Fountains of Wayne will forever be known for their fluke 2003 hit, “Stacy’s Mom,” thanks to its Cars-like melody and a memorable Fast Times At Ridgemont High-referencing video. But there’s more to the story than this for the New York-based band, as Fiona McQuarrie’s biography Fountains of Wayne attests. 

The story begins in the late 80s, when college friends Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger got together and recorded songs, for which they used the name Pinnwheel. But the band never really attracted interest, so they split and focused on other projects, most notably Schlesinger formed Ivy (which is not, by the way, a Fountains of Wayne side project, as oft is mistakenly thought}. The two hooked up in the mid-90s as Fountains of Wayne, and thanks to Schlesinger’s success with the soundtrack to That Thing You Do, this time the band aroused industry interest, the band signing to Atlantic.

Then the frustration set in. They didn’t have hit singles, but their music—especially song “Radiation Vibe”—was critically acclaimed, and they released two albums for Atlantic. When they parted ways, they decided to take some time off, and when they reconvened, they made the record they wanted to make, Welcome Interstate Managers, which produced a fluke hit with the insanely catchy tribute to The Cars, “Stacy’s Mom,” an undeniable hit, even if it seemed predestined to make the band a one-hit wonder. 

Two more albums came and went, critically acclaimed as they were but not huge sellers. The band called it a day after releasing their fifth album. Sadly, any hope of a full reunion came to a tragic end in 2020, when Schlesinger died of COVID-19 related illness, bringing a sad close to a really great pop band. 

Fountains of Wayne is an enjoyable read about a band whose value and acclaim is only growing. It’s good timing, too; the band has planned several reunion shows, and thus remains the possibility of a more formal return.Whatever happens in the future doesn’t change the fact that Fountains of Wayne is a top-tier band that made some great music.

Purchase: J Card Press

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