867-5309/Jenny
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| "867-5309/Jenny" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Tommy Tutone | ||
| from the album Tommy Tutone 2 | ||
| B-side | "Not Say Goodbye" | |
| Released | 1982 | |
| Format | 7-inch vinyl | |
| Recorded | 1981 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:47 | |
| Label | Columbia Records 02646 | |
| Writer(s) | Alex Call Jim Keller |
|
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |
"867-5309/Jenny" is a song written by Alex Call and Jim Keller and performed by Tommy Tutone that was released on the album Tommy Tutone 2, on the Columbia Records label. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in 1982 (see 1982 in music).[1] Co-writer Call came up with both "Jenny" and the telephone number and completed the song with Keller.[2]
The song caused a fad of people dialing 867-5309 (which was then a valid phone number in dozens of North American area codes) and asking for "Jenny".[3]
Although Tommy Tutone is primarily remembered for this song and commonly considered a "one-hit wonder," they actually had a Top 40 hit in 1980 — two years before "Jenny" — with "Angel Say No", which peaked at number 38.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Creation
"There was no Jenny," songwriter Alex Call told a Tampa, Fla., columnist in June 2009. "The number? It came to me out of the ether." [1]
Call details the "Jenny" story in his forthcoming book, For A Good Time Call: 867-5309: I Wrote The Song That Saved My Ass. Call expects to finish writing the book by late August 2009. [2] [5]
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
[edit] Covers
Jenny has been covered by a number of artists, including Everclear, Less Than Jake, Bracket, Blink-182 and The Goo Goo Dolls.
In 2003, singer-songwriter Mark Weigle included the song on his album Different but the Same. Weigle, changed the title to "867-5309 Jimmy". In the album's liner notes, Weigle explained how the song's dynamics changed, when altering the subject's gender from female to male (since it would be unlikely that "Jenny" had written her own number on the bathroom wall, while "Jimmy", on the other hand, most likely had done so).
This song was featured in the video game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2.
[edit] In popular culture
- In a project he called Jenny, are you there?, Dan Stecz, a New Jersey man, called all the 867-5309s in every area code within North America and found that nearly all the numbers were not in service. A handful of the numbers did refer to Jenny, however, and some even played bits of the song on their answering machine greeting.[6][7]
- In March 2008, several residents in Wilmington, Delaware reported receiving telemarketing calls during the early morning hours, where the caller had spoofed its Caller ID to "867-5309."[8]
[edit] Litigation and publicity
Brown University transferred the number to Gem Plumbing & Heating,[9] a local business. In 2002, Gem began using the number in advertising campaigns both in Rhode Island and in eastern Massachusetts (area code 617). Gem trademarked the number in 2005.
In 2006, Benjamin Franklin Franchising LLC, a large national plumbing firm, began using a toll-free version of the number (+1-866-867-5309). In 2007, Gem brought suit against Clockwork Home Services, the parent company of Benjamin Franklin Franchising, alleging a violation of its trademark. Clockwork contended that Gem's trademark was invalid. Effective in May 2007, Clockwork was ordered by a court to stop using the number in New England.[10][11]
The number in several area codes has been listed on eBay for sale.[12]
[edit] See also
- Fictitious telephone number
- Bruce Almighty telephone controversy
- Diary (song), another song whose release spurred listeners to call a phone number from the lyric
- Music
- PEnnsylvania 6-5000 - Song title and actual phone number
- 634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), p. 638.
- ^ "Jenny (867-5309)" Songfacts. Songfacts. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
- ^ Urban Legends Reference Pages: Jenny 867-5309.
- ^ 80's Music Lyrics.com.
- ^ Flanary, Patrick, "'867-5309' memoir gets behind Jenny." Tampa Liberal Examiner, June 17, 2009.
- ^ Misery Loves (Cyber) Company, Wired, June 30, 2005
- ^ Dan Stecz, Jenny, are you there?
- ^ Telemarketer's Call Invokes Old Hit Song, (Associated Press, March 11, 2008)
- ^ Gem Plumbing Inc. - Plumbing Contractor, Lincoln, Rhode Island.
- ^ Plumbing Firm Sues to Keep Famous Phone Number.
- ^ Jenny, they got your number; now 2 firms fighting over it - The Boston Globe, May 19, 2007.
- ^ CNN.com: '867-5309' number for sale on eBay, February 2, 2009.
