Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Knee Deep in the Hoopla | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 12, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984−1985 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | AOR, pop rock | |||
Length | 40:28 | |||
Label | Grunt/RCA | |||
Producer |
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Starship chronology | ||||
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Singles from Knee Deep in the Hoopla | ||||
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Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the debut studio album by American AOR band Starship, the succeeding musical project to Jefferson Starship. It was released on September 12, 1985, through the record label Grunt.[3]
Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (No. 26 US Hot 100) and "Before I Go" (No. 68 US Hot 100).
Background
[edit]In May 1984, Jefferson Starship released Nuclear Furniture.[4] Paul Kantner, one of the band's founding members, left shortly after, criticizing the group's tilt toward commercial rock.[5] In October, seeking to dissolve the band, he sued his former bandmates over the ownership of its name.[5] The lawsuit was settled in March 1985 with the agreement that the "Jefferson Starship" name would be retired by the group in favor of "Starship" ( owned by singer Grace Slick and manager Bill Thompson).[5]
Following the new group's creation, David Freiberg (another Jefferson Starship founding member) departed as well. The band's lineup was reduced to: singer Grace Slick, co-lead singer Mickey Thomas, guitarist Craig Chaquico, bassist Pete Sears, and drummer Donny Baldwin.[5]
Production and release
[edit]AllMusic retrospectively described Knee Deep in the Hoopla as the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship project's "most overtly commercial effort to date".[6]
The track "Desperate Heart", written by Michael Bolton and Randy Goodrum, also appears on Bolton's album Everybody's Crazy, released the same year. Two songs sung by Grace Slick were recorded for but left off the album: Slick's own "Do You Remember Me?" (released on The Best of Grace Slick) and the Peter Wolf–Jeremy Smith composition "Casualty" (included as a bonus track on the 1999 remaster). Jeannette and Pete Sears wrote a song for the album called "One More Innocent", but it was rejected for its political lyrics.[7]
Knee Deep in the Hoopla was released on September 10, 1985, through record label Grunt. Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" and "Before I Go". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
People | negative[8] |
Cash Box said of the track "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" that "Mickey Thomas’ sensational lead vocal keeps this cut aloft with exhilerating sonic flight" and that "It slices like a double bladed sword, and backed by searing rock guitars and a churning rhythm."[9] Billboard called that song "exemplary American AOR of the '80s, interrupted only by an ethereal bridge."[10]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "We Built This City" | 4:53 | |
2. | "Sara" |
| 4:48 |
3. | "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" |
| 3:41 |
4. | "Rock Myself to Sleep" | 3:24 | |
5. | "Desperate Heart" | 4:04 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Private Room" | 4:51 | |
2. | "Before I Go" | David Roberts | 5:11 |
3. | "Hearts of the World (Will Understand)" |
| 4:21 |
4. | "Love Rusts" |
| 4:57 |
Total length: | 40:28 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Casualty" |
| 4:34 |
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the album's liner notes.[11]
Starship
- Mickey Thomas – lead (1-3, 5-7, 9), backing vocals (1, 4, 8, 9)
- Grace Slick – lead (1, 4, 8, 9), backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 9)
- Craig Chaquico – guitars, backing vocals (5-7)
- Pete Sears – bass guitar, synth bass, backing vocals (5-7)
- Donny Baldwin – drums, electronic drums, backing vocals (1, 5-8)
Additional musicians
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Love Rusts additional background vocals
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Production
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Starship crew
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Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[22] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[23] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Database
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 430. ISBN 9780862415419.
- ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 25.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Jefferson Starship". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Starship". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b McCombs, Joseph. "Knee Deep in the Hoopla – Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ Sears, Jeannette (January 3, 2012). "We Built This City". jeannettesears.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ^ "Pick and Pans Review: Knee Deep in the Hoopla". People. November 11, 1985. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. April 5, 1986. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Reviews". Billboard. April 5, 1986. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
- ^ Knee Deep In The Hoopla (liner notes). Grunt. 1985. FL85488.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 291. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0617". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0618". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Music Canada.
- ^ "American album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
[edit]- Knee Deep in the Hoopla at Discogs (list of releases)
- Starship: Too Old to Rock?, Los Angeles Times