Love Junk
Love Junk | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 26 1988 | |||
Recorded | July 1988, Utopia Sound Studios, Lake Hill, New York | |||
Genre | College rock, power pop | |||
Length | 43:07 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer | Todd Rundgren | |||
The Pursuit of Happiness chronology | ||||
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Love Junk is the debut album by Canadian power pop band The Pursuit of Happiness, released in 1988. The album's biggest hit was "I'm an Adult Now", although "Hard to Laugh" and "She's So Young" were also notable singles in Canada. It is the most successful album by the band, being certified Platinum in Canada and selling 125,000 copies in the United States.[1] Love Junk reached #28 on the RPM Canadian Albums Chart in 1989.[2] The album was the 12th best-selling Cancon album in Canada of 1989.[3]
Production
The album was produced by Todd Rundgren and was recorded at Rundgren's Utopia Sound Studios in Lake Hill, New York. According to Rundgren, "The record was completed in about 10 days, start to finish — so quickly that some band members thought there might be something wrong with it."[4]
The 7" single for "She's So Young" contains a (non-album) b-side track called "Let My People Go" which was later released on the Sex and Food: The Best of TPOH compilation.
30th anniversary release
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Love Junk, the band released a remastered deluxe edition of the album through Universal Music Group Canada in September 2018. The Love Junk Deluxe Edition included remastered versions of the original 13 tracks, plus 13 rare & previously unreleased tracks, and was made available in both 2CD and 2LP versions, with the 2CD digipak including a 24-page booklet and the 2LP edition housed in a triple gatefold and including a special 12x12 LP-sized booklet. Both editions included new liner notes, with interviews from both current and former members. The booklet also included many photographs, some of which had never been seen before.[5] In support of the release, the band played several dates in Canada in late 2018 and in 2019, where they would play Love Junk in its entirety and in order, and then play several other favorites.[6]
Track listing
All songs written by Moe Berg.
- "Hard to Laugh" (2:38)
- "Ten Fingers" (2:53)
- "I'm an Adult Now" (4:25)
- "She's So Young" (3:34)
- "Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool" (2:27)
- "Walking in the Woods" (3:51)
- "Beautiful White" (3:27)
- "When the Sky Comes Falling Down" (3:25)
- "Looking for Girls" (2:50)
- "Man's Best Friend" (2:35)
- "Tree of Knowledge" (3:50)
- "Killed by Love" (4:01)
- "Down on Him" (2:30), CD bonus track and appears on LP Chrysalis CJS-41675C
- 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
All songs written by Moe Berg except where indicated. In addition to remastered versions of the original 13 tracks (above), the Deluxe Edition includes the following songs on CD2 (on the LP version, songs 1-6 are on Side A; songs 7-13 are on Side B):
- "I'm An Adult Now" (original 1986 version)
- "Let My People Go" (B-side of the single for "She's So Young")
- "Walking In The Woods" (demo of the song that would appear on the Love Junk album)
- "Handsomest Man and Prettiest Girl" (previously unreleased; live)
- "All That You Got Me For Christmas" (previously unreleased demo)
- "Wake Up and Smell Cathy" (demo)
- "Take You With Me" (from Love Junk sessions; previously unreleased)
- "Shave Your Legs" (demo of the song that would appear on 1990's One Sided Story album)
- "Master" (previously unreleased; live)
- "She's So Young" (original 1986 version)
- "Killed By Love" (original 1986 version)
- "If You Feel That Way" (demo)
- "Santa Clause Is Back In Town" (live; written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)
Personnel
- Moe Berg – guitars, vocals
- Kris Abbott – guitars, vocals
- Dave Gilby – drums
- Johnny Sinclair – bass
- Leslie Stanwyck – vocals
Charts
Chart (1989–1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] | 88 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] | 28 |
References
- ^ "MOE BERG ON LEAVING EDMONTON, LOVING RUNDGREN, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS'S ONE SIDED STORY". 9 May 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 50, No. 1 May 01, 1989". RPM. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
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(help) - ^ "Top 50 Cancon Albums of '89". RPM. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
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(help) - ^ "Moe Berg still can't believe the 'stupid luck' that made the Pursuit of Happiness famous". The Toronto Star. 2 October 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "The Pursuit Of Happiness Celebrate 30th Anniversary Of Their "Love Junk" Album With Remastered Deluxe Edition". 24 August 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "The Pursuit of Happiness".
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 226.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6333". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2022.