Don't Lose My Number

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.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-phil-collins-songs-20131211/9-dont-lose-my-number-0672179 |title=Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Phil Collins Songs |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 December 2013|access-date=5 November 2017}} 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".{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/07/arts/phil-collins-pop-music-s-answer-to-alfred-hitchcock.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Phil Collins: Pop Music's Answer to Alfred Hitchcock |newspaper=The New York Times |date=7 April 1985 |access-date=1 November 2008 |first=Stephen |last=Holden}} The song prominently features Collins' signature gated reverb drum sound.

Cashbox said that the song "merges a Motown drive with the singer/songwriter’s own charm and vocal urgency."{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-07-20.pdf|date=20 July 1985|accessdate=29 July 2022|page=11}} Billboard said that it was a "slightly mysterious DOR tune."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=13 July 1985|accessdate=29 July 2022|page=71|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-07-13.pdf|title=Reviews}}

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"). Spoofs of samurai movies, Westerns, and Mad Max 2 are also included.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/arts/home-video-recent-releases-of-video-cassettes-photos-and-white-suit-392686.html?st=cse&scp=1&s+++q=Phil+Collins%3A+no+jacket+required+EP |title=HOME VIDEO; Recent Releases of Video Cassettes: Photos and 'White Suit' |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2 November 1986 |access-date=6 November 2008 |first=Jon |last=Pareles}} His wife at the time, Jill Tavelman, makes a cameo in the beach scene as the model who smiles at him.

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)

• Phil Collins – vocals, keyboards, drums, LinnDrum
• David Frank – additional keyboards
• Daryl Stuermer – guitars
• Leland Sklar – bass guitar

• 1985 in music

{{Reflist}}

• {{youTube|Tn1r8E-1pBw|Don't Lose My Number}}
• {{youTube|cG9Ei-HyymE|Phil Collins - Don't Lose My Number (2016 Remaster)}}
• {{youTube|SUmwpm4TKdE|Phil Collins - Don't Lose My Number (Live And Loose in Paris)}}
• {{discogs master|type=single|104648}}

{{Phil Collins songs}}

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Category:1985 songs

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