The infectious, guitar-driven pop-punk ode to borderline-obsessive carnal yearning never really left the world's consciousness, or rock radio, since it became a hit in the summer of 1979.

Follow-up single "Good Girls Don't" did well enough. But The Knack would never collect another hit as massive as "Sharona."

Its most recent pop culture radar blip came up on NBC's battle-of-the-old-school-bands summer series "Hit Me Baby One More Time," when The Knack went mano a mano against Vanilla Ice, Loverboy and Tommy Tutone. The Knack lost, somewhat undeservedly, to a surprisingly spry Ice-man.

Asked what appealed to him about hitting "Baby" in the first place, vocalist/guitarist Doug Fieger replied matter-of-factly:

"Uh, because 10 million people would see us. That's pretty much it, because it was pretty cheesy," he said. "I think it was much better that we didn't win, because people talked about the fact that we should've."

The Knack — which still claims original members Fieger, lead guitarist Berton Averre and bassist Prescott Niles — continues to tour and record new music. The band plays Pipeline Cafe on Wednesday.

We gave Fieger the Five Questions treatment.

I have a friend in a band who wants to know what it felt like having 15 record labels courting The Knack in 1978. I don't think there are 15 record labels left in the world that aren't operating out of someone's house.

"We were doing what we were doing for about six or seven months before any record labels expressed any interest. ... Most of the record companies had already turned down all of the songs that we were playing a number of times. (Things changed) when Bruce Springsteen got up on stage with us at the (Los Angeles club) Troubadour. (Then) all of the weasels said, 'Oh, they must be cool! 'Cause Bruce is cool! And he thinks they're cool! So they must be cool!' That's really true. And the (music business) hasn't changed at all. ... For them, it's all about being cool."

Phil Spector was one of several producers angling to work with The Knack back then. Why didn't he get the job?

"Phil is an amazing talent. He heard about us early on, and he came to a lot of gigs. He used to hang out in the dressing room. He took me out to dinner a number of times. But he was crazy! (Laughs) And he was really a control freak. And that was just not what we needed. We needed somebody who would basically leave us alone. Which is what Mike Chapman did. Mike used to say, 'Doug, I'm stealing your money.' And that was probably true, because basically all he did was say, 'Tape's rolling!' and 'Good take!' "

Music critics at the time absolutely hated the band. Why didn't they get The Knack?

"Because they didn't discover us. We weren't from New York. We didn't pander to them. ... Frankly, if the critics had gotten us, I would've been disappointed. (Laughs) ... Critics are people, generally, who think the world owes them a living for their opinion, and forget that it's just their opinion! ... In the meantime, we sold 8 1/2 million records and created one of the biggest records of all time.

"Twenty-seven years later, you're still talking to me. And who's really reading a review from 1979? Nobody's dancing to (rock critic) Dave Marsh. I guarantee ya."

Most folks know that the real Sharona — Sharona Alperin, who was the inspiration for most of the songs on "Get The Knack" — is currently one of Hollywood's most successful high-end real-estate brokers. But when was the last time you talked to her?

"I saw her before I went to Paris in June, at a friend's daughter's bat mitzvah. I talk to her. Not a lot, but we're still really good friends. (We talk) about family. There's an incredible bond between us. We shared an amazing time and an amazing love. I mean, it burned real hot. She was my muse. (Songs) on the second album, a number of songs on the third album, and some that we didn't record until much later (are about her)."

I think "Get The Knack" has one of rock's most iconic album covers. But you guys took a lot of flak for it back in the day from music critics accusing you of mimicking the "Meet The Beatles" cover. Your semi-maniacal grin on the cover, in particular, is priceless. What the heck was on your mind?

"That was the first picture we ever took. ... It was taken two weeks after the band got together. ... Nobody would take our picture. (Photographer Randy St. Nicholas) borrowed a camera ... borrowed a studio ... we had enough money to pay for one roll of black-and-white film to be developed.

"(Drummer) Bruce (Gary) had just goosed me. And I was reaching behind myself to get him back and (St. Nicholas) caught me with my head down.

"It wasn't an actual pose. It was a total accident. Everybody in the band except for me hated that photo. Hated it! ... But it captured The Knack. It really did. And I knew it."