Knack – Knackology: The Zen Recordings CD

Knack – Knackology: The Zen Recordings

The Knack were by no means just a flash in the pan. But sometimes you need to be reminded.

The Knack's main songwriter and vocalist, Doug Fieger, founded Zen Records as a platform for new material from The Knack as well as early recordings, demos and more to be made available to the public. Omnivore Recordings is honored to have worked with Zen Records for over a decade.

"Knackology: The Zen Recordings" collects 19 classic Knack performances. From demos from the time before "Get The Knack" ("That's What The Little Girls Do") to a live version of "Let Me Out", "Knackology" shows the band's genesis. It follows further worldwide performances of hits such as "Good Girls Don't", "Baby Talks Dirty", "One Day At A Time" and - of course - "My Sharona", and feels the live power that sparked a bidding war for their debut album and which never waned on stage throughout their career.

Also included are studio tracks from their albums "Zoom" (which Fieger called their best album) and "Normal As The Next Guy", showing that they were never really the "one-hit wonder" they had been labeled as. Add to that rarities like their cover of Badfinger's "No Matter What" (originally released on a Badfinger tribute album), and you have a comprehensive introduction to the world of The Knack.

This collection was mastered by multiple Grammy winner Michael Graves and features liner notes by Grammy winner Lee Lodyga (who was previously responsible for reissues of The Knack on Capitol Records, Virgin Records and Omnivore Recordings).

"Knackology: The Zen Recordings" is more than just a compilation. It's both an introduction and a refresher course on one of the world's most important, impressive and irreplaceable bands.

Tracklist:
1. Let Me Out (Live in Los Angeles, 1978)
2. Pop Is Dead
3. (She's So) Selfish [Live at Mountain View, California, June 10, 1994]
4. Ambition
5. That's What The Little Girls Do (Fieger/Averre Demo)
6. Les Girls
7. Rock & Roll Is Good For You (Fieger/Averre Demo)
8. Can I Borrow A Kiss
9. Oh Tara (Live from The Rock 'n' Roll Fun House)
10. Normal As The Next Guy
11. Shine (Live at Leeds, 1991)
12. Good Girls Don't (Live from The Rock 'n' Roll Fun House)
13. No Matter What
14. Love Is All There Is
15. One Day At A Time (Live from The Rock 'n' Roll Fun House)
16. Seven Days Of Heaven
17. Harder On You (Demo)
18. Baby Talks Dirty (Live from The Rock 'n' Roll Fun House)
19. My Sharona (Live at Mountain View, California, June 10, 1994)

Label: Omnivore Recordings
Released: 2026