“When you gonna give it to me, give it to me.
It is just a matter of time Sharona
Is it just destiny, destiny?
Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona?”

-- "My Sharona" by The Knack

Taking their cue from their fellow power-pop giants, The Kinks put together a sound that was perfect for the demise of disco, making them a virtual overnight sensation in rock and roll.  Singer/guitarist Doug Fieger, guitarist Berton Averre, bassist Prescott Niles and drummer Bruce Gary, had been in the industry for about a decade before they came together to form The Knack in 1978.  The airwaves were dominated with disco and it was high time for a band like this to come along.  Their combined talents and relentless gig schedule in Southern California made them an easy pick for record execs, and before we knew it, we were singing along to “My Sharona.”

A short few months after being signed, the band released Get the Knack, featuring the chart-topper “My Sharona.”  A love-ode from Fieger to a real-life teenager, Sharona Alperin, “My Sharona” came with a thunderous rhythm section and slashing guitar riffs, helping it to remain on top of the charts in 1979, where it would stay for six weeks.  Get the Knack also featured other power-pop faves, like “Your Number or Your Name,” the psychedelia-tinged “Maybe Tonight” and a heart-stopping cover of Buddy Holly’s “Heartbeat.” 

By the end of 1979, America was in a state of Knack-mania.  As more and more people started picking up the album, fans began making comparisons with another famous power-pop band, the Beatles.  Their ‘retro’ new wave look, along with excellent guitar hooks, brought in a bevy of fans – fans that helped them follow up the tremendous success of “My Sharona” with “Good Girls Don’t.”  The lusty tune was a send up to their British invasion heroes and became a Top-20 hit.  The success of their first two singles help to propel them on a sold-out international tour that would bring them back for a final performance at the Forum in their hometown, Los Angeles, California.

Once off the tour, The Knack went headfirst into the studio to record the follow-up to Get the Knack, 1980’s …But the Little Girls Understand.  The seasoned musicians recorded their sophomore effort with ease, and were rewarded with a Top-40 hit in “Baby Talks Dirty.”  …But the Little Girls Understand also featured a cover of an obscure Kinks’ tune, “The Hard Way.”  1980 was kind to The Knack, giving them two Grammy noms and a whole lotta critical praise. 

After a whirlwind start to the decade, The Knack decided to take it easy in 1981, coming back together at the end of the year to record a third effort, Round Trip.  The album played up their psychedelic leanings, yet was far more polished than any of their previous releases, allowing them to incorporate elements of R&B on songs such like “Africa.”  After touring in support of Round Trip, The Knack surprised their fans by breaking up. 

Members of The Knack would continue working in music, filling various roles, from session musicians, to songwriters and producers.  Fieger even went on to appear in an episode of the TV hit, Roseanne.  They regrouped in 1986, and despite an enthusiastic response from their fans, the reunion failed to bring about any recording success or permanence within the band.  A few years would go be before they released 1991’s Serious Fun, produced by famed musician and producer, Don Was (of Was (Not Was) fame).  The album produced a radio hit with “Rocket O’Love.”  In 1994, The Knack garnered new attention with the addition of “My Sharona” to the soundtrack of the 90s slacker/disenfranchised youth flick, Reality Bites.  Suddenly, The Knack were on the Hot 100 charts (“My Sharona” was one of only a dozen songs to ever accomplish such a feat), prompting a well-received reunion tour.

Since then, the band has continued to build on the success of that through individual musical efforts along with touring.  1998 saw the release of Zoom, as well as a greatest hits compilation, Proof.  Their debut album, Get the Knack, continues to draw sales to this day, almost 30 years after its first pressing.  The band that was hotter than a rocket when they first burst onto the scene has proven itself to be a lasting force in music, influencing the generation of rockers that were to follow and even those beyond that with their ear-candy blend of power-pop and rock-and-roll.