In 1979, the debut album by the Knack, “Get the Knack,” was recorded in about two weeks on a shoe-string budget, and subsequently sold more than a million copies in less than two months. The album spent five weeks in the number one position on the Billboard charts, and the song “My Sharona” entered the mass rock and roll consciousness. It was, by any standards, a successful year for the band.

I discovered the album shortly after it´s release. I was living in Germany at the time, attending Bitburg High School and enjoying my status as a rising star on the cross-country team. Fortunately, the cross-country team was loaded with serious fans of rock and roll and classic tapes and albums were passed around with abandon. Our rock and roll education was broadened by sampling each other´s collections and we prided ourselves on our musical tastes. When we loaned a copy of AC/DC´s “Back in Black” or borrowed a copy of Queen´s “The Game,” we knew we were spreading greatness.

It was through this exchange that I came into possession of a copy of “Get the Knack.”

I can´t remember who loaned “Get the Knack” to me---maybe it was my cross-country coach, Mr. Gaittens, or a team-mate named Ambrose Smith, but I can remember that I was impressed with it.

First of all, the photo on the cover of “Get the Knack” was a direct refutation of the heavy rock bands dominating my turntable at the time. Where the bands comprising my collection had long hair, unbuttoned shirts exposing hairy chests, leather pants, and high-heeled boots, the Knack looked more like waiters or office workers. The Knack wore white button-up shirts, black slacks, ties and vests! I could never, because of parental resistance and civil rules of conduct walk around dressed like the guys in Judas Priest---no matter how cool I thought it was. I could, however, reasonably look like the guys in the Knack. It definitely struck me as a look that wouldn´t repel the ladies---like the Judas Priest look most certainly would have done. This was all new to me and I was eager to give the album a spin.

As far as I was concerned, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the Knack´s sound. They sold jangling and chiming guitar-pop music combined with sly lyrics depicting the unbridled joy of youth in pursuit of romance. In many ways, the Knack are close to what I have in mind when I try to describe the perfect rock and roll band. And having said that, I have to further admit that it´s a mystery to me why this band doesn´t enjoy a U2 level of success.

After an intense level of radio saturation, the song “My Sharona” started to generate a bit of public resentment. I don´t know the source of the resentment---maybe “My Sharona” was overplayed, maybe people were turned off by the perceived arrogance of “Get the Knack´s” back cover photo of the band emulating the Beatles´ Ed Sullivan television appearance, but I remember sensing a definite disdain for the band among many rock and roll fans. The band was never able to recreate the success of “Get the Knack” and I´ve always thought that was a shame---mostly because I feel like the reason for their fall from the top of the charts had more to do with resentment for their rapid rise to success than the quality of their music.

More than once, I´ve ambushed a confirmed Knack-hater by pushing the play button in the middle of the guitar solo on the album version of “My Sharona.” The extended guitar solo rocks, and soon, without knowing what they are hearing, the hater is nodding their head to the music. The solo builds to a climax with drums, bass and guitars flailing to a crashing stop. After holding for a silent beat, the band breathlessly return to hammer out the rest of the song. By this time, the hater, whose eyes have glazed over in appreciation of rock and roll greatness, finally recognizes the song. By then, it´s too late for their ego. They have to admit that the Knack do, in fact, rock.

And that´s just one song from “Get the Knack.” The rest of the album is filled with brilliance of roughly equal or lesser value.

“Your Number or Your Name” is a text-book example of power-pop. Chiming guitars, lyrics that echo innocent sixties era pop, and very cool and underrated drum work by Bruce Gary. If it weren´t for the guitar solo in “My Sharona,” “Your Number or Your Name” would be my favorite Knack song.

“Good Girls Don´t” was just the kind of sly tune that fifteen year old cross-country runners liked. It spoke of girls we knew existed, but who were outside our circle of friends. Still, it was strangely satisfying to know they were out there.

The rest of the album is consistently rendered power-pop. “Let Me Out” opens the album with a ferocious beat and a driving guitar riff. It´s the kind of song that´s hard to disregard. “Maybe Tonight” joins a long list of pop songs with lyrics longing for a relationship to bloom. It´s rendered with a nostalgic drama and succeeds without being campy. And “That´s What the Little Girls Do” finds a cheerful way to describe the pain and heartbreak that´s the price of love.

It´s been thirty years since “Get the Knack” was released and “My Sharona” became one of the most recognizable songs in rock and roll history. I´d like to think that this thirtieth anniversary year will prompt a critical reassessment of the artistic merits of “Get the Knack.”

It really is a rockin´ album.

Peace!