music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Stranger than Fiction" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was 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" reached No. 53 in Germany,[3] No. 71 in the Netherlands,[4] and No. 79 on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart.[5] A music video was filmed to promote the single.[6]

"Stranger than Fiction"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Laughter & Lust
B-side	"Drowning" "Jenny Jenny"
Released	8 April 1991[1]
Length	3:40
Label	Virgin
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

On its release, 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."[7] 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."[8]

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".[9] Jon Wilde of Melody Maker was critical, calling it "sub-Costello gripe".[10] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt the song "lacks the tuneful sting to scratch too deep beneath its cheerfully witty veneer".[11]

In a review of Laughter & Lust, Billboard described the song as "Rundgren-esque".[12] Tom Long of the Santa Cruz Sentinel felt the song "harkens back" to Jackson's 1979 hit "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" in terms of "sheer listenability".[13] John Everson of the Southtown Star considered it "a sweet ballad with a sleek '60s-ish organ solo that just begs to be played on pop radio".[14] Dan Bennett of the North County Blade-Citizen wrote, "Jackson's wisecracking but still vulnerable take on love and folly is indeed the ultimate single."[15]

Track listing

7" single

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

12" 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

CD single (UK release)

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

CD single (US promo)

1. "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:40

CD single (Japanese promo)

1. "Stranger than Fiction" - 3:44
2. "Drowning" - 5:10

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 - producer (all tracks)
• Ed Roynesdal - producer on "Stranger than Fiction" and "Drowning"
• Larry Alexander - engineer
• Bob Ludwig - mastering

Other

• Calef Brown - illustration
• Patrik Andersson - photography

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[16]	119
Canadian (RPM) 100 Singles Chart[5]	79
Dutch Singles Chart[4]	71
German Singles Chart[3]	53
UK Playlist Chart (Music Week)[17]	41

References

---