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. It 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'sMainstream Rock Chart.
Overview
The album was released by Charisma Records on January 16, 1991. MusicianDon Was, better known as a member of the group 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. "One Day at a Time" was intended to be the second single from the album, but the label decided to stop promoting the album at the time of the intended release. According to Knack guitarist Berton Averre, an A&R man at the label thought "One Day at a Time" would be a hit but felt it would be preferable for the lead single to be a harder rock song, and so "Rocket O' Love" was released as the lead single. And apparently when the time came to release a second single, the label had lost interest in the band, and so buried the intended release of "One Day at a Time." -waving scene from the 'Rocket O' Love' music video A deluxe CD reissue complete with 24-bitdigital remastering, bonus tracks, and detailed liner notes was released in 2002 by parent companyVirgin Records. It includes a cover of the Martha & the Vandellas song 'Nowhere to Run' done in the Knack's power popstyle. 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," "Rocket O' Love" and "One Day at a Time" were incorporated into the greatest hits albumThe Retrospective: The Best of the Knack, which was released by Capitol 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.
Reception
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." 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." Walter Allread panned the album as uninspired, stating that it consisted of "12 new tunes that succeed only at making you want to hear 'My Sharona' again," but also conceded that "One Day at a Time" might have some radio success.
Track listing
All songs are by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger except where noted.
Original release
"Rocket O' Love"
"I Want Love"
"Serious Fun"
"One Day at a Time"
"River of Sighs"
"Let's Get Lost"
"Can Tickle"
"Shine"
"Won't Let Go/Aces & Eights"
"Body Talk"
" Mau Mau"
"Doin' the Dog"
New release
All songs are by Berton Averre/Doug Fieger except where noted.
