Friday, November 21, 2025

La Fin de La Semaine Essay Question: Special "I am Not a Number -- I'm a Free Man! Oh, Wait...Actually I AM a Number" Edition

And now, from some time post-COVID, please enjoy my current fave cover act, the delightful Middle Aged Dad Jam Band and their spirited version of Tommy Tutone's "867-5309/Jenny."

BTW, just for the record (as it were), I should say I'm a huge fan of Tommy Tutone, who are unfairly dismissed as one hit wonders IMHO.

I mean -- c'mon. This one, which was actually the band's first Top 40 record, absolutely freaking slays me.

I should add that back in 1980, when I had just switched from playing guitar to bass (as we were getting the Floor Models together) I used to hone my four-string skills by playing along with that. I mean, what a fabulous groove.

In any case, I bring the whole thing up because it leads us, inexorably, to the subject of the weekend's business. To wit:

...and your favorite (or least favorite) post-Elvis pop/rock/soul/folk/country song with numerals in its title is...?

Discuss.

So -- my favorite?

That's from Steppenwolf's (to me) inexplicably underrated sophomore effort; it's a minority opinion, I know, but I think it's one of the greatest hard rock (in the old fashioned sense) albums ever.

And my least favorite?

Hey -- I like a lot of bubblegum stuff from that period. That song, however? I think the word is "yucky." Especially in the contemporary context of the Epstein files. 😎

Alrighty then --- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!!

40 comments:

Cleveland Jeff said...

Cannibal and the Headhunters Land of 1000 Dances
The Vogues Five O'Clock World
The Proclaimers (who also covered Five O'Clock World) I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Cleveland Jeff said...

If you like Middle Aged Dads, you should check out Ray Toole

MJConroy said...

Garland Jeffreys - 35 Millimeter Dreams

edward said...

David Bowie - 1984
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 mRevisited
Bob Dylan - Positively 4th St
Rolling Stones - 19th Nervous Breakdown
? & the Mysterious - 96 Tears
and, of course - Zafger & Evans - In the Year 2525

Rob said...

Johnny Cash - Five Feet High

Rob said...

Bee Gees - New York Mining Disaster 1941

steve simels said...

The Proclaimers covered 5 O'Clock World? Okay, I gotta hear that...

Rob said...

Post World War 2 Blues
Al Stewart

Anonymous said...

8:05 by Moby Grape yes
Knock 3 Times by Tony Orlando& Dawn no
rs

Rob said...

Beatles -
Revolution 1 / Revolution 9 πŸ˜‰

Anonymous said...

Jim Ford - 36” High (also performed by Nick Lowe)
Toots and The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number
Desmond Dekker and The Aces - 007 (Shanty Town)
54-40 - One Day In Your Life
801 - Third Uncle

- Paul in DK

Anonymous said...

Too many choices, and I've work to do, dang it! Off the top of my head, tho....
One by 3 Dog Night (a twofer there, sorta!)
One Way or Another by Blondie
A Million Miles Away by Plimsouls
Five to One by the Doors
C in California

cthulhu said...

The Who, 5:15 of course. It’s been a killer live number since the beginning and it has been a highlight of every Who concert I’ve attended in the 2000s, including the next to last show on their recent “Song Is Over” tour, which was an extraordinary concert for any band, and jaw-droppingly good for a couple of octogenarians.

Chicago, 25 or 6 to 4 - for Terry Kath’s terrific guitar solo.

The Beatles, Revolution 9 - One of the major reasons why I think the White Album should have been edited down to one disc.

Dave Leonatti said...

Tommy Tutone undervalued. Of note, Steve; Jim Keller- one of TT founders with Tommy Heath, has new album out "End of the World", more rootsy than Powerpop, but still very solid and enjoyable. And I second the Steppenwolf appraisal- loved that record. They appropriate Chicago blues nicely (John Kay a country and blues admirer) and crisp, sharp neo-psych production. All time fave.

cthulhu said...

Oh, and I love Tommy Tutone as well, but my favorite song of theirs is Cheap Date, a neo-reggae number off their first album with some clever lyrics about a socially awkward but sincere teenage guy trying his best to convince a girl to go out with him. Having been that socially awkward but sincere teenage guy, it’s a perfect snapshot of teenage dating angst, simultaneously comedic and sweet. Great song.

Rob B Mullen said...

DL - Recently acquired, "Unsung Songs and Forgotten Heros" by Kay.
First heard the original album in '72.
Acoustic, amazing
rob
ps - he does have songs with #'s πŸ˜‰

Alzo said...

I’d Wait a Million Years / Grass Roots
10538 Overture / ELO
In the Year 2525 / Zager & Evans
2120 South Michigan Avenue / Rolling Stones
2000 Light Years from Home / Rolling Stones
1999 / prince
1977 / The Clash
1880 or So / Television
100 Years Ago / Rolling Stones
99 Luftballons / Nena
96 Tears / I like the Stranglers’ cover
57 Channels and Nothing On / Bruce Springsteen
53rd & 3rd / Ramones
52 Girls / B-52s
48 Crash / Suzi Quatro
30 Days in the Hole / Humble Pie
25th Floor / Patti Smith Group
20th Century Man / Kinks
19th Nervous Breakdown / Rolling Stones
12XU / Wire
#9 Dream / John Lennon
I’m Henry the VII, I am / Herman’s Hermits
Seven Nation Army / White Stripes
Five Minutes / Stranglers
Free Four / Pink Floyd
Gimme Three Steps / Lynyrd Skynyrd
2-4-6-8 Motorway / Tom Robinson Band
One of the Boys / Mott the Hoople
Less Than Zero / Elvis Costello

With apologies to Casey Kasem, I got nothing for "10."

Rob said...

10 Crack Commandments
Notorious B.I.G. πŸ˜‰

Anonymous said...

"5-4-3-2-1" - uh huh it was the Manfreds!

Bob in IL

mistah charley, sb, ma, phd, jsps said...

if 6 was 9 - Hendrix, also Faithful cover by Todd Rundgren

Anonymous said...

Big Ten Inch Record by Bull Moose Jackson (and, later, Aerosmith)
Ten Commandments of Love by the Moonglows
Ten Commandments (From Man To Woman) by Prince Buster
C in California

Anonymous said...

Besides Kath's solo, there's that riff, that drumming, that singing, those horn lines....nothing to not like in 25 or 6 to 4.
C in California

Dave Leonatti said...

Rob: I have that vinyl somewhere. Was a big 'wolf and Kay fan. Remember his remakes of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On" and Hank Williams "You Win Again'. Good stuff.

steve simels said...

Just did. He and his geezer band are a lot of fun, thanks. 😎

Rob B Mullen said...

1st - Charley - I have the Faithful album in vinyl . I always opt for the covers side - Good Vibrations..

2nd - 2-4,6,8. The Jackson 5. 😁

Neal t said...

500 year countdown for 2525:)

Neal t said...

25 o'clock Dukes of the Stratosphere

Rob said...



IDave, I was sitting around one night with some friends and my finger picking, chromatic notes friend put on John's album. I was, WTF, who is this playing acoustic and he tells me Kay.
I am driving myself crazy as I thought I saw them @ '68 but it appears to be a false memory 😡‍πŸ’«

Rob said...

Let me just say, the Middle Age Dad Jam band would have been the highlight in any of the bars, which were many that I spent hours in, as a retired professional "taster". πŸ˜‰ 🍺🍻

M_Sharp said...

"7 and 7 Is" - Love
"Ol' '55" - Tom Waits
"1,000 Miles Away" - Hoodoo Gurus
"Miss Freelove '69" - Hoodoo Gurus
"1,000 Dollar Car" - The Bottle Rockets

M_Sharp said...

"Lookin' For a 7-11" - Ben Vaughn Combo

steve simels said...

I'd go see them in a heartbeat if they were playing some low dive in my neighborhood. 😎

Rob said...

Yeah Steve, I was well acquainted with ""friends in low places"
Never told you about my sharing a drink with a NYC "Union" labor official πŸ˜‰

Rob said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rob said...

Tuxedo Park @ Midnight - not exactly a Long Shores Man hang. lol

Rob said...

I may.have deleted something but from the "Paint It Black You Devil" band -
Satanic Majesty's Request -
2000 Light Years From Home

getawaygoober said...

Commander Cody Band - Seven Eleven

paulinca said...

I can't believe I'll be the first to say 10th Avenue Freeze Out.

steve simels said...

And congrats — for that, you receive a coveted PowerPop No-Prize©. 😎

daudder said...

One - Nilsson