Composed at nearly double-time in its initial recording, "Found Out About You" reflects the urgency Doug Hopkins must've felt - and the heartbreak he wrote about - frequently.
I thought the Gin Blossoms would be THE band of the ‘90s, and beyond. It was devastating to hear about Hopkins’s death. Not only for him as a person, but also for all the potential songs that died with him. I held out that he would clean up and rejoin the band to fantastical accolades from fans and media. Perhaps the Universe had bigger plans for him in another realm. I like to think so.
Agreed. They were pretty solid in that stretch and managed to ride that line between alternative and pop. "Found Out About You" would have been a 10/10 for me, and I could make an argument for 10/10 for at least two or three of their other hits. Sad to think about what might have been, but grateful to have the great tracks we did get!
And, your last sentence is the gnawing "what-if" we always feel for the early-fallen! And, their great talents to have given us what we got "before" is what tells us we'd-a missed a lot....but, yes, it's great to have the art they DID produce!
Had Holly survived, for example, I have to imagine he and Lennon would've wanted to get together for something!
Well said, Thea, and thoughtfully so. I had no idea, at the time, all that was going on. I had that CD at the time, and it was clear they had something special, and A&M seemed poised to do what it took to take them to the next level.
However groundbreaking a Nirvana of the day might have been, Gin Blossoms brought just a touch more pop to the table and loads of melody going for 'em. But, with whatever else you could add to their dilemma(s), they were too melodic and poppy for FM, and maybe just a little to edgy for AM. College was likely all over them, but they needed....well, that unknown that eludes many acts.
As for Doug, bless his heart, when I was researching his malady, and read that he was dismissed from the band, I couldn't believe I wasn't also reading about all his friends in and around the band were gathering around him and giving him emotional land psychological support! Couldn't they see how desperate he was for validation (personal and professional), especially as he so wanted his talent to help propel the band?!?
He appears to have died alone without that support, and as someone (right at that time, too!) who was a pro, full-time church youth minister, I was tending to many a needy (of various kinds) young men! It's tough not to feel a little "parental" in Doug's direction.
But, you're right....he's up there with all the "big names" in rock'n'roll heaven, and I bet he's loving making up all those delicious melodies with Lennon, Buddy, and the gang!💖
I was raised in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and after my ‘70s-early-’80s radio and record biz days, I finished college, mid-’80s to get certified and a BA in DCE (Director of Christian Education) in the LCMS. I landed at 2 LCMS congregations in L.A. county: Cerritos ‘86-’91 (southern L.A. country, just above Orange County), and El Monte (near Pasadena) ‘91-’93.
First time hearing the version from the Dusted album. I like the rawer version of this song, as opposed to the more cleaned up finished product. But either version is a masterclass of jingle jangle goodness.
Great point, Tyson! We're so used to hearing the "clean" version, but it's fun to hear how they originally heard it! One wonders (I know I do) how brusque the discussions might have been (or not) between the band and co-producer, John Hampton (who eventually won 2 Grammys for engineering a decade later).
I have a feeling the band had little to no problem following Hampton's lead on what A&M obviously wanted...a radio-friendly, non-threatening version of what all could see was a one-of-a-kind song. The guys are smart, and wanted a hit as badly as anyone! And, if you take away the financial aspect (I don't wanna be crass), you gotta know the guys are happy they recorded what turned out to be a popular song!
I thought the Gin Blossoms would be THE band of the ‘90s, and beyond. It was devastating to hear about Hopkins’s death. Not only for him as a person, but also for all the potential songs that died with him. I held out that he would clean up and rejoin the band to fantastical accolades from fans and media. Perhaps the Universe had bigger plans for him in another realm. I like to think so.
Agreed. They were pretty solid in that stretch and managed to ride that line between alternative and pop. "Found Out About You" would have been a 10/10 for me, and I could make an argument for 10/10 for at least two or three of their other hits. Sad to think about what might have been, but grateful to have the great tracks we did get!
And, your last sentence is the gnawing "what-if" we always feel for the early-fallen! And, their great talents to have given us what we got "before" is what tells us we'd-a missed a lot....but, yes, it's great to have the art they DID produce!
Had Holly survived, for example, I have to imagine he and Lennon would've wanted to get together for something!
Well said, Thea, and thoughtfully so. I had no idea, at the time, all that was going on. I had that CD at the time, and it was clear they had something special, and A&M seemed poised to do what it took to take them to the next level.
However groundbreaking a Nirvana of the day might have been, Gin Blossoms brought just a touch more pop to the table and loads of melody going for 'em. But, with whatever else you could add to their dilemma(s), they were too melodic and poppy for FM, and maybe just a little to edgy for AM. College was likely all over them, but they needed....well, that unknown that eludes many acts.
As for Doug, bless his heart, when I was researching his malady, and read that he was dismissed from the band, I couldn't believe I wasn't also reading about all his friends in and around the band were gathering around him and giving him emotional land psychological support! Couldn't they see how desperate he was for validation (personal and professional), especially as he so wanted his talent to help propel the band?!?
He appears to have died alone without that support, and as someone (right at that time, too!) who was a pro, full-time church youth minister, I was tending to many a needy (of various kinds) young men! It's tough not to feel a little "parental" in Doug's direction.
But, you're right....he's up there with all the "big names" in rock'n'roll heaven, and I bet he's loving making up all those delicious melodies with Lennon, Buddy, and the gang!💖
Amen, brother. And I did not know you were a youth minister! Which church?
This is the best story I’ve got about my youth group high school boys, from 1989:
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1989-it-bites-eat-me?utm_source=publication-search
I was raised in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and after my ‘70s-early-’80s radio and record biz days, I finished college, mid-’80s to get certified and a BA in DCE (Director of Christian Education) in the LCMS. I landed at 2 LCMS congregations in L.A. county: Cerritos ‘86-’91 (southern L.A. country, just above Orange County), and El Monte (near Pasadena) ‘91-’93.
I’ll read it manana.
First time hearing the version from the Dusted album. I like the rawer version of this song, as opposed to the more cleaned up finished product. But either version is a masterclass of jingle jangle goodness.
Great point, Tyson! We're so used to hearing the "clean" version, but it's fun to hear how they originally heard it! One wonders (I know I do) how brusque the discussions might have been (or not) between the band and co-producer, John Hampton (who eventually won 2 Grammys for engineering a decade later).
I have a feeling the band had little to no problem following Hampton's lead on what A&M obviously wanted...a radio-friendly, non-threatening version of what all could see was a one-of-a-kind song. The guys are smart, and wanted a hit as badly as anyone! And, if you take away the financial aspect (I don't wanna be crass), you gotta know the guys are happy they recorded what turned out to be a popular song!