6th Avenue Heartache
| "6th Avenue Heartache" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Wallflowers | ||||
| from the album Bringing Down the Horse | ||||
| B-side |
"Used to Be Lucky" "Angel on My Bike" | |||
| Released | April 23, 1996[1] | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
| Genre | Roots rock | |||
| Length | 5:37 | |||
| Label | Interscope Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Jakob Dylan | |||
| Producer(s) | T-Bone Burnett | |||
| The Wallflowers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"6th Avenue Heartache" is a song by American rock band The Wallflowers. It was released in April 1996 as the lead single from their 1996 debut album Bringing Down the Horse. The song became their first hit, peaking at number 8 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 10 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and number 33 on the US Hot 100 Airplay chart. Though the song was a hit on rock radio, it was overshadowed by its follow-up single, "One Headlight." The background vocals in this song are by Adam Duritz from Counting Crows.
Background and writing
Jakob Dylan, the band's lead singer, wrote the song when he was eighteen years old, and considers it the first real song he had written. It was meant to go on their self-titled first album, but the record company would not allow it. The lyrics are based on Dylan's own experiences while living in New York City, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside his window and play the same songs every day. One day the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.
Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers played the slide guitar on the song, though he recorded the track in his own studio, and never even met the band members.
Music video
The video, shot in New York, was directed by movie director David Fincher, known for such films as Se7en and Fight Club. There is a slight error in the video: Rama's Cafe, portrayed as a meeting place for the band, was actually on 281 5th Avenue, not 6th Avenue. The building was eventually demolished and a new apartment building is in the process of being constructed on the site.[2]
Track listing
- "6th Avenue Heartache" (Edit) – 4:22
- "Used to Be Lucky" – 6:35
- "Angel on My Bike" – 4:22
- "6th Avenue Heartache" – 5:37
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart[3] | 8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 33 |
| US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 25 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 |
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 8 |
| US Billboard Adult Top 40 | 26 |
References
- ↑ Reece, Douglas (August 31, 1996). "Wallflowers Are Getting Attention on Interscope". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 20.
- ↑ http://newyorkyimby.com/2015/06/revealed-281-fifth-avenue-52-story-nomad-condo-tower-designed-by-vinoly.html
- ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 2, August 26 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2016-06-20.