Tunes pay tribute to 'Tommy Boy'

SANDUSKY — No matter if they're fat guys in little coats, brake pad factory workers or villainous in-laws, seemingly anyone can jam out to a collection of melodies honoring a classic comedy flick, which just so happens to spotlight Sandusky.Consider Dave Paulson's latest musical masterpiece the ultimate harmonic homage to "Tommy Boy," a movie gaining a cult-like following since its 1995 box office debut.All nine songs on the movie's unofficial soundtrack, titled "Sandusky, Ohio," sync up to a particular scene.For instance, the tune "Don't Let it Get You Down," takes an uplifting tone, as protagonist Tommy (played by Chris Farley) and Richard (David Spade), two down-on-their-luck discouraged salesmen, try to sell products in hopes of saving Callahan Auto Parts.Paulson wrote, sang, played several instruments — "Pretty much everything but the drums" — and produced the entire album. A couple of other musicians helped contribute as well."Each song follows a certain point in the movie, but if you didn't know it was about 'Tommy Boy,' it totally passes as a stand-alone album," Paulson said from his home in Nashville, Tennessee. "But, if you're a fan of the movie, you'll understand why a song goes with a certain part."Paulson first saw "Tommy Boy," a PG-13 movie, at 12."My parents wouldn't allow me to see PG-13 movies until I was 13," Paulson said. "At the theaters, me and a friend were supposed to see something else, but it was sold out. So we decided to go see 'Tommy Boy,' and I laughed my butt off. It has a lot of heart to it. It was just a really formative experience for me."A musician for many years, Paulson one day decided to piece together an album based on a favorite movie of his. Paulson incorporated lyrics he previously wrote and tracks he formerly established in putting together "Sandusky, Ohio.""The music in this album stretches back a decade," he said.While a comedy movie, the albums' tagline lets listeners know, "It's no joke.""I want people to know that it's not a comedy album. It's about a comedy movie but does take a serious tone to it but still is fun," said Paulson, noting how it took a year to create the album. Paulson released the album about a month ago, available on Spotify, iTunes and other digital streaming services.Many people, including the film's foremost expert, gave Paulson some serious kudos for his creation."Very cool album," according to a tweet from "Tommy Boy" director Peter Segal. "Great job capturing the spirit of the movie."Paulson, who's never set foot in Sandusky, encourages everyone at least sample one of his "Tommy Boy"-inspired tracks."Over the years, this movie has held up really well, and this album will, too," Paulson said. "Just check it out."Nashville resident Dave Paulson produced an album called "Sandusky, Ohio," which acts as an unofficial soundtrack to "Tommy Boy," a film based in Sandusky."Sandusky, Ohio" track listing with synopsis1. "Sandusky"Tommy returns from college to his hometown, ready to prove he's not a screwup, as he takes a prominent role at his father's company.2. "Golden Child"Tommy's old schoolmate, Richard, who also works at the company, resents the obvious nepotism at play in Tommy's hiring as well as Tommy's effortless rapport with other employees. In the second half, Tommy explains how his mother's death set him adrift in his teenage years and into college.3. "My Old Man"Tommy's father suddenly dies during his own wedding reception. Tommy has to reconsider his future at the company now without his father at his side. He decides to do his best to fill his dad's shoes.4. "Don't Let it Get You Down"Tommy and Richard hit the road, trying to sell enough brake pads to save the company — and have to stay optimistic through numerous rejections.5. "Interlude"An instrumental designed to score the long, mind-numbing drives Richard and Tommy take through the Midwest.6. "Sunrise"Tommy and Richard are at their wits' end and come to blows. After their fight, they decide to keep driving.7. "Turning Around"Tommy has a breakthrough: He finds his own bizarre way to connect with clients, and Tommy and Richard become more confident as they begin making sales. They also start to suspect Tommy's new mother-in-law and brother-in-law are planning to oust Tommy and sell the company.8. "Here it Comes"Tommy and Richard make one last desperate attempt to save the company and, spoiler alert, they succeed. They also bust Tommy's in-laws.9. "Feels Like Home"Tommy reflects on his journey, tells his dad he's found love — and decides that there's no better place in the world for him than Sandusky, Ohio.For more information, or to purchase the album, visit sanduskyoh.coThe album "Sandusky, Ohio," produced by Dave Paulson, represents the unofficial soundtrack for "Tommy Boy," a movie released in 1995 based in Sandusky.Props to SanduskyIt doesn't take a film critic or movie buff to realize no scene in "Tommy Boy" was actually filmed in Sandusky.Anyone with even a tiny tie to the area knows the Sandusky Municipal Airport, Callahan Auto Parts or a Safeway never existed in Sandusky.But the film did make a true effort to recreate the area, according to Tim Fleck, the Register's former chief photographer."I got contacted by the film company out of Toronto, and they were looking for props they could use for the movie," Fleck said in a 2015 Register article to commemorate the film's 20-year anniversary.So Fleck took pictures of various items in Sandusky, including city police cruisers and Register newspaper boxes — both of which the movie team recreated in various scenes of "Tommy Boy."Some real props did make it on screen, including Register newspapers."It's kind of cool knowing you had a part in helping making a national, big-time movie," Fleck said. "They went through the trouble to use my pictures and then try to make things, (such as the police cruiser) real. They could have just used a black and white generic cop car, but they put the effort into it to make it look like a real Sandusky police car.""Tommy Boy" came out in 1995.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.