Released 30 May 1985 Recorded 1984 Length 4:48 | Format 7", 12" Genre Pop rock | |
B-side "We Said Hello Goodbye" | ||
"Don't Lose My Number" is a song by Phil Collins from his third solo album No Jacket Required. The single was not released in the UK, though it peaked at No. 4 in the U.S. in September 1985. 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 "(Billie) Don't Lose My Number".
Contents
History
The song is about a man named Billy whom the singer is hoping to find (and hopes Billy still has the singer's number). The song describes Billy being pursued by some shadowy organization. Collins has said that he actually wrote most of the song during the recordings for his debut solo album, Face Value. Collins also states that the lyrics were improvised, and that he himself does not fully understand what they mean. 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".
Music video
Collins did not know what he would use as a video theme for "Don't Lose My Number", so he decided to create a video showing his decision process in selecting a theme for it. In the video, Collins talks to various "directors", who all give him bad ideas for the video. Their suggestions allow Collins to parody several other music videos of the time, including videos by Michael Jackson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, 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 The Road Warrior and various samurai movies and Westerns.
7": Atlantic / 7-89536 (US)
- "Don't Lose My Number"
- "We Said Hello Goodbye"
12": Atlantic / 0-86863 (US)
- "Don't Lose My Number" (Extended Mix)
- "Don't Lose My Number" (LP Version)
- "We Said Hello Goodbye"
CD: WEA International / WPCR 2063 (Japan)
- "Don't Lose My Number (Edit)"
- "We Said Hello Goodbye"