Survival Car
1997 single by Fountains of Wayne
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"Survival Car" is the third single by Fountains of Wayne, from their debut studio album Fountains of Wayne. It was released on July 14, 1997, and charted in the UK at No. 53 on July 26, 1997.[1]
| "Survival Car" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Fountains of Wayne | ||||
| from the album Fountains of Wayne | ||||
| B-side | "Comedienne" | |||
| Released | July 14, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | January – April 1996 | |||
| Genre | Power pop | |||
| Length | 2:04 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Schlesinger | |||
| Fountains of Wayne singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Composition and recording
Backing vocals on "Survival Car" were performed by Dominique Durand of Ivy, a band which also featured the song's co-writer Adam Schlesinger.[2] It was recorded between January to April 1996, at the Place in New York City.[2]
Release
The two other tracks on the single – "Comedienne" and the demo version of "I Want You Around" – were unavailable on any Fountains of Wayne album until the release of Out-of-State Plates in 2005.[2]
Critical reception
Ryan Swan of The Badger Herald described "Survival Car" as the "most arresting song [...] two-minute sugar rush."[3] Following the death of Schlesinger, Goldmine published their "10 Great Fountains of Wayne Songs" list, where "Survival Car" was listed. Writer John M. Borack wrote, "This brief little ditty cruises along with an instrumental urgency that borders on punky and some cool 'ooh la la' backing vox on the second verse. Always a live favorite, and one the band usually took on at warp speed."[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Survival Car" | 2:04 |
| 2. | "Comedienne" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "I Want You Around" (4 track demo) | 2:39 |
Personnel
Credits for "Survival Car" adapted from CD liner notes.[2]
Fountains of Wayne
- Chris Collingwood – vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Adam Schlesinger – drums, guitar, keyboards, vocals, production
Additional musicians
- Danny Weinkauf – bass guitar
- Dominique Durand – backing vocals
Technical personnel
- Engineered by Gary Maurer
- Mixed by Chris Shaw, Eric Tew
- Mastered by Greg Calbi
- Recorded in January and April 1996 at The Place, New York City
- Mixed at Greene Street Recording, New York City
- Mastered at Masterdisk, New York City
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[5] | 58 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 53 |
