Songs with Numbers in Their Titles

One of the most anticipated events for the fall left me a little disappointed this year. I always look forward to seeing the network TV schedules for the upcoming season, noting when my favorite shows appear and hoping to catch an enjoyable new series.

This season, however, something is missing from the network lineup. The show Numb3rs is not in the lineup, having been canceled in May. The series about an FBI agent was often captivating, and actors Rob Morrow and Judd Hirsch seemed to have great chemistry in the lead roles.

Though some of the new shows sound like they have the potential to grip an audience, I probably will not be watching as much TV now that Numb3rs has been canceled. Instead, I can spend that time listening to music. Perhaps I could create a playlist of songs that have the word "number" in their titles, such as You Know My Name (Look Up My Number) by the Beatles or the lesser-known Dirty Dream Number 2 by Belle and Sebatian. Actually, there are quite a number of them.

Here is a list of my favorite number songs.

10. Room with No Number by Elvis Costello and the Attractions: This jaunty track from Goodbye Cruel World shows Elvis having fun backed by Steve Nieve's rollicking piano.

9. I Got Your Number by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Leo's music is a throwback to the 70s but with a contemporary appeal. He is sharp when he slows things down, but he really shines on up-tempo tracks like this one from No Number Ones.

8. Murder By Numbers by The Police: This track, which features Sting nearly whispering his anti-violence lyrics, is found on 1983's Synchronicity.

7. Feel Like a Number by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: This upbeat plea against dehumanization closes out side 1 of the band's Stranger in Town album, a great follow-up to its chart-topping Night Moves.

6. Love Potion Number 9 by The Searchers: According to the last verse, after being kissed a policeman confiscated the vial of liquid this novelty song is built around.

5. Heartaches by the Number by Ray Price: The lyrics are depressing classic country, but the catchy tune and Price's clear delivery create a sense of happiness in the song.

4. Roll Another Number for the Road by Neil Young and Crazy Horse: This country-tinged tune is just one of the classics on the Tonight's the Night album. The delivery is deliberately slow-paced, reiterating that the band is in no hurry to leave the stage.

3. Looking Out for Number One by Bachman-Turner Overdrive: The band broke from its electric approach on this song from Four Wheel Drive, a soft piano-based contradicting an aggressive defense of self-survival in the lyrics.

2. Number with Wings by The Bongos: The title track from an the 80s new wave band's EP is a beautifully melodic rumination about the quick passing of time.

1. Rikki Don't Lose That Number by Steely Dan: The magical pop-jazz of Donald Fagin and Walter Becker is tastefully evident on this classic hit from Pretzel Logic.