The Knack "Get the Knack"

The Knack's first album, "Get the Knack", was released in June 1979 and became one of the most successful debut albums in history. Within two months of its release, the album sold over a million copies and spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart. The lead single, "My Sharona", was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and topped the year-end chart for 1979. The second single, "Good Girls Don't", reached number 11 on the Hot 100 and also reached number one in Canada.

The Knack formed in Los Angeles in 1978 and played over 50 gigs in six months before being offered a recording contract by Capitol Records in January 1979. The album was produced by Mike Chapman, who had previously written hits for Sweet and produced Blondie's "Parallel Lines". "Get the Knack" was recorded in just two weeks for $18,000, which was quick and inexpensive compared to established artists at the time who spent several months and hundreds of thousands of dollars to record an album.

Capitol Records' intense promotional campaign helped make "Get the Knack" an instant success when it was released in June 1979. The album's image was heavily influenced by the Beatles, with the cover imitating "Meet the Beatles!" and the back cover featuring a scene from "A Hard Day's Night". The album was also adorned with the 1960s Capitol rainbow label, which was written into the band's contract. The album achieved gold certification from the RIAA in just 13 days, becoming Capitol Records' fastest-selling debut LP since "Meet the Beatles!" in 1964. In August, it reached number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum for selling one million copies. The lead single, "My Sharona" was Capitol's fastest-selling debut single since the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

However, some critics were not impressed with the band's image and attitude, finding it too contrived and arrogant. A negative backlash against their overnight success formed, with San Francisco artist Hugh Brown starting a "Knuke the Knack" campaign. Some music writers criticized the band for their perceived misogyny and arrogance, and their refusal to do interviews also drew negative attention. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice criticized the album's misogynistic themes, but also defended the band against critics who dismissed them on technical grounds. Billboard critic Dick Nusser praised several tracks, including "Let Me Out", "Maybe Tonight", and "That's What the Little Girls Do", and noted that the song "Oh Tara" suggested that the Knack weren't strictly anti-girl.