A week or so ago, I wrote a column on songs with numbers in their titles. “96 Tears,” “Love Potion No. 9” and … OK, you get it (and can still read it on moorandmore if you are so inclined).
Here are some of the same kind of songs that readers sent in:
Jon Thompson, also known as J.T. around these parts, came up with another song with a number in both its title and the name of the group — “26 Miles” by the Four Preps.
No, it’s not about a marathon (which is 26 miles, 385 yards). The song refers to the distance between the California coast and the island of Catalina.
Trivia note: Catalina was once the spring training site for the Chicago Cubs. The reason is that the Wrigley family owned both the Cubs and most of the island — trying to turn it into “a playground for all.” I guess you could say that Wrigley Field now holds that distinction — at least for Cub fans
J.T. also included the song, “98.6” by Keith. It rose to No. 7 on the Billboard chart in 1967, making Keith a one-hit wonder. What is more interesting is that it was written by the late George Fischoff, a South Bend product.
J.T. says of Fischoff, who died in 2018: “George told me once that, as a youngster, he practiced piano 8 hours a day! I guess that’s how you get really good!”
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Linda Cason shared the song I was waiting for someone to mention — that’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon. It became Simon’s only No. 1 solo hit back in 1976.
Funny stuff as long as your marriage or relationship was on solid ground. “You just slip out the back, Jack/Make a new plan, Stan/You don’t need to be coy, Roy/Just get yourself free/Hop on the bus, Gus/You don’t need to discuss much/Just drop off the key, Lee/And get yourself free.”
Linda’s list also included “Happy Birthday Sweet 16,” by Neil Sedaka, “16 Candles” by the Crests and “When I’m 64” by the Beatles.
Paul McCartney wrote the latter when he was just 14 and it starts with: “When I get older losing my hair.” Sir Paul is 81 now and still seems to have a full mane — the lucky dude
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Michael Myers (no, not the bad dude by that name) apparently likes the big numbers in songs. He mentioned “867-5309” by Tommy Tutone and the soul version of a similar phone number, “634-5789” by Wilson Pickett. And, of course, Pickett also did, “Land of 1000 Dances.”
My favorite phone number in a song title goes to The Marvelettes, who sang “Beechwood 4-5789” back in 1962 when telephone numbers used exchange names for the first two numbers.
I can still remember ours, Gladstone 3-9155, from my childhood. Where did that come from?
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John Voorde shared an old one, “16 Tons,” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. “You loaded sixteen tons an’ whaddya get?/Another day older an’ deeper in debt/Saint Peter doncha call me cause I can’t go/I owe my soul to the company store.”
The song is about the plight of a coal miner. And recorded most famously by Ford, known for his rich bass-baritone voice.
Who else has a state in their most recognized name? How about the fictional Indiana Jones? Anybody else?
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A few more of my by-the-numbers tunes:
Brian Hyland, who came to semi-fame by singing “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini,” also had a song called “3000 Miles.” I heard it once in high school and then didn’t hear it again until 50-some years later. It wasn’t as good as I had remembered.
And then there’s another one-hit wonder group, Zager and Evans. who sang the morbid song, “In the Year 2525.” Still gives me the creeps.
OK, that’s 30 (journalistically speaking).