“Stacy’s Mom,” Fountains of Wayne and the Many Imaginary Hits of Adam Schlesinger

Hearing the "you're playing the wrong chords" story made me laugh. I knew Chris Collingwood in High School and I've never met anyone as arrogant about their musical knowledge/taste/talent. But as I got to know him better I realized it's not bragging if you can back it up.

Adam was singularly one of the most extraordinary human beings I’ve had the good fortune to call my friend. There are few days that pass that I don’t think of him at least once. Thank you for producing this fantastic piece. One thing that’s overlooked here is, one of Adam’s first breaks into the music biz was being hired by Jody to play bass in his band The Belltower, who had helped usher in the Shoegaze/BritPop movement in the late 80’s and early 90’s. That band eventually dissolved following the divorce of Jody and his then wife, Britta Phillips (Luna/Dean & Britta). It was in the wake of that divorce that Adam sent the demo for the FoW debut to Jody and asked him if he’d like to join the band. Bri later came onboard as he stepped off The Posies train, and was positively the only drummer this band could have ever had. Jesus, Brian Young is one of the best drummers in rock. Together, this was very much a band, not just Chris and Adam working in a vacuum (although they handled all the songwriting). In the end, this video certainly left me in quiet tears, as I appreciated the tone and treatment of the news of Adam’s passing and his imprint on so much of pop culture.

"Lead us not into Penn Station" is such a great lyric

Welcome Interstate Managers is such a criminally underrated album. It's an incredible run of pop songs wrapped in different genres and built around amazing miniature screenplays. It's magnifying glass critique of suburban America was about 5 years before 'The Office', and I think it was just overlooked, partially because of Stacy's Mom.

Thanks for bringing me in to do VO!

Didn't realise how much music Adam wrote. Way back into love is such a brilliant song, as are most in this video. What a shame he died.... and from Covid, at such a young age. You will be fondly remembered.

His work (alongside Rachel Bloom) in crazy ex girlfriend is remarkable. More than 150 original songs in a 4 year run.

Stacy's Mom, Hackensack, Leave The Biker, Radiation Vibe, Sink To The Bottom, Red Dragon Tattoo, Mexican Wine, Richie And Ruben, Denise, those were all played a lot on Dutch speaking Belgian radio. I love them all and it's so sad Adam had to fall victim to covid19 at such a young age... Thanks for this delightful documentary.

I am a lifelong mega Monkees fan. When I heard "That Thing You Do!" back in the day, I immediately thought "this guy gets pop. He should produce a record for the Monkees!" When I told people that they looked at me like I had a horn growing out of my head. It took twenty years, but he ultimately did. And it was fantastic! Monster good, a classic! Thanks Adam, for all the melodic music and smiles. Welcome Interstate Managers has a place of pride on red vinyl in my collection right next to my teal blue vinyl copy of the Monkees Good Times, and Psonic Psunspot by the Dukes of Stratosphere. What higher compliment can I give? Rest in Peace Mr. Music Man.

I was in the same college class as both Adam and Chris. Everyone who attended a party in college knew them, because they were always playing music, but with the typical paths of law, medicine & Wall Street for most Williams grads, I don't think anyone realized music would be their full-time careers. I still remember seeing them playing back up in a quick scene on the first season of "the Real World" for one of the cast members and thinking "are they doing music full time?" then not realizing Radiation Vibe was them for the longest time. I will die mad, though, that "That Thing You Do" didn't win the Oscar, because it's not just period perfect & right for the film, making it pivotal to the plot; after 11 renditions in less than 2 hours, you don't hate it. As for my favorite songs, with Fountains of Wayne, it's Hackensack, because it's like a Neil Simon play in miniature. For his comedy songs, I have to go with "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore," because it was side-splitting hilarious. Oddly, my favorite Fountains of Wayne song is a Collingwood creation, "Valley Winter Song," because it so perfectly evokes the Berkshires. When the news came of Adam's passing, so early in the pandemic, it was a gut punch to everyone in our class, and oddly made us all come together in various virtual ways, which was a perfect tribute to him. My favorite memory, though, is at our 25th reunion, in 2014, when Adam walked into the dorm that was our headquarters and various classmates started doing the Wayne's World "we're not worthy" bow, and he couldn't quite accept we all thought of him as a superstar.

Very nicely done; i wasn't familiar with much more than "Stacy's Mom" but by the end I felt that I was mourning the loss of a genuinely multifaceted talent. Few can create the kind of sheer number of good songs he had a hand in.

stacy's mom has always randomly come to mind in random time, such an addictive song. I need to look up for their other song!

I was playing fire island in my studio when I got the news of his passing. He lives on in all our hearts!

“Welcome Interstate Managers” is an absolute underrated classic: “Mexican Wine”, “Bright Future In Sales”, “No Better Place”. If there was true justice in this world, FOW would’ve been hailed as the heir to the portraiture style writing of Ray Davies.

I won’t pretend, I absolutely love the Josie and the Pussycats songs. I bought the cd back in the day. My 18 year old self had to often times defend it for having it in my collection.

Whenever Trash Theory post one of their mini documentaries I click and click like and then I get round to watching it. Even if it is about something I've not previously been a fan of. They are that good, always informative, interesting, and usually a bit of fun. Sometimes I have even gained a new appreciation of an artist or song. Supposed what I am trying to say is keep up the good work, I hope it brings you as much joy as it brings me.

THIS MAN SAID WEAPONS GRADE POWER POP, THAT'S FIRE

Ivy's "Apartment Life" is still one of the best records of the 90's.

Incredibly Clever. Unbelievably Talented. Terribly Missed. Dear Adam🌹Thank You For Your Gifts.

This channel is genuinely phenomenal. Thank you so much for all of the well sourced, written, voiced and edited videos.