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Sunday, April 20, 2014

"Pay the Devil (Ooo, Baby, Ooo)" by The Knack

Song#:  0805
Date:  10/31/1981
Debut:  81
Peak:  67
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Knack were definitely having difficulty following up their massive 1979 #1 hit "My Sharona" and #1 debut album "Get the Knack." Their second album couldn't supply a significant hit and it failed to make the Top 10, although it did reach gold-level. Then their third album, "Round Trip," couldn't get off the ground thanks in part to this first single which couldn't even muster a Top 40 showing. This plus some pretty harsh critical backlash weighed on the group and soon after the album's release the band called it quits. They would reunite years later and issue a new album in 1991 called "Serious Fun," but their moment in the spotlight had long faded by that point.

ReduxReview:  Well, this certainly is an interesting single from a band known for their new wave power pop. The song is alright and a good listen, but I can't imagine this being a hit single at all, especially for this time period. The band was just unfortunately plagued by issues, negative press, backlash, etc., and releasing a song like this as a single didn't help.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song was not the band's choice as a first single from the album. The track "Soul Kissin'" was selected by the band, but the label chose "Pay the Devil" instead. "Soul Kissin'" was never issued as a single.  2) The Knack would make one more brief appearance on the pop chart. Due to its inclusion in the 1994 film "Reality Bites" (and its soundtrack), their hit song "My Sharona" went back on the chart for a few weeks reaching #91.

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