Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Studio album by
Starship
ReleasedSeptember 10, 1985
Recorded1984−1985
Studio
GenreAOR, pop rock
Length40:28
LabelGrunt/RCA
Producer
Starship chronology
Knee Deep in the Hoopla
(1985) 		No Protection
(1987)
Singles from Knee Deep in the Hoopla
  1. "We Built This City"
    Released: August 1985 (US)[1]
  2. "Sara"
    Released: December 1985
  3. "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight"
    Released: April 1986
  4. "Before I Go"
    Released: June 1986[2]

Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the debut studio album by American AOR band Starship, the succeeding musical project to Jefferson Starship. It was released on September 10, 1985, through record label Grunt.

Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (No. 26 US Hot 100) and "Before I Go" (No. 68 US Hot 100).

Content

AllMusic retrospectively described Knee Deep in the Hoopla as the Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship project's "most overtly commercial effort to date".[3]

The track "Desperate Heart", written by Michael Bolton and Randy Goodrum, also appears on Bolton's album Everybody's Crazy, released the same year. Two songs sung by Grace Slick were recorded for but left off the album: Slick's own "Do You Remember Me?" (released on The Best of Grace Slick) and the Peter Wolf–Jeremy Smith composition "Casualty" (included as a bonus track on the 1999 remaster). Jeannette and Pete Sears wrote a song for the album called "One More Innocent", but it was rejected for its political lyrics.[4]

Cash Box said of the track "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" that "Mickey Thomas’ sensational lead vocal keeps this cut aloft with exhilerating sonic flight" and that "It slices like a double bladed sword, and backed by searing rock guitars and a churning rhythm."[5] Billboard called that song "exemplary American AOR of the '80s, interrupted only by an ethereal bridge."[6]

Release

Knee Deep in the Hoopla was released on September 10, 1985, through record label Grunt.

Four singles were released from the album: the No. 1 hits "We Built This City" and "Sara", "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" and "Before I Go".

The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Reception

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Peoplenegative[7]

Knee Deep in the Hoopla received a negative response from professional music critics.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We Built This City"Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, Peter Wolf4:53
2."Sara"Ina Wolf, P. Wolf4:52
3."Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight"Steven Cristol, Robin Randall3:41
4."Rock Myself to Sleep"Kimberley Rew, Vince De la Cruz3:24
5."Desperate Heart"Randy Goodrum, Michael Bolton4:04
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Private Room"Craig Chaquico, Mickey Thomas4:51
7."Before I Go"David Roberts5:30
8."Hearts of the World (Will Understand)"Stephen Broughton Lunt, Arthur Stead4:21
9."Love Rusts"Taupin, Page4:57
Remastered CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Casualty"P. Wolf, Jeremy Smith4:34

Personnel

Per liner notes[8]

Additional personnel

Love Rusts backing vocals

Production

Singles

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Database[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 430. ISBN 9780862415419.
  3. ^ a b McCombs, Joseph. "Knee Deep in the Hoopla – Starship | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Sears, Jeannette (January 3, 2012). "We Built This City". jeannettesears.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  5. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. April 5, 1986. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  6. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. April 5, 1986. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  7. ^ "Pick and Pans Review: Knee Deep in the Hoopla". People. November 11, 1985. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  8. ^ Knee Deep In The Hoopla (liner notes). Grunt. 1985. FL85488.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 291. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0617". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Charts.nz – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Starship Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0618". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  19. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Music Canada.
  20. ^ "American album certifications – Starship – Knee Deep in the Hoopla". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

Jefferson Airplane (discography, members) · Jefferson Starship (discography, members) · Starship (discography, members)
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