Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Hey guys, I love it when you post something or mention something with people I have a connection with. Trentb, Alex Call, who wrote 867-5309, is in Nashville and an aquaintance of mine. We've done a few shows together and he always does that song last. He talks about phone lines melting down all over the country due to people trying to call that number. I think in some states they wouldn't give out that number because of prank phone calls. I guess we all wish we could just have one of those. I was talking about you guys today to a friend of mine, who played bass and toured with Sony James for many years, as well as having a few of Sonny's "B sides" on his singles. Ray, I was thinking about you and asked him his take on this'l subject. Sonny did have YOUNG LOVE and was a huge hit. He was sort of one of those heartthrobs of that era and that song was huge. While he did go on to have over 31 number one songs they weren't always in the same places, they might chart huge in some areas and not in others, but Young Love was always the one people knew him from. But Sonny was a bit of a diva ,and while he consistently worked, he made it harder on himself politically than he could have. So probably did not receive as much radio airplay as he might have or been put on as many shows as some of his contemporaries. So personal issues, other problems come up in entertainers, their management, publishers, etc. that have an effect on overall track record, reputation, etc. And of course there is always the fact of some people only have one really good song in them. Hard to figure out, but I really don't think it is just one thing. We do hear a certain trait in Nashville among hit writers. Sometimes you will see them at a show and they will play their ONE SONG that was a huge hit. But you hear their other songs and the leave a lot to be desired. So you might conclude that they had a really good co-writer (or co-writers) on their big hit. Always a puzzling situation to ponder. Hope you all have a good day. MAB


Wow I never even realized the song wasn't written, by tommy tutone lol. We didn't have the net when this came out so we were on our own.

Yes, I believe there were even some lawsuits, where people with the number claimed mental abuse and anguish, but didn't think they should have to change their number...I don't think any of them actually won, the judges probably said, get a new number.

Lol, people didn't think in terms of area code, they dialed 8675309 wherever they were. Then I remember reading that the phone number was sold, let me see if I could find the article

Here it is. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/02/ebay.jennys.number/index.html?eref=rss_us

Last edited by Trentb; 03/15/17 01:58 PM.