Jenny / 867-5309 (Live 1984)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to dial up some nostalgia as The Zoo Crew spins the infectious "Jenny / 867-5309 (Live 1984)" by Tommy Tutone from the album Tommy Tutone Live! This power-pop anthem, originally released in 1981, became a cultural phenomenon, sparking a frenzy of prank calls across the U.S. to the titular phone number. According to a 2008 interview on WGN Morning News, frontman Tommy Heath revealed the number was real, belonging to a girl he knew, and he jokingly wrote it on a motel bathroom wall, laughing about it for years. The song’s popularity led to chaos for some, like the daughter of Buffalo’s Chief of Police, whose number matched 867-5309, prompting threats of lawsuits, as Heath noted in a Lyrics.com interview. Co-writer Alex Call shared in a Songfacts interview that he crafted the song’s riff and title under a plum tree, initially unsure of its narrative until co-writer Jim Keller suggested it was about a girl’s number on a bathroom wall, with verses written in just 15 minutes.

The song’s legacy is wild—Wikipedia reports it stayed on the Billboard charts for 40 weeks, peaking at #4, and inspired everything from 22,000 calls in four days to a Chicago woman’s number to businesses like Benjamin Franklin Franchising using 1-866-867-5309 for marketing. Heath, in a 2024 ABC12 interview, jokingly wished for royalties on passwords, as 867-5309 is the third most popular password globally. Posts on X, like one from @landofthe80s on November 16, 2023, celebrate its 1981 release, cementing its status as an ‘80s anthem. Fans still create videos on platforms like YouTube, showcasing its timeless appeal, despite no official music video existing in 1981, as noted by Musicology Blog.

Tommy Tutone began in 1978 in northern California, born from the creative spark of Tommy Heath and Jim Keller. Heath, the charismatic lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, grew up in Philadelphia, Texas, and Montana before chasing the hippie dream in San Francisco during the Summer of Love, as detailed on Wikipedia. There, he teamed up with Keller, a talented lead guitarist, and bassist Terry Nails to form the band, originally called Tommy and the Tu-tones, inspired by Heath’s nickname. Their early days as a twangy bar band evolved into a polished power-pop sound, with their 1980 single "Angel Say No" hitting #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. Opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on his Damn the Torpedoes tour gave them early exposure, setting the stage for their 1981 breakthrough with Tommy Tutone 2 and the iconic "867-5309/Jenny."

Connect with Tommy Tutone on their official website or follow them on social media at Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can join the vibrant community at the Tommy Tutone Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks and others share their love for the band’s catchy tunes and ‘80s nostalgia. Keep spinning those records, and maybe give Jenny a call—just don’t expect her to pick up!