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Knee Deep in the Hoopla

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Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Studio album by
Starship
ReleasedSeptember 12, 1985
Recorded1984−1985
Studio
GenreAOR, pop rock
Length40:28
LabelGrunt/RCA
Producer
Starship chronology
Knee Deep in the Hoopla
(1985) 		No Protection
(1987)
Singles from Knee Deep in the Hoopla
  1. "We Built This City"
    Released: August 26, 1985[1][2]
  2. "Sara"
    Released: December 1985
  3. "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight"
    Released: April 1986
  4. "Before I Go"
    Released: June 1986[3]

Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the debut album by American AOR band Starship, the succeeding musical project to Jefferson Starship. It was released on September 12, 1985, by RCA and Grunt,[4] with four singles: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (No. 26) and "Before I Go" (No. 68).[5]

Background

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In May 1984, Jefferson Starship released Nuclear Furniture.[6] Paul Kantner, one of the band's founding members, left shortly after, criticizing the group's tilt toward commercial rock.[7] In October, he sough to dissolve the band and sued his former bandmates over the ownership of its name.[7] The lawsuit was settled in March 1985 with the agreement that the "Jefferson Starship" name would be retired by the group in favor of "Starship", a name now owned by singer Grace Slick and manager Bill Thompson.[7]

Shortly after the new group's creation, David Freiberg (another Jefferson Starship founding member) departed as well. For the band's debut album, the lineup was reduced to a quintet consisting of singer Grace Slick, co-lead singer Mickey Thomas, guitarist Craig Chaquico, bassist Pete Sears, and drummer Donny Baldwin.[7]

Recording and production

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Peter Wolf, who had worked on Nuclear Furniture, was hired to produce Knee Deep in the Hoopla. As the band sought a new, radio relevant sound, Wolf brought novel recording techniques. Among these was the use of the Synclavier, which guitarist Craig Chaquico later described as "cutting edge," adding that despite the changes, the group did not feel like they were "selling out," but rather felt like "they were trying to land a man on the moon."[8] However, short-term member David Freiberg recalled in a 1997 interview that one of the reasons for his departure was that in the studio "nobody in the band was playing anything" as it was all about "producing" and "hot stuff keyboard players."[9]

For the album, Wolf also sourced material from a wide variety of outside songwriters, which was said to have made the group more "unified and focused".[10][11] This was an important change from the old lineup's previous albums, as the songs were primarily written by its members.[12] "We Built This City" was the first product from these new recording efforts and the album's lead single.[7] Originally written by Bernie Taupin (lyricist known for his work with Elton John) and Martin Page, the track was further developed by Wolf and co-producers Dennis Lambert and Jeremy Smith.[13][14] The album's title was taken from one of the song's lyrics: "Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight".[15][16] The second single, "Sara", was a ballad written by Wolf and his wife, Ina Wolf, and named after Mickey Thomas' then-wife.[7][13] Both of these songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[7][13]

The track "Desperate Heart", written by Michael Bolton and Randy Goodrum, also appeared on Bolton's album Everybody's Crazy, released earlier that year in March. "Rock Myself to Sleep" was written by Katrina and the Waves members Kimberley Rew and Vince de la Cruz and featured additional vocals by Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow.[17] The album's closing track, "Love Rusts", also written by Page and Taupin, featured additional background vocals by artists like Peter Beckett (from Player), Simon Climie (later of Climie Fisher fame), and Siedah Garrett.[17] The only song on the record written by any of the band's members was "Private Room", penned by vocalist Mickey Thomas and guitarist Craig Chaquico.[11] The music video for the album's third single, "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" was directed by Francis Delia (director of the videos for "Sara" and "We Built This City") and shot in a converted warehouse located in downtown Los Angeles.[18] The set was designed by Waldemar Kalinoswky.[18]

Two songs sung by Grace Slick were recorded for but left off the album: Slick's own "Do You Remember Me?" (released on The Best of Grace Slick) and the Peter Wolf–Jeremy Smith composition "Casualty" (included as a bonus track on the remastered 1999 CD edition of the album). Pete Sears and his wife, Jeannette, wrote a song for the album titled "One More Innocent", which was rejected due to its political lyrics.[19][20]

In November 1985, Billboard reported that Slick characterized the sound on the album as "cleaner, more crisp", while Thomas called it "more current, and more focused."[10] In September, the publication also wrote that the album had been "tentatively titled 'Another American Dream Goes Berserk'."[21]

Reflecting on the creation of Knee Deep in the Hoopla, vocalist Mickey Thomas would later say that:

"[with the album] we definitely made a conscious effort to sort of redefine ourselves and say: 'Let’s go in and try to do a completely different approach to music. Let’s use a different method. Let’s try to have a couple of hit singles. Let’s just go for it'."[22]

Release

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Knee Deep in the Hoopla was released on September 10, 1985, through RCA and Grunt. Four singles were released from the album, which all charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", the No. 26 hit "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (peaked at No. 26), and the No. 68 "Before I Go".[5] Knee Deep in the Hoopla was certified platinum by the RIAA on 27 December 1985.[23]

On 22 September 2023, Knee Deep in the Hoopla was reissued as part of the limited-edition "Rhino Reds" series, launched in celebration of Rhino's 45th anniversary.[24][25] The album was pressed on translucent red vinyl at Third Man and mastered by Jeff Powell.[24][26] This release also included "Casualty" as a bonus track and was accompanied by a bonus 7" single featuring "We Built This City" and "Private Room".[24][26]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[27]
Melodic[28]

Joseph McCombs of AllMusic retrospectively described Knee Deep in the Hoopla as the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship project's "most overtly commercial effort to date."[29] He noted that the album's songs "are pleasant but lightweight" and that while they "are less than memorable, they are very tuneful and melodic."[29] McCombs highlighted "Love Rusts" as the standout cut.[29]

On 7 September 1985, Cashbox stated that "We Built This City" was a "must-add," describing it as an "ear-catching" and "bouncy" song that was "dance rock with sharp hooks" for Contemporary hits radio.[30] On September 21, the magazine said that Knee Deep in the Hoopla was "rich in commercial potential and musical satisfaction," observing that it placed emphasis on "melodic, pop songwriting" and the "vocal interplay" of Slick and Thomas.[31] On the same day, Billboard noted that with the album, the band took their "techno-rock swing" to a "more decisive stance," describing the makeover as a shift toward the "mainstream '80s."[32]

In November 1985, Stephen Holden of The New York Times said that the album, as a ''compendium of strutting pop-rock cliches," represented everything Jefferson Airplane stood against: "conformity, conservatism and a slavish adherence to formula."[33] That same month, People argued that "although the producers give Starship’s music some punch," it was like trying to "resuscitate a pork chop".[34] They considered "We Built This City" a tease "with nice keyboards by Wolf", and described the rest of the album as "weary hackwork."[34] Some days later, Associated Press writer Larry Kilman described "We Built this City" as a "short and snappy" song that, with a catchy chorus, was made for radio play.[35] He found the album to be "uneven," noting that "listeners drawn to it by 'We Built the City' [sic] will enjoy 'Hearts of the World' but little else."[35] Kilman also singled out "Love Rusts", calling it the second-best song on the record.[35] In December, Tom Ford of The Blade referred to Knee Deep in the Hoopla as the "quagmire of the commercial music market", describing the songs on it as "flashy and toothless," and concluding that there was no vision from the people who "should have some."[36]

In April 1986, Cashbox said that "Mickey Thomas' sensational lead vocal" kept "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" "aloft with exhilerating [sic] sonic flight," adding that the track, backed by "searing rock guitars and a churning rhythm," sliced "like a double bladed sword."[37] Billboard called it "exemplary American AOR of the '80s, interrupted only by an ethereal bridge."[38]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We Built This City"
4:53
2."Sara"
4:48
3."Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight"
  • Steven Cristol
  • Robin Randall
3:41
4."Rock Myself to Sleep"
3:24
5."Desperate Heart"
4:04
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Private Room"
4:51
2."Before I Go"David Roberts5:11
3."Hearts of the World (Will Understand)"
  • Stephen Broughton Lunt
  • Arthur Stead
4:21
4."Love Rusts"
  • Taupin
  • Page
4:57
Total length:40:28
Remastered CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Casualty"
  • P. Wolf
  • Jeremy Smith
4:34

Personnel

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Adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]

Starship

  • Mickey Thomas – lead (1-3, 5-7, 9), backing vocals (1, 4, 8, 9)
  • Grace Slick – lead (1, 4, 8, 9), backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 9)
  • Craig Chaquico – guitars, backing vocals (5-7)
  • Pete Sears – bass guitar, synth bass, backing vocals (5-7)
  • Donny Baldwin – drums, electronic drums, backing vocals (1, 5-8)

Starship crew

  • Bill Laudner
  • Eric Van Soest
  • Skip Johnson
  • Mark Haynes
  • Jim Robison
  • Bruce Maglione
  • Zeke Clark
  • Billy Goodman
  • Geoff Grace
  • Mike Fischer
  • Nadine Condon – office staff
  • Linda Lalli – office staff
  • Jacky Sarti – office staff

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[50] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 30.
  2. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Database
  3. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 430. ISBN 9780862415419.
  4. ^ Hard, Bill, ed. (September 6, 1985). Friday Morning Quarterback (PDF). Kal Rudman. p. 25.
  5. ^ a b "Starship". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Jefferson Starship". AllMusic. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Ruhlmann, William. "Starship". AllMusic. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (August 31, 2016). "We Built This S#!tty: An Oral History of the Worst Song of All Time". GQ. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Barthel, John (September 4, 1997). "David Freiberg Interview". Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2024. Well, because they want me in, and I didn't want to be there because they were doing 'We Built This City' and all. It was at the point where they were going to the studio, and nobody in the band was playing anything. Maybe if they needed a guitar… Craig would play it. It was all producing and it was all hot stuff keyboard players and that is what I was basically playing with them…you know…and that wasn't me. Why have me around? Why should I be around?
  10. ^ a b McDonough, Jack (November 2, 1985). "New Starship: 'Cleaner, More Focused'". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 44. p. 47. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Giles, Jeff (August 15, 2014). "How Jefferson Airplane Ultimately Became Starship". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  12. ^ McShane, Larry (February 4, 1986). "Starship sails ahead despite critics' barbs". The Day. pp. C3. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Fielder, Hugh (December 9, 2023). ""Grace was three sheets to the wind, so Marty sang to her while holding her in an arm-lock so she couldn't get away": the epic, drunken and very crazy story of Jefferson Starship". louder. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Dellar, Fred (May 13, 2022). "MOJO Time Machine: The Starship Takes Off!". Mojo. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "Deep Dive: Starship, WE BUILT THIS CITY". Rhino. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Starship (December 12, 2018). We Built This City (Video). Retrieved September 23, 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ a b c Knee Deep In The Hoopla (liner notes). Grunt. 1985. FL85488.
  18. ^ a b "Video Track". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 14. April 5, 1985. p. 54. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Sears, Pete. "1985. "Knee Deep in the Hoopla"". PETE SEARS. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Sears, Jeannette (January 3, 2012). "We Built This City". Jeannette Sears. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  21. ^ Grein, Paul (September 7, 1985). "Wonder's 'Circle' Album Finally Ready" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 36. p. 4. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ DeRiso, Nick (July 4, 2013). "Mickey Thomas, on Jefferson Starship's transformation into Starship: Something Else! Interview". Something Else!. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  23. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c "Rhino Records Celebrates 45 Years with the RHINO REDS Vinyl Series". Rhino. July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Rogers, Becky (July 31, 2023). "Rhino celebrate 45th anniversary with limited-edition reissue series". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Knee Deep In The Hoopla + Bonus 7" (Rhino Red Vinyl)". Rhino. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  27. ^ McCombs, Joseph. "Knee Deep in the Hoopla – Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  28. ^ Gutierrez, Virginia (February 11, 2019). "Starship - Knee Deep In The Hoopla". Melodic. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c McCombs, Joseph. "Knee Deep in the Hoopla". AllMusic. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XLIX, no. 13. September 7, 1985. p. 9. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  31. ^ "Album Releases" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XLIX, no. 14. September 21, 1985. p. 8. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  32. ^ "Pop - Picks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 38. September 21, 1985. p. 62. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  33. ^ Holden, Stephen (November 27, 1985). "The Pop Life: Sade's 2d Album, a Refined Fusion". The New York Times. p. 24.
  34. ^ a b People Staff (November 11, 1985). "Picks and Pans Review: Knee Deep in the Hoopla". People. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c Kilman, Larry (November 23, 1985). "Starship is a band in search of an image". The Free Lance-Star. p. 17. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  36. ^ Ford, Tom (December 7, 1985). "New Starship Release Is Slick, But It Lacks Vision". The Blade. p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  37. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLIX, no. 42. April 5, 1985. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "Pop - Picks". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 14. April 5, 1986. p. 71. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  39. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 291. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  40. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0617". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  41. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  42. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  43. ^ "Charts.nz – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  44. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  45. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  46. ^ "Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  47. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0618". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  48. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  49. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Music Canada.
  50. ^ "American album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Recording Industry Association of America.
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