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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 Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1982. Co-writer Call came up with both "Jenny" and the telephone number and completed the song with Keller. ^[1]

Many believed 867-5309 was the real phone number of a girl named Jenny. 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".^[2]

Although Tommy Tutone is primarily remembered for this song and commonly considered a "one-hit wonder," they actually had a Billboard Top 40 hit in 1980 — two years before "Jenny" — with "Angel Say No", which peaked at number 38.^[3]

[edit] Charts

[edit] Covers

Jenny has been covered by a number of artists, including Everclear, Less Than Jake, Blink-182, Bracket 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 restroom wall, while "Jimmy", on the other hand, most likely had done so).

[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.^[4][5]

• 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."^[6]

• In the Family Guy episode "Road to Rhode Island", Stewie tries to call home after he and Brian stay at a hotel for the night and dials the number 867-5309 then realizes that it's not the right number and shouts "Damn you, Tommy Tutone!".^[7]

• This song is featured in the game American Idol 2: Encore

[edit] Litigation

Brown University transferred the number to Gem Plumbing & Heating^[8], 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. ^{[9] [10]}

[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