6th Avenue Heartache
Encyclopedia
"6th Avenue Heartache" is a song by the band The Wallflowers
, and was the first single from their 1996 album Bringing Down the Horse
. The single was released in summer 1996, and became their first hit, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart, #10 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart, and #33 on the Hot 100 Airplay
chart. Though the song was a hit on rock radio, it was overshadowed by its follow-up single, "One Headlight
."
Jakob Dylan
, the band's lead singer, wrote the song when he was eighteen years old, and considered it the first real song he had written. It was meant to go on their self-titled first album
, but the record company would not allow it. The lyrics are based on Dylan's own experiences while living in New York
, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside his window and play the same songs every day. One day the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.
Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
played the slide guitar
on the song, though he recorded the track in his own studio, and never even met the band members. Adam Duritz
from Counting Crows
contributed backing vocals. The video, shot in New York, was directed by movie director David Fincher
, known for such films as Se7en
and Fight Club
.
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Jakob Dylan. Formed in 1989 and originally known as The Apples, the ensemble has gone through numerous personnel changes with Dylan the only constant....
, and was the first single from their 1996 album Bringing Down the Horse
Bringing Down the Horse
Bringing Down the Horse is the second album of The Wallflowers, which was released in 1996. It contains hits such as "One Headlight," "6th Avenue Heartache," "Three Marlenas," and "The Difference." "One Headlight" was the band's most popular single, reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock,...
. The single was released in summer 1996, and became their first hit, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart, #10 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart, and #33 on the Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
chart. Though the song was a hit on rock radio, it was overshadowed by its follow-up single, "One Headlight
One Headlight
"One Headlight" is a rock song performed by American recording band The Wallflowers. The song was written by lead singer Jakob Dylan, and produced by T-Bone Burnett. It was released on February 24, 1997 via Interscope Records, as the second single from the bands' 1996 album, Bringing Down the Horse...
."
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
, the band's lead singer, wrote the song when he was eighteen years old, and considered it the first real song he had written. It was meant to go on their self-titled first album
The Wallflowers (album)
The Wallflowers is The Wallflowers' self-titled debut album.-Track listing:All songs written by Jakob Dylan except "After the Blackbird Sings," written by Jakob Dylan, Peter Yanowitz, Tobi Miller, Barrie Maguire and Rami Jaffee....
, but the record company would not allow it. The lyrics are based on Dylan's own experiences while living in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside his window and play the same songs every day. One day the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.
Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
played the slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
on the song, though he recorded the track in his own studio, and never even met the band members. Adam Duritz
Adam Duritz
Adam Fredric Duritz is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer. He is best known for his role as frontman and vocalist for the rock band Counting Crows, in which he is a founding member and principal composer of their catalogue of songs.Duritz has recorded solo...
from Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
contributed backing vocals. The video, shot in New York, was directed by movie director David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
, known for such films as Se7en
Se7en
Seven is a 1995 American thriller film, which also contains horror and neo-noir elements, directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It was distributed by New Line Cinema and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R...
and Fight Club
Fight Club (film)
Fight Club is a 1999 American film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed protagonist, an "everyman" who is discontented with his white-collar job...
.
Track listing
- "6th Avenue Heartache" (Edit) - 4:22
- "Used to Be Lucky" - 6:35
- "Angel on My Bike" - 4:22
- "6th Avenue Heartache" (LP Version) - 5:37
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 33 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 8 |
| US Adult Top 40 Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
26 |