Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand

"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" is a song by American alternative rock group Primitive Radio Gods. It was released in June 1996 as the lead single from their debut album, Rocket. The song became popular after being featured in the movie The Cable Guy (as well as its film soundtrack). Soon after, it peaked at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It became a radio hit over the following few months, reaching number two in Canada and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.

"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand"
Single by Primitive Radio Gods
from the album Rocket
B-side"Feel Me"
ReleasedJune 1996
FormatCD
Recorded1995–1996
GenreAlternative rock, trip hop, downtempo
Length5:39
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Chris O'Connor, Leonard Feather
Producer(s)Chris O'Connor
Primitive Radio Gods singles chronology
"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand"
(1996)		 "Motherfucker"
(1996)

Content

The song's title is a reference to the otherwise unrelated song "Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" by Bruce Cockburn, from his 1978 album Further Adventures Of.[1][2] Its chorus consists of a sample from the 1964 B.B. King song "How Blue Can You Get": "I've been downhearted, baby, ever since the day we met." At the end of the song, the lead singer also sings King's sampled lyrics.

Reception

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote "With its loping, unthreatening hip-hop beats and its looped B.B. King sample, 'Standing' had all the appeal of an adult novelty for most listeners—it was something that was out of the ordinary, to be sure, but not something that you would want to investigate much further."[3]

Track listing

American CD

  1. "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" (Radio Edit) – 4:35
  2. "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" – 5:39

American 7"

  1. "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" (Radio Edit) – 4:35
  2. "Feel Me" – 2:46

British CD

  1. "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" (Radio Edit) – 4:35
  2. "Mona Lisa" – 3:10
  3. "Feel Me" – 2:46

Charts

Cover versions

It was covered by The Copyrights on the Methadones/Copyrights split CD. The melody and lyrics remain unchanged, but the song was retitled "Locked Outside a Motel Without Shoes, a Wallet or a Phone".

John Nolan, guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Taking Back Sunday, released a cover of the song on his Live at Southpaw EP.

Irish band Fight Like Apes covered the song on the 2015 charity compilation Forever Young: The Windmill Lane Sessions.

Phoenix-based jamband Spafford covers the song as part of their live repertoire, playing it 14 times to date from 2015-2020.

References
  1. "Bruce Cockburn". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  2. "Interview with Primitive Radio Gods". Tomatrax. May 19, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rocket". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Primitive Radio Gods – Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9929." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9513." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  7. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9519." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  10. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
  11. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  12. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  13. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  14. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  15. "Primitive Radio Gods Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  17. "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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