Stranger than Fiction (Joe Jackson song)

"Stranger than Fiction" is a song by English 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"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Laughter & Lust
B-side
  • "Drowning"
  • "Jenny Jenny"
Released8 April 1991[1]
Length3:40
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Joe Jackson
Producer(s)
  • Joe Jackson
  • Ed Roynesdal
Joe Jackson singles chronology
"Blaze of Glory"
(1989)		 "Stranger than Fiction"
(1991)		 "Obvious Song"
(1991)

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, 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."[3] Pan-European magazine 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."[4] Jane Downing of the Sunday Sun picked it as her "gem" of the week and commented, "Joe's a top rate artist but his singles don't do too well. But then again, neither [does] anything that's remotely melodic."[5] Barbara Ellen of New Musical Express described the song as "not bad" but added that "yet another whirl around low-rent suburbia is not quite what the 'kids' are into at the moment".[6]

Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News gave a mixed review, stating, "It's intelligently arranged, fresh and buoyant, but all the brass stabs and big production remind us that he's really from a different era."[7] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt it "lacks the tuneful sting to scratch too deep beneath its cheerfully witty veneer".[8] Jon Wilde of Melody Maker was critical, calling it "sub-Costello gripe".[9] Steve Duffy of the South Wales Echo awarded two out of five stars and commented, "Joe not at his jaunty best, apart from the odd line. This has a marked American (yawn) influence."[10]

Track listing

7-inch single

  1. "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
  2. "Drowning" - 5:09

12-inch single and UK CD single

  1. "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
  2. "Different for Girls" (New Recording) - 3:37
  3. "Drowning" - 5:09

Cassette single (US release)

  1. "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40
  2. "Jenny Jenny" - 2:44

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 – production (all tracks)
  • Ed Roynesdal – production ("Stranger than Fiction" and "Drowning")
  • Larry Alexander – engineering
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Other

  • Calef Brown – illustration
  • Patrik Andersson – photography

Charts
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 119
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 79
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[13] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 71
Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 53
UK Playlist Chart (Music Week)[16] 41

References
  1. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction / Drowning - Virgin America - UK - VUS 40". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. Jason Damas (1991-04-30). "Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  3. Jones, Alan (13 April 1991). "Market Report - Mainstream: Singles". Music Week. p. 8. ISSN 0265-1548.
  4. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 17. 27 April 1991. p. 12.
  5. Downing, Jane (14 April 1991). "Jane Downing's Street Buzz: Single Select". Sunday Sun. p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Ellen, Barbara (27 April 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 22.
  7. Hodge, Marcus (15 April 1991). "Pop: Singles". Cambridge Evening News. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. Hirst, Andrew (20 April 1991). "Reviews: Singles". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 29. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Wilde, Jon (20 April 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35.
  10. Duffy, Steve (15 April 1991). "Pep Talk: Johnny's guitar just marvellous". South Wales Echo. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1630." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. "European Airplay Top 50". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 18. 4 May 1991. p. 21.
  14. "Joe Jackson – Stranger Than Fiction" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. "Joe Jackson – Stranger Than Fiction" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  16. "Playlist Chart". Music Week. 4 May 1991. p. 26. ISSN 0265-1548.
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