Numbers

Album: The Art of Falling Apart (1983)
Charted: 25
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Marc Almond and David Ball of Soft Cell were featured in The Art of Staying Together by Steve Sutherland, an in-depth interview published in the January 15, 1983 issue of Melody Maker, wherein they gave the paper's readers a track by track guide to their new album, The Art Of Falling Apart, which was released on the Some Bizarre label.

    Of "Numbers", which runs to 4 minutes 55 seconds, Almond said "The title was actually nicked from a John Rechy book called Numbers where he goes to Los Angeles and just sees how many people he can have in a weekend. It's a soundtrack of loveless sex..."

    Although disdainful of mushy love songs, Almond did not record this as an endorsement of promiscuity, rather he said you look back and realize suddenly that you're just a number to other people too.

    The album version runs to some 4 minutes 55 seconds; the single version to 3 minutes 44 seconds, and the extended mix to 10 minutes 21 seconds. Both single versions were backed by "Barriers." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Troolee from EquadorGreat song, one of the Cell's finest. About run time: single version also runs 4 minutes and 55 seconds, but is slightly remixed for single by Dave Ball (and enginereed by Flood). And there is promo (aka 'DJ') 7" single, which is also single remix, but edited down to 4 minutes and 20 seconds. There is no '3-minutes-44-seconds' single version, except edited album version on "The Very Best Of Soft Cell" compilation from 2002, which runs 3 minutes and 34 seconds.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.