The lads based themselves in Glasgow and it was there that their journey to the top of charts would begin! They embarked on a massive tour of Schools & under 18 clubs in Scotland and the rest of the UK to build up their growing army of teenage followers and were fast becoming crowd favourites on road shows during the Summer of 1995.
In April 1996 after being unable to secure a major record deal Lee, Spike & Jimmy along with their management team ‘Backlash’ decided to form their own record label called ‘Ginga Records’. ‘Night To Remember’ became the bands first independent single release and debuted at Number 38 in the UK charts. Their second single ‘Love Sensation’ which was on the sound track to Casper the movie followed in July ‘96’ and did even better entering at Number 21 and also became the bands only US hit record.
The success of 911’s two independent single releases created such a buzz in the UK pop industry that on 27th September 1996 music giants Virgin Records signed Lee, Spike & Jimmy on a four album deal! 911’s first release under Virgin brought them their first Top Ten Hit with the brilliant ‘Don’t Make Me Wait’ which smashed into the charts at Number 10!
911’s first album ‘The Journey’ was a huge success in the UK, Europe & Asia in 1996 and released six singles from the record. The lads sold out 35 theatre dates in a staggering 30 minutes for their first headline tour and had finally made their mark in the world of pop!
The next two albums ‘Movin On’ & ‘There It Is’ followed in quick succession giving the lads more Top 5 hits including ‘More Than A Woman’, ‘All I Want Is You’ & ‘Private Number’. 911 headlined their first arena tour and also the legendary Smash Hits Tour at the end of 1998 which would also see them go through a change of management team. In January 1999 Lee, Spike & Jimmy had one of their biggest selling hits and celebrated their first UK Number One!
September 1999 would see 911 release their 13th and final single ‘Wonderland’ along with their Greatest Hits & ‘A Little Bit More’ album. They also completed their sell out arena tour in October of that year. In January 2000 the lads toured Asia to sell out audiences and became one of the first Western pop acts to perform sell out shows in China since Wham back in the 80’s.
In February 2000 Lee, Spike & Jimmy decided to go their separate ways and announced their split live on the Chris Moyles Show on Radio One.
2013 saw Lee, Jimmy & Spike reunite to appear on ITV2's The Big Reunion.
Private Number
911 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah But my love for you, girl Still remains the
Same, mmm Now, I've been loving you and You've been
Loving me so long Baby, what's wrong So I'm asking
Baby, baby, baby Please let me have your
Number, yeah Baby, baby, baby Please let me have
Your number, ooh I'm sorry you couldn't call me when
Baby But other fellows kept on calling while you are gone,
Hmm yeah So I had my number changed But I'm not
Acting strange Welcome home Baby, nothing's wrong
So I'm saying Baby, baby, baby You can
Have my private number Baby, baby, baby You can have
My private number, oh Oooh, so if I called ye Will you be home Oh, I will be waiting There by
The phone Now I know your number Though it's been
Changed Tell me now, baby Love's still remains I've, I've been loving you I've been loving you
You've been loving me You've been loving me so long, oh,
So long baby Nothing's wrong So I'm asking Baby, baby, baby You can have my private number Baby, baby, baby You've given me your private number You know I want, you know I want You know I need,
You know I need You baby Baby, baby, baby, baby You know I want, you know I want You know I need,
You know I need You baby Hoooh... You
Know I want You know I need You baby
The song, Private Number, by 911 is about a man who has been away for some time and upon his return, discovers that his lover has changed her phone number. The lover seems to have assumed that the man's absence implies that there is a problem with their relationship. However, the man reassures her that his love for her remains the same and that he has been loving her all along. He pleads with her to give him her new number so that they can stay connected.
The chorus of the song, "Baby, baby, baby, Please let me have your number," shows the man's desperation to reach out to his lover and fix the situation. He wants to assure her that he is not acting strange and that nothing is wrong between them. The repetition of the phrase, "You know I want, You know I need, You baby," further emphasizes the man's longing for his lover and his willingness to do what it takes to maintain their relationship.
Overall, the song is a plea for communication and reassurance in a relationship that has been strained by distance. It shows the importance of open communication and the need for both partners to be patient and understanding with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Since I've been gone You've had your number changed, ooh
While I was away, you changed your phone number.
But my love for you, girl Still remains the Same, mmm
Despite the change, my love for you hasn't changed.
Now, I've been loving you and You've been Loving me so long Baby, what's wrong So I'm asking
We've been in this relationship for a long time, is something wrong?
Please let me have your Number, yeah
Please give me your new phone number.
I'm sorry you couldn't call me when You were gone
I'm sorry I wasn't reachable when you needed to call me.
So I had my number changed But I'm not Acting strange
I changed my number, but it's not because of anything suspicious.
Baby, nothing's wrong So I'm saying
There's nothing wrong, so let's move on.
You can Have my private number
You can have my personal phone number.
Oooh, so if I called ye Will you be home Oh, I will be waiting There by The phone
If I call you, will you be available? I'll be waiting for your call.
Now I know your number Though it's been Changed Tell me now, baby Love's still remains
I know your new phone number, but tell me if our love is still intact.
You've been loving me so long, oh, So long baby Nothing's wrong So I'm asking
We've been in love for a long time, is everything still okay?
You've given me your private number
You gave me your personal phone number.
You know I want, you know I want You know I need, You know I need You baby
I want you and I need you, baby.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOKER T. JR. JONES, WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aileigh sharp
absolutly love this song
rebecca ann harris
brillant song so happy they have renunited again can not wait for a album
Louise King
Love this song takes me back to the 90s love you guys so much bring back 90s love love you Jimmy Lee spike ♥️♥️♥️💗💗💗
Samantha Sadler
I was a huge fan of 911 back in the 90s . Went to many concerts.Lee blew me a kiss when they visited Hastings...So as you can imagine.. being a teenager.. I nearly fainted. Still love their songs. Would love to see them again. X
KarenB123456789
Love this
catscatscats123
Used to love this song when I was little
raiderdanCA
Such a simple and charming little piece ... Natalie has the better voice -- but I like Fann a little better (as I like Asian Girls !).... anyone who's interested in the William Bell motown original should definitely check it out .... GREAT STUFF !
Louise King
Love this song so much memories love you guys so much bring back 90s
Louise King
I am so in love with Lee Jimmy Love them both so much ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💕💕💕💕💕♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💕💕💕💕
Stephen Rafter
Oh my goodness I didn't hear this since the 90s. Hello from Ireland. No I didn't forget 911 either lol.