AccuRadio Song Of The Day-311

Artist:311

Song:Love Song

Album:The Essential 311

311 (pronounced "three eleven") was successful as an album and touring band in the 90s. Most of their chart success has been in the Alternative Rock market. The 2004 single Love Song was their only Billboard Hot 100 song. And it didn't chart high enough for 311 to be a one hit wonder. But it is a discography orphan as it appeared on the soundtrack of the film 50 First Dates. 311 was formed in Omaha in 1988 by lead singer and guitarist Nick Hexum. Other original members were Jim Watson on lead guitar, Aaron "P-Nut" Wills on bass and Chad Sexton on drums. Tim Mahoney replaced Watson in 1990. Singer and turntablist Doug "SA" Martinez joined in 1992. 311 is police code for indecent exposure in Omaha. A friend of the band was arrested after skinny dipping in a public pool. They started releasing music independently in 1989. In 1992, 311 moved to Los Angeles and recorded the demo Hydroponic. They soon signed with Phil Walden's Capricorn label. You may recall that Capricorn was successful in the 70s with The Allman Brothers Band. They went bankrupt in the 80s. Walden revived Capricorn in 1990 and 311, Cake and Widespread Panic were on the label. At first they were distributed by Warner Bros. followed by Columbia and then Mercury. Walden sold Capricorn to Volcano Records in 2000. They became Zomba and were swallowed by Sony. 311's first two albums didn't sell and they financed their own tour. But the 1995 album 311 was certified 3XPlatinum. The single Down topped the Alternative Rock chart. The video was played in heavy rotation on MTV. They appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman. The album was produced by veteran recording engineer Ron St. Germain and it was considered to be more cohesive that the first. After that they went into a gradual decline in record sales. Their last album to be certified Gold was 2001's From Chaos. So they got a boost when Hexum was asked to produce the soundtrack for the 2004 film 50 First Dates starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. It was on Madonna and Guy Oseary's Maverick label. It was an album of 80s covers. 311's cover of The Cure's Love Song was the first single. It played over the film's end credits. Love Song topped the Alternative Rock chart and reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold. This is to date 311's only Billboard Hot 100 appearance. This did not appear on a 311 album so it is a discography orphan. But Volcano released the comp Greatest Hits '93-03 at the same time. I recommend the 2016 2CD comp The Essential 311 as it covers their entire career. 311 left Volcano in 2009. They have since recorded for Dave Matthews' ATO label and they currently have their own label with BMG distribution.  They last released an album in 2019. But the video You're Gonna Get It was released last week. So it looks like 311 has a new album on the way. Here's the video for Love Song by 311.