Private Number

"Private Number," by Judy Clay and William Bell expands upon the traditional boy-girl duet.

Judy Clay + William Bell - Private Number (Slow)

Judy Clay, like most soul vocalists of the 1950's and 60's, began her singing career with a gospel group, singing with the Drinkard Singers. She sang with the Warwick sisters, and had an on-off relationship with Stax Records, where she met William Bell.

William Bell, a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, wrote some of the most seminal songs of the Stax catalog, like "You Don't Miss Your Water," "Born Under A Bad Sign," and "I Forgot To Be Your Lover."

They combined in 1968 to write "Private Number," a duet about rekindling a love put on hold by William's absence, a story which actually really closely resembles Homer's Odyssey. Upon returning, he finds out that she's changed her phone number, and he's desperate for it. However, much to his elation, she tells him that she only changed her number to ward off the boys that have been calling her when he's been gone, and that she's been loyal to him and still loves him. What a delight!

Here's the original.