aspect of the music on Get The Knack is Bruce Gary’s impeccable drumming. Influenced by Keith Moon and Ringo Starr, his metronome-like precision and creative fills give the songs an energy that they would never have if they were being played by an average drummer. Just listen to his manic playing on “Let Me Out” and “Your Number or Your Name”; even when apparently going crazy behind the kit, he knew exactly what he was doing and always kept things sharp and precise.

His most famous (and instantly recognizable) drum break is found in the beginning of the one song in this album that needs no introduction – the mighty “My Sharona”. Not only is it The Knack’s signature song, it has stood the test of time and become a cultural standard. People who have never heard the name “The Knack” are very familiar with its irresistible melody and automatically sing along whenever the hook comes on.  All of the band’s trademarks are immediately identifiable: sexual lyrics full of innuendos, a catchy chorus, excellent singing, powerful drumming, and one of the best guitar solos you will ever hear.

This record was made by four guys who genuinely loved playing together, and their enthusiasm comes through in the finished product. If you like Rock music of any kind (Pop-Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative Rock, etc.), do yourself a favor and buy this album. I can’t guarantee it will mean as much to you as it does to me (or as it did to Kurt Cobain), but I assure you that its energy and exuberance will bring you a profound sense of joy and gratification.

Alexis Herrera