Stranger than Fiction (Joe Jackson song)
"Stranger than Fiction" | ||||
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Single by Joe Jackson | ||||
from the album Laughter & Lust | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 8 April 1991[1] | |||
Length | 3:40 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joe Jackson | |||
Producer(s) | Joe Jackson Ed Roynesdal | |||
Joe Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Stranger than Fiction" is a song by British 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" reached No. 53 in Germany,[3] No. 71 in the Netherlands,[4] and No. 79 on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart.[5] A music video was filmed to promote the single.[6]
Critical reception[]
On its release, 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."[7] 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."[8]
In a review of Laughter & Lust, Billboard described the song as "Rundgren-esque".[9] Tom Long of the Santa Cruz Sentinel felt the song "harkens back" to Jackson's 1979 hit "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" in terms of "sheer listenability".[10] John Everson of the Southtown Star considered it "a sweet ballad with a sleek '60s-ish organ solo that just begs to be played on pop radio".[11] Dan Bennett of the North County Blade-Citizen wrote, "Jackson's wisecracking but still vulnerable take on love and folly is indeed the ultimate single."[12]
Track listing[]
- 7" single
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- "Drowning" - 5:09
- 12" 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
- CD single (UK release)
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- "Different For Girls (New Recording)" - 3:37
- "Drowning" - 5:09
- CD single (US promo)
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
- CD single (Japanese promo)
- "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:44
- "Drowning" - 5:10
Personnel[]
- 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 - producer (all tracks)
- Ed Roynesdal - producer on "Stranger than Fiction" and "Drowning"
- Larry Alexander - engineer
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
- Other
- Calef Brown - illustration
- Patrik Andersson - photography
Charts[]
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Singles Chart[13] | 119 |
Canadian (RPM) 100 Singles Chart[5] | 79 |
Dutch Singles Chart[4] | 71 |
German Singles Chart[3] | 53 |
References[]
- ^ "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction / Drowning - Virgin America - UK - VUS 40". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ AllMusic Review by Jason Damas (1991-04-30). "Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Steffen Hung. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction". germancharts.de. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Steffen Hung. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Item: 1086 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ ""Stranger Than Fiction" by Joe Jackson | Music Video | MTV Africa". Mtvbase.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. 27 April 1991.
- ^ Jones, Alan (13 April 1991). "Market Report - Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Billboard magazine - Album Reviews: Pop - 11 May 1991 - page 74
- ^ Long, Tom (21 June 1991). "Music - Rebel Joe Jackson puts it all together". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ Everson, John (6 June 1991). "Music - Joe Jackson's 'Laughter' bubbles with angry wit". Southtown Star. p. 9.
- ^ Bennett, Dan (7 June 1991). "Music - Costello's album comes out smelling 'Like a Rose'". North County Blade-Citizen. p. 11.
- ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
External links[]
- 1991 songs
- 1991 singles
- Songs written by Joe Jackson (musician)
- Joe Jackson (musician) songs
- Virgin Records singles