Stranger than Fiction (Joe Jackson song)

"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"
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

On its release, 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."[7] 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."[8] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner felt the song "lacks the tuneful sting to scratch too deep beneath its cheerfully witty veneer".[9]

In a review of Laughter & Lust, Billboard described the song as "Rundgren-esque".[10] 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".[11] 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".[12] 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."[13]

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[14] 119
Canadian (RPM) 100 Singles Chart[5] 79
Dutch Singles Chart[4] 71
German Singles Chart[3] 53

References
  1. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction / Drowning - Virgin America - UK - VUS 40". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. AllMusic Review by Jason Damas (1991-04-30). "Laughter & Lust - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  3. Steffen Hung. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction". germancharts.de. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  4. Steffen Hung. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  5. "Item: 1086 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  6. ""Stranger Than Fiction" by Joe Jackson | Music Video | MTV Africa". Mtvbase.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  7. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. 27 April 1991.
  8. Jones, Alan (13 April 1991). "Market Report - Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via World Radio History.
  9. Hirst, Andrew (20 April 1991). "Reviews: Singles". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 29.
  10. Billboard magazine - Album Reviews: Pop - 11 May 1991 - page 74
  11. Long, Tom (21 June 1991). "Music - Rebel Joe Jackson puts it all together". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 7.
  12. Everson, John (6 June 1991). "Music - Joe Jackson's 'Laughter' bubbles with angry wit". Southtown Star. p. 9.
  13. Bennett, Dan (7 June 1991). "Music - Costello's album comes out smelling 'Like a Rose'". North County Blade-Citizen. p. 11.
  14. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
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