Don't Lose My Number Explained

Don't Lose My Number
Cover:Phil-Collins-Dont-Lose-My-Number.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Phil Collins
Album:No Jacket Required
B-Side:We Said Hello Goodbye
Released:1 July 1985 (US/EU)[1]
Genre:Dance-rock[2]
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:One More Night
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Take Me Home
Next Year:1985

"Don't Lose My Number" is a song by the English singer Phil Collins from his third solo studio album No Jacket Required. The single was not released in the UK, though it peaked at No. 4 in the US in September 1985.[3] The B-side, "We Said Hello Goodbye" was released as a bonus track on the CD for No Jacket Required. In Australia, the single was released with the title "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number".[4]

History

Collins has stated that the lyrics to "Don't Lose My Number" were improvised, and that he himself does not fully understand what they mean.[5] Stephen Holden of The New York Times also agreed that the lyrics were very "vague, sketching the outlines of a melodrama but withholding the full story".[6] The song prominently features Collins' signature gated reverb drum sound.

Critical reception

Cashbox said that the song "merges a Motown drive with the singer/songwriter’s own charm and vocal urgency."[7] Billboard said that it was a "slightly mysterious DOR tune."[8]

Music video

Collins did not know what to use as a theme for the song's music video, so he decided that it would show his decision process in selecting a theme for it. In the video, Collins talks to various "directors", who all give him ill-fitting ideas for the video. Their suggestions allow Collins to parody several other music videos of the time, including videos by David Lee Roth ("California Girls"), Elton John ("I'm Still Standing"), The Police ("Every Breath You Take"), and The Cars ("You Might Think"), as well as movies such as Mad Max 2 and various samurai movies and Westerns.[9] His wife at the time, Jill Tavelman, makes a cameo in the beach scene as the model who smiles at him.

Track listing

7": Atlantic / 7-89536 (US)

  1. "Don't Lose My Number" (4:46)
  2. "We Said Hello Goodbye" (4:15)

7": WEA / 7-259001 (Australia)

  1. "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number" (4:46)
  2. "We Said Hello Goodbye" (4:15)

12": Atlantic / 0-86863 (US)

  1. "Don't Lose My Number" (Extended Mix) (6:36)
  2. "Don't Lose My Number" (LP Version) (4:46)
  3. "We Said Hello Goodbye" (4:15)

12": WEA / 0-259001 (Australia)

  1. "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number" (Extended Mix) (6:36)
  2. "We Said Hello Goodbye" (4:15)

CD: WEA International / WPCR 2063 (Japan)

  1. "Don't Lose My Number (Edit)" (4:11)
  2. "We Said Hello Goodbye" (4:15)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 10
Canadian AC (RPM)[11] 22
Canadian Singles Chart[12] 11
Dutch Singles Chart44
New Zealand (RIANZ)22
US Billboard Hot 1004
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks25
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks33

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1985) Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 87
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[14] 64

Personnel

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phil Collins singles.
  2. Billboard. 13 July 1985. 29 July 2022. 71. Reviews.
  3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r4333/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}} allmusic (((No Jacket Required > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles))) ]. AllMusic . 19 September 2008.
  4. (Billy) Don't Lose My Number. Phil Collins. 1985. Australian 7-inch single sleeve. WEA. 7-259001.
  5. Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Phil Collins Songs . Rolling Stone . 11 December 2013. 5 November 2017.
  6. News: Phil Collins: Pop Music's Answer to Alfred Hitchcock . The New York Times . 7 April 1985 . 1 November 2008 . Stephen . Holden.
  7. Single Releases. Cash Box. 20 July 1985. 29 July 2022. 11.
  8. Billboard. 13 July 1985. 29 July 2022. 71. Reviews.
  9. News: HOME VIDEO; Recent Releases of Video Cassettes: Photos and 'White Suit' . The New York Times . 2 November 1986 . 6 November 2008 . Jon . Pareles.
  10. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 71. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  11. Web site: RPM Top 30 AC – October 5, 1985.
  12. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles – September 28, 1985.
  13. Web site: Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985. Kent Music Report. Imgur. 23 January 2023.
  14. 28 December 1985 . 1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . T-21 . Billboard . 97 . 52 .

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