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| venue =
| venue =
| studio =
| studio =
| genre = [[pop music|Pop]]
| genre = Pop
| length = {{Duration|m=34|s=58}}
| length = {{Duration|m=34|s=58}}
| label = Ritdong (Canada)<br/>[[RCA Victor]] (internationally)
| label = Ritdong (Canada)<br/>[[RCA Victor]] (internationally)
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| next_year = 1984
| next_year = 1984
}}
}}
'''''Music for the Hard of Thinking''''' is the third studio album for Canadian [[pop music]] group [[Doug and the Slugs]]. It was released domestically in 1982 on [[Doug Bennett (musician)|Bennett's]] own record label Ritdong<ref name="jam.canoe.ca_Doug Bennett"/><ref name=canenc/> and internationally in 1983 by [[RCA Records]].<ref name="collectionscanada.gc.ca_LP"/> This recording helped get the band nominated for a [[Juno Awards of 1983|1983 Juno Award]].<ref name="jam.canoe.ca_Doug and the Slugs"/><ref name="junoawards.ca"/>
'''''Music for the Hard of Thinking''''' is the third studio album for Canadian pop music group [[Doug and the Slugs]]. It was released domestically in 1982 on [[Doug Bennett (musician)|Bennett's]] own record label Ritdong<ref name="jam.canoe.ca_Doug Bennett"/><ref name=canenc/> and internationally in 1983 by [[RCA Records]].<ref name="collectionscanada.gc.ca_LP"/> This recording helped get the band nominated for a [[Juno Awards of 1983|1983 Juno Award]].<ref name="jam.canoe.ca_Doug and the Slugs"/><ref name="junoawards.ca"/>


The album produced three singles. The most successful, "Who Knows How to Make Love Stay", peaked at #25 on the Canadian Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6239&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Making It Work", peaked at #29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6231&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6279&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The third single "Nobody but Me" did not chart in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5&q1=%22Nobody+but+Me%22&q2=&interval=50 |title=Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926233516/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5&q1=%22Nobody+but+Me%22&q2=&interval=50 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Canadian cheese brand, Tre Stelle, uses a sample of this song, substituting some lyrics to match their slogan.
The album produced three singles. The most successful, "Who Knows How to Make Love Stay", peaked at No. 25 on the Canadian Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6239&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Making It Work", peaked at No. 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6231&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6279&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The third single "Nobody but Me" did not chart in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5&q1=%22Nobody+but+Me%22&q2=&interval=50 |title=Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926233516/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5&q1=%22Nobody+but+Me%22&q2=&interval=50 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Canadian cheese brand, Tre Stelle, uses a sample of this song, substituting some lyrics to match their slogan.


==Recording==
==Recording==
Line 31: Line 31:
Music critic Rudyard Kennedy of [[Allmusic]] stated:<ref name="allmusic.com_Review"/>
Music critic Rudyard Kennedy of [[Allmusic]] stated:<ref name="allmusic.com_Review"/>


{{Cquote|What makes this album a real keeper, though, is that if you dig a little deeper and get to the words hiding under the Slugs' peppy, poppy grooves, you'll find that the characters in singer/songwriter Doug Bennett's tunes are rarely as upbeat as the songs they inhabit. In fact, some of Bennett's narrators are cynical, sleazy misanthropes right out of Randy Newman (particularly the failed [[lothario]]s of "Operator" and "Take It or Leave It"), giving ''Music for the Hard of Thinking'' an unexpected depth that grows upon repeated listenings.}}
{{Cquote|What makes this album a real keeper, though, is that if you dig a little deeper and get to the words hiding under the Slugs' peppy, poppy grooves, you'll find that the characters in singer-songwriter Doug Bennett's tunes are rarely as upbeat as the songs they inhabit. In fact, some of Bennett's narrators are cynical, sleazy misanthropes right out of Randy Newman (particularly the failed [[lothario]]s of "Operator" and "Take It or Leave It"), giving ''Music for the Hard of Thinking'' an unexpected depth that grows upon repeated listenings.}}


===Chart performance===
===Chart performance===
The album debuted at #86 on the Canadian [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] charts for the week of 12 February 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6225b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220837/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6225b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The recording reached its highest position at #22 for the weeks of 2 and 9 April 1983<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6212a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6224a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225550/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6224a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and stayed in the top 100 albums chart for a total of 30 weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4310b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224234/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4310b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The album debuted at No. 86 on the Canadian [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] charts for the week of 12 February 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6225b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220837/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6225b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The recording reached its highest position at No. 22 for the weeks of 2 and 9 April 1983<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6212a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6224a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225550/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6224a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and stayed in the top 100 albums chart for a total of 30 weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4310b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224234/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4310b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The album was ranked at #90 by ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' for the year 1983 on their [[RPM Year-End]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4435&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The album was ranked at No. 90 by ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' for the year 1983 on their [[RPM Year-End]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4435&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=bb0e7somh8osmahbvuk8ubb1u5 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315040027/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 90: Line 90:
==Personnel==
==Personnel==
*Doug and the Slugs:<ref name="allmusic.com_Credits"/>
*Doug and the Slugs:<ref name="allmusic.com_Credits"/>
**[[Doug Bennett (musician)|Doug Bennett]] - [[singing|vocals]], album design
**[[Doug Bennett (musician)|Doug Bennett]] – vocals, album design
**Rick Baker - guitar, backing vocals
**Rick Baker – guitar, backing vocals
**Steve Bosley - [[bass guitar|bass]], backing vocals
**Steve Bosley – bass, backing vocals
**John Burton - electric guitar, backing vocals
**John Burton – electric guitar, backing vocals
**Simon Kendall - [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], '[[basso profundo]]' vocals
**Simon Kendall – keyboards, '[[basso profundo]]' vocals
**John "Wally" Watson - drums, backing vocals
**John "Wally" Watson – drums, backing vocals
*Production:<ref name="allmusic.com_Credits"/>
*Production:<ref name="allmusic.com_Credits"/>
**Glen Kolotkin - Engineer, Producer
**Glen Kolotkin – Engineer, Producer
**Ritchie Cordell - Producer
**Ritchie Cordell – Producer
**Ron Cote - Engineer
**Ron Cote – Engineer


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 01:08, 28 June 2024

Music for the Hard of Thinking
Studio album by
Doug and the Slugs
Released1982 (1982)
GenrePop
Length34:58
LabelRitdong (Canada)
RCA Victor (internationally)
ProducerRitchie Cordell
Glen Kolotkin
Doug and the Slugs chronology
Wrap It!
(1981) 		Music for the Hard of Thinking
(1982) 		Popaganda
(1984)

Music for the Hard of Thinking is the third studio album for Canadian pop music group Doug and the Slugs. It was released domestically in 1982 on Bennett's own record label Ritdong[1][2] and internationally in 1983 by RCA Records.[3] This recording helped get the band nominated for a 1983 Juno Award.[4][5]

The album produced three singles. The most successful, "Who Knows How to Make Love Stay", peaked at No. 25 on the Canadian Singles Chart.[6] "Making It Work", peaked at No. 29.[7][8] The third single "Nobody but Me" did not chart in Canada.[9] Canadian cheese brand, Tre Stelle, uses a sample of this song, substituting some lyrics to match their slogan.

Recording

[edit]

The album was released on cassette (domestically)[10] and as an LP record (domestic & international).[3]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

Music critic Rudyard Kennedy of Allmusic stated:[11]

What makes this album a real keeper, though, is that if you dig a little deeper and get to the words hiding under the Slugs' peppy, poppy grooves, you'll find that the characters in singer-songwriter Doug Bennett's tunes are rarely as upbeat as the songs they inhabit. In fact, some of Bennett's narrators are cynical, sleazy misanthropes right out of Randy Newman (particularly the failed lotharios of "Operator" and "Take It or Leave It"), giving Music for the Hard of Thinking an unexpected depth that grows upon repeated listenings.

Chart performance

[edit]

The album debuted at No. 86 on the Canadian RPM charts for the week of 12 February 1983.[12] The recording reached its highest position at No. 22 for the weeks of 2 and 9 April 1983[13][14] and stayed in the top 100 albums chart for a total of 30 weeks.[15]

The album was ranked at No. 90 by RPM for the year 1983 on their RPM Year-End chart.[16]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."If You Don't Come"Bennett4:00
2."No No No (Nobody But Me)"Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley3:18
3."Making It Work"Bennett3:27
4."Take It or Leave It"Bennett3:10
5."St. Laurent Summer"Bennett4:30
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Who Knows How To Make Love Stay"Jon Carroll, Bill Danoff4:00
7."Operator"Bennett3:01
8."Cover of Love"Bennett3:10
9."When the Doorbell Rings"Bennett3:22
10."She's Looking at Me"Bennett3:00
Total length:34:58

Personnel

[edit]
  • Doug and the Slugs:[17]
    • Doug Bennett – vocals, album design
    • Rick Baker – guitar, backing vocals
    • Steve Bosley – bass, backing vocals
    • John Burton – electric guitar, backing vocals
    • Simon Kendall – keyboards, 'basso profundo' vocals
    • John "Wally" Watson – drums, backing vocals
  • Production:[17]
    • Glen Kolotkin – Engineer, Producer
    • Ritchie Cordell – Producer
    • Ron Cote – Engineer

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Artist: Bennett, Doug". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. 27 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Doug and the Slugs". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b ""Music for the Hard of Thinking" (sound recording) / Doug and the Slugs", collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac, Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, 1982, OCLC 9514563, AMICUS No. 32567176, retrieved 11 March 2012, KKL1-0480 RCA Victor
  4. ^ "Artist: Doug and the Slugs". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. 1 December 2004. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Juno Awards Database". junoawards.ca/awards. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  10. ^ ""Music for the Hard of Thinking" (sound recording) / Doug and the Slugs", collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/, Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, 1982, OCLC 78545434, AMICUS No. 5592539, retrieved 11 March 2012, KKK1-0480 RCA Victor
  11. ^ Kennedy, Rudyard. "Music for the Hard of Thinking » Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Music for the Hard of Thinking » Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
[edit]
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