Even solo: Doug Fieger still has The Knack!

by: Don_Krider (May 11 '00)

Pros: A stunning solo album from the multi-platinum-selling lead singer/songwriter for The Knack
Cons: Available only from The Knack's Official Fan Club so far.
 

Several rock 'n' roll greats come to the court of rock 'n' roll to give testimony to the brilliance of Doug Fieger's musical talent by backing him on his new solo album, "First Things First."

Fieger may be better known as lead singer of The Knack, famed for their # 1 hit single "My Sharona" and for their # 1 self-titled debut album which sold millions at the close of the '70s.

The Knack's punk/new wave rock 'n' roll surfaces here on a couple of songs, but Doug Fieger as a solo act heads in a more rock roots direction with this album. Fieger succeeds quite well, with a sound that is unique but has touches of John Fogerty, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers in the songs.

In the 4-page CD booklet (short, but really all this effort needs), Fieger admits doing the album to please himself, noting that whether the fans like it or hate it, the point is "it doesn't really matter, it's just a record."

Fieger sings lead on all the tracks, while playing acoustic and electric rhythm guitars (playing lead guitar on "Praying For You"). The talent behind him includes Billy Preston (organ), Nicky Hopkins (piano), Jim Keltner (guitar), Benmont Tench (piano and organ), The Doors' Ray Manzarek (piano and organ), Billy Ward (drums), Don Was (bass) and The Doobie Brothers' Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (pedal steel guitar).

Fieger's cover of "Love Hurts" is a magnificent interpretation of a classic song. The song was written by Country Music Hall of Famer Boudleaux Bryant, who co-wrote such Everly Brothers' hits as "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bird Dog" and "Bye Bye Love" with his wife Felice.

"Love Hurts" was covered by the Everly Brothers, but not as a single. It was, however, a hit single in versions by former Traffic member Jim Capaldi (hitting # 97 in 1975) and by Nazareth (their version hit # 8 in during a 23-week chart run in 1975-76).

Feiger's version of the song brings a sweetness and innocence that's closer in style to the Everly Brothers, but there's a gentleness in this acoustic version that I feel was missing in the previous versions. You can hear the man's heart breaking as he sings this ode to the pain of romance:

"Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars / Any heart not tough or strong enough / To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain / Love is like a cloud, it holds a lot of rain / Love hurts, oh love hurts / I'm young, I know, but even so / I know a thing or two, I learned from you / I really learned a lot, really learned a lot / Love is like a flame , it burns you when it's hot / Love hurts, oh love hurts / Some fools think of happiness, blissfulness, togetherness / Some fools fool themselves, I guess / They're not foolin' me / I know it isn't true, I know it isn't true / Love is just a lie made to make you blue / Love hurts, oh love hurts..."

Even though Fieger didn't write the lyrics, his reading is both thoughtful and intelligent, adding a from the heart depth that I didn't get from the earlier recordings (which were great versions, but they didn't reach out and slap me in the face with a cold towel like this version did).

The remaining 12 songs were written or cowritten by Fieger, who also acted as the album's producer. The executive producers were Michael Libow (who sings backup) and Geoffrey Fieger (Doug's brother, who was a one-time Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan and is best-known as the attorney for "Dr. Death" Kevorkian).

Doug Fieger is a very capable songwriter himself (keep in mind, that his "My Sharona" sold 10 million copies for The Knack in 1979, according to a recent VH-1 special).

Fieger comes close to dead-on perfect with his Holly-esque "Nothing's Easy," which moves from a close to galloping opening to an on-fire rocking ending.

He may be guilty of a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute with "Shake Me," which ranks right up there with CCR's "Suzi Q" as a cool rocker (some very funky "dirty" guitar and throbbing bass on this one). Fogerty would love the "Fortunate Son"-style lyrics, too: "No need to purchase a ticket / Don't gotta pay me no rent / Don't have to slip me a single dead president..."

Fieger evokes memories of Roy Orbison with the ballad "Wishing Doesn't Make It So." It's a gentle tune, with acoustic guitars cascading like a waterfall over some gorgeous piano and organ playing.

Fieger's lyrics are great here, too: "Woke up this morning to an empty bed / With words unspoken ringing in my head..."

On "Ambition," the most Knack-ish sounding tune here, Fieger and company rock out. This is '70s AM uptempo-style rock at its best --- an unforgettable hook and chorus that would sound great on a car radio cruising with the windows rolled down on a hot summer day. "Ambition, it's guaranteed," he sings, "ambition, it's all you need!"

"Praying For You" has Fieger playing some sizzling lead guitar. The guitar solo on the bridge of the song comes out of left-field, an unexpected and interesting touch within a stunning, driving rock 'n' roll tune.

"She Says" is another great track. It leaps from the CD because it is very different from anything Fieger has done before. I was (and still am) a big fan of the late Pete Ham of Badfinger's hits ("No Matter What," "Day After Day") and Ham's more obscure album tracks ("We're For The Dark," "Lonely You") --- although "She Says" is not similar sound-wise to those tunes, Fieger does come across with a similar writing style: layers of sound stacked upon one another (some great piano on this ballad) mixed with some very good lyrics, both demanding the listener's attention.

The remaining tracks are equally stunning, from the Raspberries-inspired ""Right Of Center" to the sweet "Hour Of The Storm." Though Fieger has done some stunning work with The Knack, this is by far his best effort and will be enjoyed by a much broader audience (including, no doubt, people who hate The Knack).

The Zen Records album clocks in at just under 51 minutes. At the present time, it is available only through the Knack Fan Club www.knack.com