Music for the Hard of Thinking

Music for the Hard of Thinking is the third studio album for Canadian pop music group Doug and the Slugs. It was released domestically in 1982 on Bennett's own record label Ritdong[1][2] and internationally in 1983 by RCA Records.[3] This recording helped get the band nominated for a 1983 Juno Award.[4][5]

Music for the Hard of Thinking
Studio album by
Doug and the Slugs
Released1982 (1982)
GenrePop
Length34:58
LabelRitdong (Canada)
RCA Victor (internationally)
ProducerRitchie Cordell
Glen Kolotkin
Doug and the Slugs chronology
Wrap It!
(1981)		 Music for the Hard of Thinking
(1982)		 Popaganda
(1984)

The album produced three singles. The most successful, "Who Knows How to Make Love Stay", peaked at #25 on the Canadian Singles Chart.[6] "Making It Work", peaked at #29.[7][8] The third single "Nobody but Me" did not chart in Canada.[9] Canadian cheese brand, Tre Stelle, uses a sample of this song, substituting some lyrics to match their slogan.

Recording

The album was released on cassette (domestically)[10] and as an LP record (domestic & international).[3]

Reception

Critical response

Music critic Rudyard Kennedy of Allmusic stated:[11]

What makes this album a real keeper, though, is that if you dig a little deeper and get to the words hiding under the Slugs' peppy, poppy grooves, you'll find that the characters in singer/songwriter Doug Bennett's tunes are rarely as upbeat as the songs they inhabit. In fact, some of Bennett's narrators are cynical, sleazy misanthropes right out of Randy Newman (particularly the failed lotharios of "Operator" and "Take It or Leave It"), giving Music for the Hard of Thinking an unexpected depth that grows upon repeated listenings.

Chart performance

The album debuted at #86 on the Canadian RPM charts for the week of 12 February 1983.[12] The recording reached its highest position at #22 for the weeks of 2 and 9 April 1983[13][14] and stayed in the top 100 albums chart for a total of 30 weeks.[15]

The album was ranked at #90 by RPM for the year 1983 on their RPM Year-End chart.[16]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."If You Don't Come"Bennett4:00
2."No No No (Nobody But Me)"Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley3:18
3."Making It Work"Bennett3:27
4."Take It or Leave It"Bennett3:10
5."St. Laurent Summer"Bennett4:30
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Who Knows How To Make Love Stay"Jon Carroll, Bill Danoff4:00
7."Operator"Bennett3:01
8."Cover of Love"Bennett3:10
9."When the Doorbell Rings"Bennett3:22
10."She's Looking at Me"Bennett3:00
Total length:34:58

Personnel
  • Doug and the Slugs:[17]
    • Doug Bennett - vocals, album design
    • Rick Baker - guitar, backing vocals
    • Steve Bosley - bass, backing vocals
    • John Burton - electric guitar, backing vocals
    • Simon Kendall - keyboards, 'basso profundo' vocals
    • John "Wally" Watson - drums, backing vocals
  • Production:[17]
    • Glen Kolotkin - Engineer, Producer
    • Ritchie Cordell - Producer
    • Ron Cote - Engineer

References
  1. "Artist: Bennett, Doug". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. "Doug and the Slugs". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  3. ""Music for the Hard of Thinking" (sound recording) / Doug and the Slugs", collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac, Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, 1982, OCLC 9514563, AMICUS No. 32567176, retrieved 11 March 2012, KKL1-0480 RCA Victor
  4. "Artist: Doug and the Slugs". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  5. "Juno Awards Database". junoawards.ca/awards. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  10. ""Music for the Hard of Thinking" (sound recording) / Doug and the Slugs", collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/, Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, 1982, OCLC 78545434, AMICUS No. 5592539, retrieved 11 March 2012, KKK1-0480 RCA Victor
  11. Kennedy, Rudyard. "Music for the Hard of Thinking » Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  12. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  14. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  16. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  17. "Music for the Hard of Thinking » Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
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