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 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 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 #38.

1 In Popular Culture
2 Litigation
3 Charts
4 Covers
5 See also
6 References

[edit] In Popular Culture

Jenny has been covered by a number of artists, including Everclear, Less Than Jake, Blink-182, Bracket and The Goo Goo Dolls.

Most media companies use a fictitious 555 telephone number, or on rare occasions real numbers that they own, to avoid problems with real telephone numbers.

In December 2004, a New Jersey high school student called all the 867-5309s in every area code within North America and found that nearly all the numbers were not in service.^[3] A handful of the numbers did refer to Jenny, however, and some even played bits of the song on their answering machine greeting.

On the Family Guy episode Road to Rhode Island, when Stewie first tries to call home, not knowing his phone number, dials 867-5309. When he fails at getting his mother on the phone Stewie exclaims: "Damn you Tommy Tutone!"

On Greek (TV Series) in the episode Depth Perception, the number that Cappie is assigned for his psychological study is 8675309.

On the TV Series Eureka in the season two episode "Try Try again" the code which Allison Blake types in to become the new head of Global Dynamics is 8675309.

[edit] Litigation

Brown University transferred the number to Gem Plumbing & Heating^[4], 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. ^[5] ^[6]

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."^[7]

[edit] Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	4
U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks	1

[edit] Covers

In 2003, singer-songwriter Mark Weigle included the song on his album Different but the Same. Weigle, who is gay, 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 rest room wall, while "Jimmy', on the other hand, most likely had done so).