RIP Doug Fieger

My basic rule is: If the average music fan can cite two songs by a group ... they're not a one-hit wonder.

Sniff 'N The Tears is a one-hit wonder.

 

I would hardly call Driver's Seat a hit.

 

Reached No. 15 on the Hot 100 in 1979. I'd disagree, but okay.

 

On the Sniff N the Tears Hot 100?? Ian Gomm and Chuck Francour weep.

 

The Knack had a third Top 40 hit, "Baby Talks Dirty," that grazed the bottom of Casey's countdown.

 

Actually, the Billboard Hot 100. Ian who? Chuck who?

 

Moon Martin, The Vapours, Flash & The Pan and Carolyne Mas weep too. "Drivers Seat" is a great record BTW.

Anyway, I remember the whole "Nuke The Knack" venom in the music press after their debut. But Get The Knack is a power pop masterpiece that still sounds great 30 years later.

There was plenty of great stuff on there other than "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't": "Your Number Or Your Name", "Let Me Out", "Maybe Tonight", "Frustrated" and a cool cover of Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat".

Of course after that The Knack embodied that classic music biz axiom that you get your whole life to make your first album, six months to make the second one. ....But The Little Girls Understand was just warmed-over Get the Knack and justifiably bombed and was absolutely skewered by this review by Dave Marsh in Rolling Stone:

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theknack/albums/album/105362/review/5943082/but_the_little_girls_understand

Knack drummer Bruce Gary, who was great on their debut, died in 2006.

 

Sharona is a real estate agent here in L.A., and I've heard she had some minor health issues of her own (dunno what they are).

www.mysharona.com

 

Did Diesel ever have another hit other than the awesome "Sausalito Summer Night"?

 

Actually, during the My Sharona glory days, he was considered to be one. He did apparently mellow out.

 

"Frustrated" wasn't bad, either. And it got some air time way back there.