...But the Little Girls Understand

Overview

The album's title is a reference to blues musician Willie Dixon's song "Back Door Man", which has the lyrics: "I'm a back door man. The men don't know, but the little girls understand." Recording was done at MCA-Whitney Studios in Glendale, where Mike Chapman—credited as "Commander" Chapman—produced the album. Chapman also wrote a comedic description of the album in the liner notes, including the line "The songs are an assortment of feelings expressed redundantly as only the Knack can. This record is very dear to me and my bank manager."

Reception

The album was a commercial disappointment, failing to match the immense commercial success of the band's 1979 debut Get the Knack. The album did, however, sell well enough to hit the No. 15 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart in 1980, propelled by the singles "Baby Talks Dirty" and "Can't Put a Price on Love" which both charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 38 and No. 62, respectively.

Critic Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone, known for his utter disdain for most artists of the era, wrote a scathing review, commenting:

Specifically addressing some of the songs on the album, Marsh wrote "In Fieger's lyrics, women are literally commodities whose chief purpose is to be brutalized. The kid in 'Baby Talks Dirty' is a foul-mouthed windup doll, and in 'Mr. Handleman,' the tame calypso that's the new LP's catchiest number, the protagonist is pimping for his wife–a situation the group views with dispassion, if not outright approbation." He further wrote "All of Fieger's lyrics finally boil down to one sentiment: fck- me, honey. (When he's feeling ambitious, he writes something like 'Can't Put a Price on Love,' which translates: fck me for free, babe.)"

Trouser Press remarked that the band "replicated the sound" of their debut album, and described "Baby Talks Dirty" as "anemic" and an "inferior replicant of 'My Sharona' (minus the thunderous hook)." Trouser Press also remarked on the bad taste of some of the album's lyrics, giving "Mr. Handleman's" wife-pimping lyrics as an example. On the other hand, critic Chris Woodstra of AllMusic has retrospectively given a positive opinion. He called the album "a good time for those who don't take rock & roll too seriously."

The album's front cover features Sharona Alperin, girlfriend of Doug Fieger, the young woman who had inspired the band's hit "My Sharona".

Track listing

Original release

All songs are by Doug Fieger unless noted:

1. "Baby Talks Dirty" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger)
2. "I Want Ya"
3. "Tell Me You're Mine"
4. "Mr. Handleman" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger)
5. "Can't Put a Price on Love" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger)
6. "Hold on Tight and Don't Let Go"
7. "The Hard Way" (Ray Davies)
8. "It's You" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger)
9. "End of the Game"
10. "The Feeling I Get"
11. "(Havin' a) Rave Up" (Berton Averre, Doug Fieger)
12. "How Can Love Hurt So Much"

Chart positions

Album

Certifications

Personnel

• Doug Fieger – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Berton Averre – lead guitar
• Prescott Niles – bass
• Bruce Gary – drums

References

References

1. "Mr. Handleman". charts.nz.
2. Averre, B.. (2007-01-15). "Mr. Handleman?".
3. "Gold and Platinum - Search". [[RIAA]].
4. Woodstra, Chris. "...But the Little Girls Understand - Overview".
5. "Willie Dixon - Back Door Man Lyrics". LyricsTime.com.
6. Riegel, Richard. (April 1980). "Knuking The Knack Inside Their Own Reactor".
7. Gilliam, R.. "The Hard Way".
8. [{{AllMusic
9. Westwood, Chris. (15 March 1980). "Knackered".
10. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide". robertchristgau.com.
11. Suttle, Tim. [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/paperbacktheology/2013/05/new-book-rips-u2s-bono-as-a-lap-dog-for-neo-liberals.html "New Book Rips U2's Bono as a Lap-dog for Neo-liberals"].[[Patheos]]. May 9, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
12. Marsh, Dave. (April 3, 1980). "...But the Little Girls Understand".
13. Robbins, Ira. "Knack". [[Trouser Press]].
14. Christgau, R.. "Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide: The Knack". robertchristgau.com.
15. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.