Fountains of Wayne
Encyclopedia
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop
band that formed in New York City
in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood
, Adam Schlesinger
, Jody Porter
and Brian Young.
and Chris Collingwood
. The two first met as freshmen at Williams College
and began playing music together in various bands. They eventually went their separate ways, with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming Ivy
in New York City. The two met up once again during the mid-1990s and formed Fountains of Wayne.
Initially the band went by other names, including Are You My Mother? and Woolly Mammoth, before settling on Fountains of Wayne, taken from a lawn ornament
store in Wayne
, New Jersey
. The store was located at the intersection of U.S. Route 46
and New Jersey Route 23, not far from Montclair, New Jersey
, the hometown of the band's bass
ist and co-founder Adam Schlesinger. The store can be seen in The Sopranos
episode "Another Toothpick" as well.
The store went out of business in 2009.
, and in 1996 the band released its self-titled debut
. The album spawned the singles "Radiation Vibe
" and "Sink to the Bottom
", which both received airplay. Coincidentally, at around the same time the title song
for the film That Thing You Do!
, which Schlesinger wrote, became a hit. That Thing You Do! also brought Schlesinger an Oscar
nomination and an RIAA gold certification for the hit soundtrack.
Along with guitarist Jody Porter
and still active Posies drummer Brian Young, the band toured the world extensively behind the album, playing alongside bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins
, Sloan
and The Lemonheads
.
, named after a road in Queens
, New York. The album was a concept record that dealt with life in modern suburbia. Utopia Parkway was received well by critics, garnering many favorable reviews, and was album of the week in People magazine
. The group once again toured extensively behind the album, but frustrations grew between the band and the label. The band was later dropped by Atlantic in late 1999.
film and soundtrack. He also produced albums for the Verve Pipe and David Mead
, as well as several tracks by They Might Be Giants
. He released a third record with his other band Ivy
on Nettwerk
records.
During the group's hiatus, Collingwood formed and fronted a pop-country band entitled the Gay Potatoes based in the Northampton, Massachusetts
area. He also played a string of solo shows in the Boston and Los Angeles areas. Guitarist Jody Porter worked with his band The Astrojet alongside famed producer Gordon Raphael
and keyboardist David Zhang in the New York City area. Percussionist Brian Young
moved to Los Angeles and did session work for various artists such as producer Steve Fisk
, Ivy, Heather Duby
and Greg Dulli
.
' "Better Things" for the tribute album This Is Where I Belong: Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks. The group also recorded the theme song for the Comedy Central
show Crank Yankers
, and wrote songs for, and appeared as animated characters in, the VH1
cartoon series Hey Joel
with columnist Joel Stein
. The show aired briefly on VH1 in 2003, but was later picked up by Teletoon in Canada. The band members appeared performing original songs that typically reviewed the plot developments immediately preceding their performance, in addition to the show's theme song.
In 2003, former Atlantic A&R man Steve Yegewel signed the band as new A&R man at S-Curve Records, and the band released Welcome Interstate Managers
. It spawned the hit single "Stacy's Mom
", which Adam Schlesinger says was a tribute to The Cars
and was certified gold by the RIAA
.
Initially, "Stacy's Mom" stalled at commercial alternative radio in the US; the single, LP, and band seemed doomed to obscurity. However, MTV
rescued the band from likely failure as MTV President Judy McGrath
championed the music video
for "Stacy's Mom", rapidly increasing the song's exposure and success. The video features Rachel Hunter
as the object of the fantasies of the song's narrator. The follow-up single, "Mexican Wine", fared less well, with a controversial video that showed young children singing the lyrics "think I'll have another glass of Mexican wine" and guitarist Jody Porter catching a drink on the bare stomach of a woman lying on a beach. The single was ultimately pulled by the record label. The third single, "Hey Julie", an acoustic song, received some airplay. "All Kinds of Time", depicting a young football player in a Zen-like state of mind during a crucial potentially game-winning pass, was used for NFL commercial promotions during the 2005 season. The band also recorded a performance on Austin City Limits
, which aired in December 2003.
The band received two 2003 Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Best Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group (for "Stacy's Mom").
, and American Songbook. Also included on the album is a cover of the Britney Spears
hit "...Baby One More Time", recorded as a b-side in 1999.
was released on April 3, 2007. Blender
magazine named the band one of the reasons to love 2007 because of the release of its latest album. The song "I-95" from this album was named one of the year's Top 50 Songs by Rolling Stone.
On October 2, 2010, the band was one of the headliners at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Festival, an annual free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park
.
In July 2011, they began an extensive tour in the U.S. and performed at the Fuji Rock Festival
in Japan. Sky Full of Holes
was released on July 20 in Japan by Warner Music Japan, August 1 in Europe by Lojinx
, and August 2 in North America by Yep Roc Records
. The album features 13 songs, with two bonus tracks on the Japanese version. The first two singles released were "Richie and Ruben" and "Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart."
. The concert was filmed in 2005. The DVD includes newly recorded acoustic songs.
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band that formed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
, Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
, Jody Porter
Jody Porter
Jody Porter is an American musician. He is the guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne. The band has released four major label albums, including Welcome Interstate Managers on Virgin Records in 2003, an RIAA-certified Gold LP. The album spawned the hugely popular U.S...
and Brian Young.
Early years
The group was formed by songwriters Adam SchlesingerAdam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
and Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
. The two first met as freshmen at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and began playing music together in various bands. They eventually went their separate ways, with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
in New York City. The two met up once again during the mid-1990s and formed Fountains of Wayne.
Initially the band went by other names, including Are You My Mother? and Woolly Mammoth, before settling on Fountains of Wayne, taken from a lawn ornament
Lawn ornament
Lawn ornaments are decorative objects placed in the grassy area of a property.- Common lawn ornaments :Bird bath - A structure designed to hold water for birds to bathe in or drink, generally supported upon a pedestal....
store in Wayne
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The store was located at the intersection of U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46
U.S. Route 46 is an east–west U.S. Highway, running for , completely within the state of New Jersey. The west end is at an interchange with Interstate 80 and Route 94 in Columbia, Warren County on the Delaware River...
and New Jersey Route 23, not far from Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, the hometown of the band's bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist and co-founder Adam Schlesinger. The store can be seen in The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
episode "Another Toothpick" as well.
The store went out of business in 2009.
Fountains of Wayne (album)
A demo eventually landed the two a deal with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and in 1996 the band released its self-titled debut
Fountains of Wayne (album)
Fountains of Wayne is the self-titled debut album of power pop group Fountains of Wayne, released in 1996 through TAG Recordings, Scratchie Records, and Atlantic Records...
. The album spawned the singles "Radiation Vibe
Radiation Vibe
"Radiation Vibe" was the first single by Fountains of Wayne, from their debut album also titled Fountains of Wayne. It was released in 1996 and charted in the UK at #32 on March 22, 1997...
" and "Sink to the Bottom
Sink to the Bottom
"Sink to the Bottom" was the second single by Fountains of Wayne, from their debut album also titled Fountains of Wayne. It was released in 1997 and charted in the UK at #42 on May 10, 1997...
", which both received airplay. Coincidentally, at around the same time the title song
That Thing You Do (song)
"That Thing You Do" is a 1996 song that appears in the film That Thing You Do!. The song is performed by the fictional 1960s band The Wonders, who are the focus of the film.-In the film:...
for the film That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do! is a 1996 comedy-drama musical film written and directed by Tom Hanks. Set in the summer of 1964, the movie tells the story of the quick rise and fall of a one-hit wonder rock band...
, which Schlesinger wrote, became a hit. That Thing You Do! also brought Schlesinger an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nomination and an RIAA gold certification for the hit soundtrack.
Along with guitarist Jody Porter
Jody Porter
Jody Porter is an American musician. He is the guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne. The band has released four major label albums, including Welcome Interstate Managers on Virgin Records in 2003, an RIAA-certified Gold LP. The album spawned the hugely popular U.S...
and still active Posies drummer Brian Young, the band toured the world extensively behind the album, playing alongside bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
, Sloan
Sloan (band)
Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...
and The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
.
Utopia Parkway
In 1999 the band released its second album, Utopia ParkwayUtopia Parkway
Utopia Parkway is a 1999 album by Fountains of Wayne, released through Atlantic Records. It was the follow-up to the band's 1996 self-titled debut; like its predecessor, it showcases upbeat, power pop music....
, named after a road in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York. The album was a concept record that dealt with life in modern suburbia. Utopia Parkway was received well by critics, garnering many favorable reviews, and was album of the week in People magazine
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
. The group once again toured extensively behind the album, but frustrations grew between the band and the label. The band was later dropped by Atlantic in late 1999.
Hiatus period
The band was inactive for a period of time. Schlesinger found work as a writer and producer and co-wrote many of the songs for the Josie and the PussycatsJosie and the Pussycats (film)
Josie and the Pussycats is a 2001 comedy film released by Universal Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Directed and co-written by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, the film is loosely based upon the Archie comic of the same name...
film and soundtrack. He also produced albums for the Verve Pipe and David Mead
David Mead
David Worth Mead is a Nashville-based pop singer-songwriter, best known for his soaring vocals and such albums as Indiana and Almost and Always...
, as well as several tracks by They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
. He released a third record with his other band Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
on Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
records.
During the group's hiatus, Collingwood formed and fronted a pop-country band entitled the Gay Potatoes based in the Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
area. He also played a string of solo shows in the Boston and Los Angeles areas. Guitarist Jody Porter worked with his band The Astrojet alongside famed producer Gordon Raphael
Gordon Raphael
Gordon Raphael is a record producer and musician from Seattle, Washington and New York, currently working in San Antonio, Texas.Gordon Raphael is most widely known for his work with The Strokes, whom he met while attending one of their very first shows at Luna Lounge on the Lower East Side, New...
and keyboardist David Zhang in the New York City area. Percussionist Brian Young
Brian Young
Brian Young is the drummer for the New York based power pop band Fountains of Wayne who have released four major label albums and scored an RIAA certified gold record for their single Stacy's Mom...
moved to Los Angeles and did session work for various artists such as producer Steve Fisk
Steve Fisk
Steve Fisk is a Washington-based audio engineer, record producer and musician.Fisk joined the instrumental rock band Pell Mell in 1982. With vocalist Shawn Smith, he formed Pigeonhed, which released its first album in 1993....
, Ivy, Heather Duby
Heather Duby
Heather Duby , is a female American singer/songwriter.-History:Heather Duby studied at Evergreen State College, located in Olympia, Washington. She relocated to Seattle in 1994. For several years, Duby fronted her own band and worked the Seattle restaurant industry...
and Greg Dulli
Greg Dulli
-Biography:Greg Dulli was born and brought up in the working-class city of Hamilton, Ohio. Although he was raised a Catholic, he is now agnostic. Dulli first came to public attention in the late 1980s with The Afghan Whigs when he joined D.C. transplant bassist John Curley and Louisville, Kentucky,...
.
Reunion
Sometime in 2001 the band slowly came back together, recording a cover of The KinksThe Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
' "Better Things" for the tribute album This Is Where I Belong: Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks. The group also recorded the theme song for the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
show Crank Yankers
Crank Yankers
Crank Yankers is an American TV show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison that featured actual prank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests, and re-enacted onscreen by puppets for a visual aid to show the viewer what is happening in the call...
, and wrote songs for, and appeared as animated characters in, the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
cartoon series Hey Joel
Hey Joel
Hey Joel is an American animated television series. It is about Joel Stein, the host of a three-minute rock-star interview show on VH1 called "3 minutes with Joel". However, he is anything but respectful to his famous guests, often badgering them with aggressive, pointless, irreverent, and often...
with columnist Joel Stein
Joel Stein
Joel Stein is a journalist who wrote for the Los Angeles Times and is a regular contributor to Time.-Early life:Stein grew up in Edison, New Jersey and attended J. P. Stevens High School, where he was a writer and entertainment editor for Hawkeye, the student newspaper...
. The show aired briefly on VH1 in 2003, but was later picked up by Teletoon in Canada. The band members appeared performing original songs that typically reviewed the plot developments immediately preceding their performance, in addition to the show's theme song.
Welcome Interstate Managers
The band used the money made from these projects to fund the recording of a new album, working in upstate New York, New York City, and Boston.In 2003, former Atlantic A&R man Steve Yegewel signed the band as new A&R man at S-Curve Records, and the band released Welcome Interstate Managers
Welcome Interstate Managers
Welcome Interstate Managers is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on June 10, 2003. The album's title was taken from a hotel marquee sign. The album includes the hit song "Stacy's Mom", which garnered significant airplay in 2003. "Mexican Wine" was the second single...
. It spawned the hit single "Stacy's Mom
Stacy's Mom
"Stacy's Mom" is a hit single by American band Fountains of Wayne, released in 2003 and taken from their album Welcome Interstate Managers....
", which Adam Schlesinger says was a tribute to The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
and was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
Initially, "Stacy's Mom" stalled at commercial alternative radio in the US; the single, LP, and band seemed doomed to obscurity. However, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
rescued the band from likely failure as MTV President Judy McGrath
Judy McGrath
Judith Ann McGrath, is an American television executive.Named Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks on 20 July 2004, McGrath oversees the networks' channels, including MTV, MTV2, VH-1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, and Logo...
championed the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Stacy's Mom", rapidly increasing the song's exposure and success. The video features Rachel Hunter
Rachel Hunter
Rachel Hunter is a New Zealand born American model, actress and reality TV show host who now resides in the U.S. She is best known for her appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her longtime marriage to singer Rod Stewart, which ended in 2006...
as the object of the fantasies of the song's narrator. The follow-up single, "Mexican Wine", fared less well, with a controversial video that showed young children singing the lyrics "think I'll have another glass of Mexican wine" and guitarist Jody Porter catching a drink on the bare stomach of a woman lying on a beach. The single was ultimately pulled by the record label. The third single, "Hey Julie", an acoustic song, received some airplay. "All Kinds of Time", depicting a young football player in a Zen-like state of mind during a crucial potentially game-winning pass, was used for NFL commercial promotions during the 2005 season. The band also recorded a performance on Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, which aired in December 2003.
The band received two 2003 Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Best Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group (for "Stacy's Mom").
Out-of-State Plates
In June 2005, Fountains of Wayne released Out-of-State Plates, a collection of B-sides which included two new songs. The album was supported by the single "Maureen" and a limited US tour that included some acoustic-only sets, a set on PBS SoundstageSoundstage (TV program)
Soundstage is an American live concert television series produced by WTTW Chicago and HD Ready. The original series aired for 13 seasons between 1974 and 1985; a new series of seasons began in 2003, with the latest running through summer 2009, each presented in high definition with surround...
, and American Songbook. Also included on the album is a cover of the Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
hit "...Baby One More Time", recorded as a b-side in 1999.
Traffic and Weather
Traffic and WeatherTraffic and Weather
Traffic and Weather is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on April 3, 2007. The album has been described as having "...more witty tales of confused young people caught between destinations"....
was released on April 3, 2007. Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine named the band one of the reasons to love 2007 because of the release of its latest album. The song "I-95" from this album was named one of the year's Top 50 Songs by Rolling Stone.
Sky Full of Holes
In 2009, the band played a short run of full-band acoustic shows where they showcased songs from their forthcoming album. In an interview with Chris Collingwood in September 2010, it was revealed that the new album had been completed.On October 2, 2010, the band was one of the headliners at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, or HSB for short is an annual free music festival held the first weekend of October in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. From its outset, the festival has been subsidized by San Francisco venture capitalist Warren Hellman. The first festival was held in 2001, originally...
Festival, an annual free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, is a large urban park consisting of of public grounds. Configured as a rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20% larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles long east to west, and about half a...
.
In July 2011, they began an extensive tour in the U.S. and performed at the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
in Japan. Sky Full of Holes
Sky Full of Holes
-Chart performance:...
was released on July 20 in Japan by Warner Music Japan, August 1 in Europe by Lojinx
Lojinx
Lojinx is a British independent record label and music publishing company established in 2003 in South London, UK. It was voted as one of the top ten "Best Record Labels of 2010" .-Artists:* The Bad Machines* Ben Lee* Bleu* Butch Walker* Caroline Lost...
, and August 2 in North America by Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
. The album features 13 songs, with two bonus tracks on the Japanese version. The first two singles released were "Richie and Ruben" and "Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart."
DVD
Fountains of Wayne released their first live DVD, No Better Place: Live In Chicago, on March 3, 2009 via Shout! FactoryShout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
. The concert was filmed in 2005. The DVD includes newly recorded acoustic songs.
Discography
Studio albums- Fountains of WayneFountains of Wayne (album)Fountains of Wayne is the self-titled debut album of power pop group Fountains of Wayne, released in 1996 through TAG Recordings, Scratchie Records, and Atlantic Records...
(1996) - Utopia ParkwayUtopia ParkwayUtopia Parkway is a 1999 album by Fountains of Wayne, released through Atlantic Records. It was the follow-up to the band's 1996 self-titled debut; like its predecessor, it showcases upbeat, power pop music....
(1999) - Welcome Interstate ManagersWelcome Interstate ManagersWelcome Interstate Managers is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on June 10, 2003. The album's title was taken from a hotel marquee sign. The album includes the hit song "Stacy's Mom", which garnered significant airplay in 2003. "Mexican Wine" was the second single...
(2003) - Traffic and WeatherTraffic and WeatherTraffic and Weather is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on April 3, 2007. The album has been described as having "...more witty tales of confused young people caught between destinations"....
(2007) - Sky Full of HolesSky Full of Holes-Chart performance:...
(2011)
Other Releases
- Out-of-State Plates (2005)
- No Better Place: Live In Chicago (2009)
Featured in television and film
Fountains of Wayne songs have been featured in many films and TV shows:- "All Kinds of Time" – NFL NetworkNFL NetworkNFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
commercial (2005); ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
(Episode 4.13 – "My Ocardial Infarction"); The O.C.The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
(Episode 1.5 – "The Outsider"); The Devil Wears PradaThe Devil Wears Prada (film)The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
(Although it is uncredited an instrumental version of the song is played at nearly every pivotal moment in the film, as well as during the end credits); One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
(Episode 1.17- "Spirit in the Night"); Duane HopwoodDuane HopwoodDuane Hopwood is a 2005 film featured in the Sundance Film Festival. It stars David Schwimmer and Janeane Garofalo, and includes John Krasinski, Judah Friedlander, Susan Lynch, Dick Cavett, Rachel Covey, and Mia Dillon...
; Friday Night Lights (TV Series) – song provides inspirational back-drop in scene where back-up Matt Saracen takes the field and excels
- "Better Things" – The Manchurian CandidateThe Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)The Manchurian Candidate is a 2004 American thriller film based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon, and a reimagining of the previous 1962 film....
- "Bright Future in Sales" – Gilmore GirlsGilmore GirlsGilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
(Episode 4.2 – "The Lorelais' First Day at Yale"); Malcolm In The MiddleMalcolm in the MiddleMalcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
(Episode 5.4 – "Thanksgiving")
- "Bus Stop" – American DreamsAmerican DreamsAmerican Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
as The HolliesThe HolliesThe Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
(Episode 3.16 – "No Satisfaction")
- "Crank Yankers Theme" – Crank YankersCrank YankersCrank Yankers is an American TV show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison that featured actual prank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests, and re-enacted onscreen by puppets for a visual aid to show the viewer what is happening in the call...
- "California Sex Lawyer" – NewsnightNewsnightNewsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
- "Hackensack" – Just Friends
- "Hat and Feet" – Two Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks Notice is a 2002 romantic comedy film starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. Upon release, the film received a successful box office run both in the United States and globally.-Plot:Lucy Kelson is a...
- "Help!" – Cheaper By The DozenCheaper by the Dozen (2003 film)Cheaper by the Dozen is a 2003 American comedy film about a family with 12 children . The film takes its title from the 1948 biography of the same name of Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth and their 12 children, but other than the title and the concept of a family with 12 children,...
(as Steve MartinSteve MartinStephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
's character Tom Baker frantically searches the phone book and rings around looking for a babysitter)
- "Hey Joel"/"Captive Audience"/"Bad Neighborhood"/"Meet In The Middle"/"A Busty Lad"/"Androgyny" – Hey JoelHey JoelHey Joel is an American animated television series. It is about Joel Stein, the host of a three-minute rock-star interview show on VH1 called "3 minutes with Joel". However, he is anything but respectful to his famous guests, often badgering them with aggressive, pointless, irreverent, and often...
- "I've Got A Flair" – Trojan WarTrojan War (film)Trojan War is a 1997 romantic comedy directed by George Huang. It stars Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Marley Shelton.-Plot:High school student Brad has had an unrequited crush on a classmate named Brooke for years. After she asks him to come over one night to tutor her, she ends up...
- "I Want an Alien for Christmas" – TeachersTeachers (UK TV series)Teachers is a British television sitcom, originally shown on Channel 4. The series follows a group of secondary school teachers in their daily lives....
- "Prom Theme" – Joan of ArcadiaJoan of ArcadiaJoan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi , who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m...
(The Uncertainty Principle), Gossip GirlGossip GirlGossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
(Episode 2.21)
- "Planet of Weed" - Space Dogs
- "Radiation VibeRadiation Vibe"Radiation Vibe" was the first single by Fountains of Wayne, from their debut album also titled Fountains of Wayne. It was released in 1996 and charted in the UK at #32 on March 22, 1997...
" – Music and LyricsMusic and LyricsMusic and Lyrics is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Marc Lawrence. It focuses on the relationship that evolves between a former pop music idol and an aspiring writer as they struggle to compose a song for the reigning pop diva.-Plot:Alex Fletcher enjoyed...
(as Hugh GrantHugh GrantHugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
's character Alex Fletcher shows Drew BarrymoreDrew BarrymoreDrew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
's character Sophie Fisher a copy of his solo album in a record store)
- "Red Dragon Tattoo" – Kingdom HospitalKingdom HospitalKingdom Hospital is a thirteen-episode television miniseries based on Lars von Trier's The Kingdom , which was developed by horror writer Stephen King in 2004 for American television...
- "Sink to the BottomSink to the Bottom"Sink to the Bottom" was the second single by Fountains of Wayne, from their debut album also titled Fountains of Wayne. It was released in 1997 and charted in the UK at #42 on May 10, 1997...
" – How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
(Episode 2.8 – "Atlantic CityAtlantic City (How I Met Your Mother episode)"Atlantic City" is the 8th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 13, 2006.- Plot :...
"); Commercial for NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
soda brand Mozell (1998); VH1's I Love the '90sI Love the '90sI Love the '90s is a television mini-series produced by VH1 in which various music and TV personalities talk about the 1990s culture and all it had to offer. The show premiered July 12, 2004 with the episode "I Love 1990" and aired two episodes daily until July 16, 2004, when it ended with "I Love...
Part Deux; Scrubs ; Bongwater (1997)
- "Stacy's MomStacy's Mom"Stacy's Mom" is a hit single by American band Fountains of Wayne, released in 2003 and taken from their album Welcome Interstate Managers....
" – Dr PepperDr PepperDr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
commercial; PsychPsychPsych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts...
(Episode 1.4)
- "Tell Me What You Already Did" – Robots: The MovieRobots (film)Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
- "Too Cool for School" – Scary MovieScary MovieScary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
- "Troubled Times" – Veronica MarsVeronica MarsVeronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
(Episode 1.2 – "Credit Where Credit's Due")
- "Utopia Parkway" – Two Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks Notice is a 2002 romantic comedy film starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. Upon release, the film received a successful box office run both in the United States and globally.-Plot:Lucy Kelson is a...
- "Hey Julie" – ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
(Episode 5.9 – "My Half-Acre")
- "Valley Winter Song" – L.L. Bean commercial
- "Places" – Friday Night LightsFriday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
(Episode 3.13)
Group members
- Chris CollingwoodChris CollingwoodChris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
– lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Adam SchlesingerAdam SchlesingerAdam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Jody PorterJody PorterJody Porter is an American musician. He is the guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne. The band has released four major label albums, including Welcome Interstate Managers on Virgin Records in 2003, an RIAA-certified Gold LP. The album spawned the hugely popular U.S...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Brian Young – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....