The Fivorite: Fountains of Wayne Songs
On April 1st, 2020, COVID-19 claimed the life of one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever heard. Mostly known for his work with the New York power-pop outfit Fountains of Wayne, Adam Schlesinger, 52, had a reputation as a wonderful collaborator, as well. The breadth of his musical talent reached all corners of entertainment and earned him multiple award nominations (Tony, Oscar, Golden Globe, etc) and victories (a Grammy and multiple Emmys).
For me, Adam represented somebody who had perfected the craft of pop songwriting. I count myself as a huge fan of songwriting luminaries Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, but if someone asked me whose writing style I would most like to emulate, it would be Adam Schlesinger. (Quick note: as I write this, the Coronavirus has claimed another Hall of Fame songsmith, John Prine. Ugh.)
Without further ado, here’s my Fivorite Fountains of Wayne songs (and maybe some extras):
5. “All Kinds of Time” from Welcome Interstate Managers
Schlesinger and co-writer Chris Collingwood took a cliche used by sports broadcasters everywhere and turned it into a minor anthem of hope in a relentless world. “He seems so at ease/A strange inner peace/Is all that he’s feeling somehow” is that moment that we all dream for.
4. “Bright Future in Sales” from Welcome Interstate Managers
The songs on Welcome Interstate Managers get overshadowed by “Stacy’s Mom”, the song that Fountains of Wayne are most known for. However, it’s not even in the top three (or five, if I’m being honest) of songs on that record. My personal favorite is this one, which I always imagined as being sung by a young Sheldon Levine from Glengary, Glenross, trying to make it in the current sales market.
3. “Red Dragon Tattoo” from Utopia Parkway
This one has a glimpse of the cheeky side of the band, as it tells the story of a young man making a trip to the tattoo parlor and permanently altering his appearance in order to earn the affections of a young lady. “I’m fit to be dyed/Am I fit to have you?” he asks, while suggesting that “If you came a little bit closer/You’d see it isn’t painted on”.
2. “Utopia Parkway” from Utopia Parkway
The title track from their second record presents another bit of shining optimism, though it may be a bit misguided. The protagonist of this song is preparing for his big break, as he is already the “king of this island town”. Once he finally makes it big, “they’ll never know what hit them when I’m gone”.
1. “Radiation Vibe” from Fountains of Wayne
I have an idea for a Fivorite that I call the Nuke Laloosh, based on the Tim Robbins character in Bull Durham who liked to throw his fastball in order to “announce his presence with authority”. For this list, I’m looking for the best Track 1 from a band’s debut album. Radiation Vibe is the entire reason I had the idea for the list. I found myself thinking that I don’t know if I had ever heard a band that was so good and so perfectly presented their aesthetic on the first song people were likely to hear from them. Try listening to this song and not getting it stuck in your head for the next month. I don’t believe it is scientifically possible.
Honorable Mention
As always I have to give you more than just five things. Here are some honorable mentions, grouped by what album they are from. In all honesty, any one of these songs could move into the top five, depending on my mood:
From Fountains of Wayne:
“Sink to the Bottom”
“Leave the Biker”
From Utopia Parkway:
“Denise”
“Lost in Space”
From Welcome Interstate Managers:
“Mexican Wine”
“Hey Julie”
Bonus Fivorite!
Here are five other songs that have Adam Schlesinger’s creative touch, including the one that got him a nomination for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe:
5. “Ocean City Girl” – Ivy
Schlesinger co-wrote, co-produced, and played on this track from 2005’s In The Clear, the fourth of six albums released by his dream-pop side project, Ivy. It was featured in the TV series Veronica Mars, a favorite in the BB&B household.
4. “Just the Girl” – The Click Five
Schlesinger had a knack for writing perfect pop songs for groups trying to emulate the 60s British Invasion (see the number one choice below). The band’s producer had also produced Welcome Interstate Managers and Schlesinger let them have the unreleased FoW song. Ironically, it would peak at number 11 on the Billboard charts in 2005, becoming Adam’s highest charting song.
3. “Santa Ana Winds” – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend original soundtrack
Schlesinger actually won an Emmy for his work on this Rachel Bloom comedy with the song “Anti-depressants Are So Not a Big Deal”, but this Frankie Valli-esque number, that pops up throughout the episode, still makes me crack up at the mere thought of it. The video contains spoilers for the season 2 episode the song is from.
2. “Pretend to Be Nice” – Josie and the Pussycats original soundtrack
I grew up reading Archie comics and I am a fan of everything Pussycats, but I especially love the soundtrack to this movie that has gained a huge cult following among the younger generation. Josie’s singing voice was Kay Hanley, lead singer of one of my favorite groups, Letters to Cleo. The soundtrack featured contributions from artists like Hanley, Babyface, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s, and Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, but this song was all Schlesinger.
1. “That Thing You Do” – That Thing You Do original soundtrack
Schlesinger penned the Academy Award-nominated title track to this Tom Hanks vehicle (which Hanks also wrote and directed) about a one-hit-wonder band from Pennsylvania in 1964. I remember hearing the song and thinking, “How exactly does one just write a perfect early-Beatles song like that?” It’s a perfect song for this imperfect world and we’ll never know how many more we missed out on. RIP Adam.
