1. The Knack was an American new wave/power pop band from Detroit, Michigan, based in Los Angeles. They rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", which was an international hit in 1979. The power pop of "My Sharona", coupled with the band's retro 60s look, earned the band comparisons to The Beatles (though the band members themselves viewed the 'New Beatles' label as tongue-in-cheek). Many music critics hated disco, which dominated the music industry at the time, and were, at best, coolly receptive to other developing trends like punk, electronica, and heavy metal.
The Knack's hard rock influences earned them some critical credibility and massive commercial success with their debut album, 1979's 'Get The Knack'. The band had formed in May 1978, known at first as '20/20', and, after shopping their demo tape to various record labels without success, they began playing the local club circuit. Quickly gaining a following as musicians such as Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen praised them, they finally signed with Capitol Records in January 1979. Reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, 'Get The Knack' has earned praise for decades, with Kurt Cobain in particular claiming it as one of his top fifty albums of all time.
While fans praised their new wave and power pop fueled sound, many critics still found issues with the group's in-your-face image in their lyrics, with accusations of misogyny popping up. After subsequent releases, the social backlash against the Knack (similar to that of The Monkees a generation earlier) was strong. Dave Marsh of 'Rolling Stone' in particular wrote, "In Fieger's lyrics, women are literally commodities whose chief purpose is to be brutalized." A 'Knuke the Knack' campaign emerged based on that as well as the perceived corporate-based over-hype. With their second album, '...But the Little Girls Understand', getting less commercial success (doing well, but not up to expectations), the band broke up mid-tour on New Year’s Day 1982. Besides the turmoil around the group, they also faced near total burnout among themselves, particularly given Fieger's drugs-heavy lifestyle, and the band members reportedly hadn't the energy to do much of anything after their third album, 'Round Trip', came out.
They re-united sporadically several years later and released a new album on January 16, 1991, titled 'Serious Fun'. A comeback accompanied by a public reunion and tour, it failed to reach either commercial or critical success but resulted in the hit single "Rocket O' Love", which reached #9 in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. They continued playing through the 90s and into the new millennium, with 2003's 'Re-Zoom' (or 'Zoom') being their last studio album. Commercial airplay mostly eluded the group over the 90s, but a generation of new fans who loved 80s-era new wave music provided a devoted cult following. Lead singer and main songwriter Doug Fieger was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Fieger battled the disease until his death on Valentine's Day 2010.
Fieger, a native of Detroit, Michigan, had previously played in a country rock band called Sky. Of the three other original members of the Knack (Berton Averre - Guitar, Prescott Niles - Bass, and Bruce Gary - Drums), Averre and Niles remained with the group as it ended. Gary died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2006. Several drummers had played for the group over the years, including Billy Ward (Serious Fun album), Terry Bozzio (Zoom album), and David Henderson as 'Holmes Jones' (Normal as the Next Guy and Live at the Rock N Roll Funhouse albums). Pat Torpey (Mr. Big) played the drums for the group right before they ended.
There are other artists with the same name:
2. The Knack was a short-lived 1960s American psych/garage band from Los Angeles, CA. They recorded for Capitol Records. Formed in 1965, the band comprising Mike Chain (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dink Kaplan (lead guitar, backing vocals), Larry Gould (bass, backing vocals) and Pug Baker (drums), formally débuted at The Ice House in October 1966 and released four singles in total, of which Time Waits For No One was the best-seller. They toured throughout the U.S. but worked most frequently in Hollywood.
3. The Knack was a mid-60's British band originally known as The Londoners, a moniker they adopted whilst paying their beat group dues in the clubs of Germany in the early 60s. Upon returning to the UK in 1965 and changing their name to the rather hipper The Knack (after the recently released Richard Lester film), they recorded half a dozen singles for Decca and Piccadilly including the mod R&B ravers "She Ain't No Good", "Time Time Time" and "Stop!". Their final single, "(Man From The) Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau", featured a more mature acoustic sound, which nodded towards both The Kinks and the impending psychedelic explosion. They broke up in 1967 and leader Paul Gurvitz formed the band The Gun.
Your Number Or Your Name
The Knack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I can't let it go
But I don't know your number or your name
If I only could phone you
I could say what I want to
When I'm trying to catch your eye
You're stepping out of view
I can't get through without your number or your name
Caught a glimpse in the subway
But you weren't going my way
You were lost in the rumble of the train
In the rush of the city
You were standing so calmly
Wish that I only had the nerve
To say hello to you
It's hard to do, it's such a shame
I can't get through without your number or your name
I'll be waiting till the end of time
With this burning, yearning in my heart and in my mind
Saw you walking this morning
So I too started walking
Maybe this time will be the one
Where you will see me too
It's hard to do, it's such a shame
I can't get through without your number or your name
It's hard to do, it's such a shame
I can't get through without your number or your name
I can't get through without your number or your name
The Knack's "Your Number Or Your Name" is a catchy and lively song that narrates the story of a man who sees a beautiful woman and falls instantly in love with her. However, he doesn't have her phone number or her name, which makes it challenging for him to approach her. The man shares his thoughts about how frustrating it is to see someone he likes and not be able to introduce himself. He wishes he could phone her, tell her what he wants, and catch her attention. However, every time he tries, she moves out of view.
The lyrics detail how the singer spots the woman from a window and sees her again on the subway. However, they don't go in the same direction. He wishes he could have the courage to say hello to her but is too shy to approach her. The man persists in his quest for her love, walking the same route as her, hoping she'll notice him too.
The lyrics to "Your Number Or Your Name" are relatable to anyone who has ever felt smitten with someone they've seen in passing. The song's catchy tune and vivid imagery help listeners connect with the singer's struggle to fall in love and find the courage to approach someone.
Interesting facts about the song:
* "Your Number Or Your Name" was released as a single in 1979, a year before the band's most famous song, "My Sharona."
* The Knack's Bruce Gary came up with the song's drumbeat, inspired by the Mamas and the Papas’ "Monday, Monday."
* The song reached #67 on the US charts, becoming the band's third top 100 hit.
* The lyrics were written by Doug Fieger, the band's lead singer and composer.
* Fieger wrote the song about a woman he saw from a window in a hotel.
* The song was later covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 1987.
* The Knack performed "Your Number Or Your Name" on American Bandstand in 1979.
* Rolling Stone named the song's album, "Get The Knack," the 15th best album of 1979.
* "Your Number Or Your Name" was featured in movies such as "They Came Together" and "Adventureland."
* The song has been played live by the Knack, even after the death of the band's members, with new musicians filling in.
Chords (as played on the album):
Intro: E - A - B - A - E - A - B - A
Verse: E - B - A - E - B - A
Chorus: A - B - E - A - E - B - A - B - E
Line by Line Meaning
Saw your face from a window
I caught a glimpse of your face while looking out the window
Now I can't let it go
I can't stop thinking about you
But I don't know your number or your name
I don't have a way to contact you or even know who you are
If I only could phone you
If only I had a way to call you
I could say what I want to
I could express my feelings to you
When I'm trying to catch your eye
When I'm attempting to get your attention
You're stepping out of view
You're moving away and becoming hard to see
It's hard to do, it's such a shame
It's difficult to express myself and it's unfortunate
Caught a glimpse in the subway
I saw you briefly while in the subway
But you weren't going my way
You weren't traveling in the same direction as me
You were lost in the rumble of the train
You were absorbed in the noise of the moving train
In the rush of the city
Amidst the chaos of the busy city
You were standing so calmly
You appeared serene and composed
Wish that I only had the nerve
I wish I had the courage
To say hello to you
To simply greet you
I'll be waiting till the end of time
I can't stop waiting for you
With this burning, yearning in my heart and in my mind
I feel a strong desire and longing for you
Saw you walking this morning
I saw you while walking earlier today
So I too started walking
I began walking as well, hoping to run into you again
Maybe this time will be the one
Perhaps this time I'll have a chance to connect with you
Where you will see me too
And maybe you'll finally take notice of me
I can't get through without your number or your name
I can't reach you or make a deeper connection without knowing who you are
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidgrout1056
The drums really shine in this song. Bruce is not afraid to hit 'em. Blondie's Parallel Lines has a similar massive drum sound, as both albums were produced by Mike Chapman
@sickagain7541
THE ENTIRE ALBUM IS GREAT. ALL SONGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE AIRWAVES OF 79. SUPER 70'S FOREVER!!.
@johnheidrick5850
A perfectly constructed rock/pop song!
@danielcarson2945
It's 1979. I'm 16. I'm cruising in my Chevy pickup on a hot summer night. This is blasting out the window
@marywilson1678
this album takes me back to the fantastic days of my youth . bloody great
@dahliaa5756
Dont worry...you'll be kicking the bucket soon 😳
@chuckstone3115
Bruce Garry on the drums most underated drummer just as good as Keith Moon in my book R.I.P Bruce and Doug!
@bradleyrohr6726
Bruce & also Clem Burke from Blondie. Way too under-rated.
@rcknrl4everjones656
"Underrated" is blasphemy.. try Carnegie Hall .."Chuck Stone" yer an ass ( just as good as Keith Moon .. you are a colossal ass. call me.. dork yes you Chuck Stone ) ultra dork..Bruce and Doug had you for .. lunch.. pffftt... got your # .. wtf ..Chuck.. dork.. Ally Sheedy says yer a dork.. oww.
@Tuning_Spork
My band tried to play this song. We gave up. There is serious-ass musicianship going on here.