Stranger than Fiction (Joe Jackson song)
"Stranger than Fiction" is a song by English singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, released in 1991 as the lead single from his ninth studio album, Laughter & Lust. It was written by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Ed Roynesdal.[2]
| "Stranger than Fiction" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Joe Jackson | ||||
| from the album Laughter & Lust | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 8 April 1991[1] | |||
| Length | 3:40 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe Jackson | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Joe Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Critical reception edit
Upon its release as a single, Alan Jones of Music Week commented, "Lighter than his latter work, 'Stranger than Fiction' is oddly reminiscent of the Hollies. Probably not a hit, but a mouthwatering taster for Jackson's forthcoming album."[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "His first Virgin release and what a smash song too! Jackson has returned to pop. The chorus will be whistled from every grocery shop to every petrol station all over Europe."[4] Jane Downing of the Sunday Sun picked it as her "gem" of the week and commented, "Joe's a top rate artist but his singles don't do too well. But then again, neither [does] anything that's remotely melodic."[5] Barbara Ellen of New Musical Express described the song as "not bad" but added that "yet another whirl around low-rent suburbia is not quite what the 'kids' are into at the moment".[6]
Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News gave a mixed review, stating, "It's intelligently arranged, fresh and buoyant, but all the brass stabs and big production remind us that he's really from a different era."[7] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt it "lacks the tuneful sting to scratch too deep beneath its cheerfully witty veneer".[8] Jon Wilde of Melody Maker was critical, calling it "sub-Costello gripe".[9] Steve Duffy of the South Wales Echo awarded two out of five stars and commented, "Joe not at his jaunty best, apart from the odd line. This has a marked American (yawn) influence."[10]
Track listing edit
7-inch single
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- "Drowning" - 5:09
12-inch single and UK CD single
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- "Different for Girls" (New Recording) - 3:37
- "Drowning" - 5:09
Cassette single (US release)
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- "Jenny Jenny" - 2:44
Personnel edit
- Joe Jackson – vocals, keyboards
- Tom Teeley – guitar
- Joy Askew – keyboards, backing vocals
- Graham Maby – bass
- Dan Hickey – drums
- Sue Hadjopoulos – drums, percussion
Production
- Joe Jackson – production (all tracks)
- Ed Roynesdal – production ("Stranger than Fiction" and "Drowning")
- Larry Alexander – engineering
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Other
- Calef Brown – illustration
- Patrik Andersson – photography
Charts edit
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[11] | 119 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] | 79 |
| Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[13] | 26 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 71 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[15] | 53 |
| UK Playlist Chart (Music Week)[16] | 41 |
References edit
- ^ "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction / Drowning - Virgin America - UK - VUS 40". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ Jason Damas (1991-04-30). "Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ Jones, Alan (13 April 1991). "Market Report - Mainstream: Singles". Music Week. p. 8. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 17. 27 April 1991. p. 12.
- ^ Downing, Jane (14 April 1991). "Jane Downing's Street Buzz: Single Select". Sunday Sun. p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Ellen, Barbara (27 April 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 22.
- ^ Hodge, Marcus (15 April 1991). "Pop: Singles". Cambridge Evening News. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Hirst, Andrew (20 April 1991). "Reviews: Singles". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 29. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Wilde, Jon (20 April 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35.
- ^ Duffy, Steve (15 April 1991). "Pep Talk: Johnny's guitar just marvellous". South Wales Echo. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ . Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1630." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "European Airplay Top 50". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 18. 4 May 1991. p. 21.
- ^ "Joe Jackson – Stranger Than Fiction" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Joe Jackson – Stranger Than Fiction" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Playlist Chart". Music Week. 4 May 1991. p. 26. ISSN 0265-1548.