Spinning Singles: Gin Blossoms - "Found Out About You"
"...And all the lines you wrote to me were lies."
The late Doug Hopkins was a truly gifted lyricist. He would tragically not live to realize the impact and endurance of his written words, but they’ve now carried on in the American musical atmosphere for more than 35 years, thanks in part to one of the hit singles from the band Hopkins co-founded in 1987.
Welcome to a new series, featuring shorter posts that cover specific singles I’ve been spinning lately for any number of reasons. I hope you enjoy the brief breakdowns of some of my favorite singles from various eras and genres. If you do, please consider subscribing to Nate Spins Vinyl by simply entering your email address below…
Originally on the band’s debut studio album from 1989, “Found Out About You” was tweaked a bit and also featured on Gin Blossoms’ second record: the 4x-Platinum New Miserable Experience (1992). The jangly, melodic track was released as a single in November 1993, eventually climbing all the way to the top spot of the Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a 2023 interview, Gin Blossoms frontman Robin Wilson, who joined the group a few months after its formation, remembered that Hopkins “started the band with this incredible batch of songs.” “Found Out About You” was one of them.
As a ‘90s kid, this alt-rock anthem of unrequited love is firmly entrenched in the soundtrack of my adolescence. I finally got to see Gin Blossoms perform it, along with their other great hits, live this past Saturday during an awesome Father’s Day weekend outing with my family. If you get the chance to do the same, I recommend it.
My favorite of the Gin Blossoms singles, Nate (and a fun one to sing in karaoke!), here's the "Inside Tracks" I did on the GBs and "Found Out," with select covers, a year ago! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/inside-tracks-39-found-out-about
You're killin' me, Nate. These are our local boys from Tempe. I didn't get to see them when they were still playing on Mill Ave, but I got to later when New Miserable Experience landed.