Tuesday February 22, 2022 “Fire Island” Fountains of Wayne
We’re heading to “Fire Island” today…well at least the parents seem to be heading there.
Fountains of Wayne was more of a cult fascination until their release of one of my favorite songs, and videos, “Stacy’s Mom” which…spoiler alert here…according to songwriter Adam Schlesinger was inspired by one of their high school friend’s grandmothers. Maybe check out the Rachel Hunter video to erase that fact.
Named after an outdoor furniture store on route 46 in New Jersey, Fountains of Wayne have recorded some wonderful albums of British influenced power-pop tunes all of which I am happy to recommend.
Fountains of Wayne singer/songwriter Adam Schlesinger wrote all of the music for the fictitious band, the Oneders (pronounced ‘wonders’) in the Tom Hanks directed movie That Thing You Do, the music of which was nominated for an Oscar. Schlesinger would also score the broadway musical Cry Baby: The Musical based on the John Waters, Johnny Depp movie of the same name.
He would be nominated for several Tonys for that Broadway musical. He has done music for several TV shows like Crazy Ex Girlfriend and been nominated for Emmys based on his TV work and he wrote three songs for the Monkees 50th anniversary album Good Times!. Schlesinger formed the band Tinted Windows after Fountains of Wayne with Taylor Hanson from the family band Hanson, Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick and James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins.
Adam Schlesinger unfortunately left us in 2020 a victim of covid at the young age of 52.
Stay safe and well…and there’s an interesting version of today’s song “Fire Island” by Sean Lennon here.