RECORD STORE TALES #1150: “867-5309 / Jenny”

In 1981, rock band Tommy Tutone released their second album, 2.  The lead track and single was a song called “867-5309/Jenny”.  As you can imagine, placing an actual phone number in a song was, while catchy, also problematic.   Lorene Burns from Alabama, who unfortunately had that very phone number, had to change it in 1982.  “When we’d first get calls at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, my husband would answer the phone. He can’t hear too well. They’d ask for Jenny, and he’d say ‘Jimmy doesn’t live here any more.’  Tommy Tutone was the one who had the record. I’d like to get hold of his neck and choke him.”

Tommy Tutone was in fact a “them” and the song was written by guitarist Jim Keller, with Alex Call from the band Clover.  The song soared to #2 in Canada, and #1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart.  It’s a great tune.  David Lee Roth recently covered it, but in its original incarnation, it’s a guitar driven rock classic with a plaintive chorus and memorable lyrics.

Jenny Jenny who can I turn to?
You give me something I can hold on to,
I know you’ll think I’m like the others before,
Who saw your name and number on the wall.
Jenny I’ve got your number,
I need to make you mine,
Jenny don’t change your number,
Eight six seven five three oh nine.

Many Jennys were teased worldwide (my wife included) by boys singing the song to them; an anthem of calling a number found on a bathroom wall.  The origins of the song are unclear.  “There was no Jenny,” claimed Alex Call in 2009.  The number, he said, just sounded right when sung.  Tommy Tutone lead singer Tommy Heath claimed in 2008 that Jenny was a real girl, and they wrote her telephone number on a wall just for laughs.  The Alex Call account sounds more believable.

Whatever the origins, many people with that phone number were prank called year after year after year.  One day in 1998, I heard “867-5309” for the first time.  Although I was not involved, a prank call ensued.

It was at the old Heuther Hotel in Waterloo (now, sadly, destined to become new condos).  I had a bad day (girl trouble), and was taken out by friends to get over it.  I sat enjoying a rum and coke (Captain Morgan’s spiced rum, always) with my co-workers Neil and Trevor.  In fact, it could have been my first ever spiced rum.  Tommy Tutone came on, and I liked the song, which I was unfamiliar with.  “It’s Tommy Tutone!” enthused Trevor.  “You don’t know this song?  Come on!”

We rocked along to the tune for a bit before Trevor realized that 867 was a local number.

“Should I call and ask for Jenny?  I’m gonna call and ask for Jenny!”

We laughed and I said no, but the drinks were flowing and Trevor dialed up 867-5309.

“Hello?” went the female voice on the other end.

“Hi, is Jenny there?” asked T-Rev with total innocence.

“Jenny’s not home,” went the answer.

“There’s actually a Jenny there?  COOL!” said T-Rev.  He was assured there was indeed a Jenny there.

“No way!  Really?  A Jenny really lives there?”  Once again, he was told yes.  “Do you know there’s a song called ‘Jenny’ with this phone number?”  The person feigned ignorance and reiterated that Jenny was not home.

“Cool!  Can you tell her Trevor called?  Thanks!”

And that was it!  We laughed all night about there being an actual Jenny at 867-5309, but I think the girl who answered the phone was just so used to getting this call that she called Trevor’s bluff.

We may never know.  Please don’t call 867-5309 and ask.