"Pay the Devil (Ooo, Baby, Ooo)" is a song written by Berton Averre and first released by the Knack on their 1981 album Round Trip. It was also released as a single, and reached #67 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][2] It continued the descending patterns of the Knack's singles from "My Sharona" which reached #1 to "Good Girls Don't" which reached #11 to "Baby Talks Dirty" which peaked at #38 to "Can't Put a Price on Love" which only reached #62.[1] However, it was the last Knack single to chart at all until "My Sharona" re-entered the charts at #91 in 1994 in the wake of its appearance in the soundtrack of Reality Bites.[3] "Pay the Devil" was later included on Knack compilation albums The Retrospective: The Best of the Knack and Very Best of the Knack.[4][5]
Although lead singer Doug Fieger wrote or co-wrote most of the Knack's songs, lead guitarist Berton Averre received the sole writing credit for "Pay the Devil."[6] Fieger claimed that it was "a very personal song" of Averre's.[6] Fieger interpreted the song as "whatever you may want, there's always a price to pay."[6]Rolling Stone critic David Fricke interprets the song as possibly containing an apology for some of the band's earlier mistakes in lines such as:[7]
Everybody's got to read the reviews
... even you
Got to learn to give the devil his due
Fricke describes the music of "Pay the Devil" as country musicwaltz although other critics, such as Allmusic's Steve Schnee describe the song as a ballad.[7][8]
Single releaseedit
Round Trip contained an eclectic collection of songs, and it was not obvious which song should be the lead single.[9] The band's choice for a lead single was "Soul Kissin'."[10] However, to the band's surprise, an A&R man at their label, Capitol Records, felt that "Pay the Devil" could become a hit single, and so "Pay the Devil" was released instead.[9][10] Although producerJack Douglas felt "Pay the Devil" was "a really good song," he didn't think "Pay the Devil" was an appropriate song for the lead single because it did not give a representative taste of the album.[9] Averre claims that the band was not surprised that the song "failed to click as a single."[9]
Critical receptionedit
Allmusic critic Steve Schnee praised "Pay the Devil" as a "beautifully haunting ballad" and included it as one of "the Knack's best tracks."[8]Billboard described the song as "the kind of tune that gets better with every listen."[11]Record World said that it "spotlights Doug Fieger's expert lead vocals and the band's harmonies."[12]Record World also said that "The candy-coated hook is delivered with Doug Fieger's loving care, and aimed at pop radio."[13]Ira Robbins and Michael Sandlin of Trouser Press called "Pay the Devil" "mushy, pandering lounge-rock."[14]Rolling Stone's David Fricke described the song as "slick, sub-Eagles fluff."[7] Keith Tuber of Orange Coast Magazine called "Pay the Devil" "a tasty melodic ballad," although he preferred the band's choice for a single, "Soul Kissin'."[10]Classic Rock History critic Skip Anderson felt that its gospel music music influences turned many listeners off and that "Boys Go Crazy" would have been a more suitable lead single from the album.[15]
^Anderson, Skip. "Top 10 songs from the Knack". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
April 25, 2024
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Pay the Devil Ooo Baby Ooo is a song written by Berton Averre and first released by the Knack on their 1981 album Round Trip It was also released as a single and reached 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 1 2 It continued the descending patterns of the Knack s singles from My Sharona which reached 1 to Good Girls Don t which reached 11 to Baby Talks Dirty which peaked at 38 to Can t Put a Price on Love which only reached 62 1 However it was the last Knack single to chart at all until My Sharona re entered the charts at 91 in 1994 in the wake of its appearance in the soundtrack of Reality Bites 3 Pay the Devil was later included on Knack compilation albums The Retrospective The Best of the Knack and Very Best of the Knack 4 5 Pay the Devil Ooo Baby Ooo Single by The Knackfrom the album Round TripB side Lil Cals Big Mistake Released1981GenrePower popLength3 52LabelCapitolSongwriter s Berton AverreProducer s Jack DouglasThe Knack singles chronology Can t Put a Price on Love 1980 Pay the Devil Ooo Baby Ooo 1981 Rocket O Love 1991 Contents 1 Lyrics amp music 2 Single release 3 Critical reception 4 ReferencesLyrics amp music editAlthough lead singer Doug Fieger wrote or co wrote most of the Knack s songs lead guitarist Berton Averre received the sole writing credit for Pay the Devil 6 Fieger claimed that it was a very personal song of Averre s 6 Fieger interpreted the song as whatever you may want there s always a price to pay 6 Rolling Stone critic David Fricke interprets the song as possibly containing an apology for some of the band s earlier mistakes in lines such as 7 Everybody s got to read the reviews even you Got to learn to give the devil his due Fricke describes the music of Pay the Devil as country music waltz although other critics such as Allmusic s Steve Schnee describe the song as a ballad 7 8 Single release editRound Trip contained an eclectic collection of songs and it was not obvious which song should be the lead single 9 The band s choice for a lead single was Soul Kissin 10 However to the band s surprise an A amp R man at their label Capitol Records felt that Pay the Devil could become a hit single and so Pay the Devil was released instead 9 10 Although producer Jack Douglas felt Pay the Devil was a really good song he didn t think Pay the Devil was an appropriate song for the lead single because it did not give a representative taste of the album 9 Averre claims that the band was not surprised that the song failed to click as a single 9 Critical reception editAllmusic critic Steve Schnee praised Pay the Devil as a beautifully haunting ballad and included it as one of the Knack s best tracks 8 Billboard described the song as the kind of tune that gets better with every listen 11 Record World said that it spotlights Doug Fieger s expert lead vocals and the band s harmonies 12 Record World also said that The candy coated hook is delivered with Doug Fieger s loving care and aimed at pop radio 13 Ira Robbins and Michael Sandlin of Trouser Press called Pay the Devil mushy pandering lounge rock 14 Rolling Stone s David Fricke described the song as slick sub Eagles fluff 7 Keith Tuber of Orange Coast Magazine called Pay the Devil a tasty melodic ballad although he preferred the band s choice for a single Soul Kissin 10 Classic Rock History critic Skip Anderson felt that its gospel music music influences turned many listeners off and that Boys Go Crazy would have been a more suitable lead single from the album 15 References edit a b The Knack singles Allmusic Retrieved 2012 04 16 Rees D amp Compton L 1999 Rock Stars Encyclopedia 2nd ed DK p 566 ISBN 9780789446138 Hot 100 Singles Get The Knack Again Billboard April 16 1994 p 102 Erlewine S T The Retrospective The Best of the Knack Allmusic Retrieved 2012 04 16 Erlewine S T Very Best of the Knack Allmusic Retrieved 2012 04 16 a b c Michaels R 2005 Flashbacks to Happiness Eighties Music Revisited iUniverse p 343 ISBN 9780595370078 a b c Fricke D December 10 1981 Round Trip Rolling Stone a b Schnee S Round Trip Allmusic Retrieved 2012 04 16 a b c d McLaughlin M amp Sharp K 2004 Getting the Knack Passport Productions a b c Tuber K January 1982 Round Trip Orange Coast Magazine p 83 The Knack Round Trip Billboard October 24 2012 p 76 Hits of the Week PDF Record World October 24 1981 p 1 Retrieved 2023 03 01 Hits of the Week PDF Record World October 31 1981 p 1 Retrieved 2023 03 01 Robbins I amp Sandlin M The Knack Trouser Press Retrieved 2012 04 16 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Anderson Skip Top 10 songs from the Knack Classic Rock History Retrieved 2023 01 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pay the Devil Ooo Baby Ooo amp oldid 1142369369, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
