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, 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
  1. "Joe Jackson - Stranger Than Fiction / Drowning - Virgin America - UK - VUS 40". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. 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. Jones, Alan (13 April 1991). "Market Report - Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. 27 April 1991.
  9. Ellen, Barbara (27 April 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 22.
  10. Wilde, Jon (20 April 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35.
  11. Hirst, Andrew (20 April 1991). "Reviews: Singles". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 29.
  12. Billboard magazine - Album Reviews: Pop - 11 May 1991 - page 74
  13. Long, Tom (21 June 1991). "Music - Rebel Joe Jackson puts it all together". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 7.
  14. Everson, John (6 June 1991). "Music - Joe Jackson's 'Laughter' bubbles with angry wit". Southtown Star. p. 9.
  15. Bennett, Dan (7 June 1991). "Music - Costello's album comes out smelling 'Like a Rose'". North County Blade-Citizen. p. 11.
  16. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". Imgur. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  17. "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 4 May 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via World Radio History.
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