Living Next Door to Alice

Infobox Single
Name = Living Next Door to Alice


Artist = New World
from Album =
B-side = "Something to Say"
Released = 1972
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label = RAK Records
Writer = Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =Infobox Single
Name = Living Next Door to Alice


Artist = Smokie
from Album = Smokie
B-side = "Run to You"
Released = November 1976
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label = RAK Records
Writer = Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer =
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This single =
Next single =
Misc =Infobox Single
Name = Living Next Door to Alice


Artist = Johnny Carver
from Album = The Best of Johnny Carver
B-side =
Released = February 1977
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1976
Genre = country
Length =
Label = ABC Records
Writer = Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Afternoon Delight" (1976)
This single = "Living Next Door to Alice" (1977)
Next single = "Down at the Pool" (1977)
Misc =Infobox Single
Name = Alice, Who the X is Alice?


Artist = Gompie
from Album =
B-side = "Alice, Who The X Is Alice?" (Demi Karaoke Version)
Released = 1995
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =
Writer = Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer = Rob Peters, Ono Pelser, John van de Ven
Certification =
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Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =Infobox Single
Name = Living Next Door to Alice


Artist = Smokie featuring Roy 'Chubby' Brown
from Album =
B-side = "Living Next Door to Alice" (Unbleeped)
Released = 1995
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =
Writer = Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
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"Living Next Door to Alice" is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972, the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart. The song later became a worldwide hit for the band Smokie.

Plot

The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine.

As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels angst over two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That he did not use take advantage of that second opportunity to express his feelings for her.

Another female character in the song is Sally, another longtime neighbor of the main protagonist who is introduced early in the song. In the song's first verse, she reminds the protagonist of Alice's impending departure. Sally, who later tells the man that he now must get over Alice, then states that she is available. But the man — presumably left with Sally, whom he apparently believes is a less-desirable woman than Alice — reaffirms that he'll "never get used to not living next door to Alice."

Cover versions

mokie version

In November 1976, the English glam rock band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a Number One hit in The Netherlands.

It spawned a more risqué version in 1995 by the Dutch band Gompie, titled "Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice?". In turn, Smokie collaborated on a similar version later that year with comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, reaching # 3 on the UK chart.

Other artists

Concurrent with Smokie's American success with the song, country music singer Johnny Carver released his own version of "Living Next Door to Alice." Carver's version peaked at No. 29 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles chart in April 1977.

A similar version of "Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice?" was also recorded by The Steppers and that made No. 2 on the Australian charts in Sept. 1995.

Kevin "Bloody" Wilson recorded a version titled "Living next door to Alan" detailing the story of a family of Aboriginals who obtained a house next door to Alan Bond (a noted Perth based entrepreneur of the 90's) in a posh riverside suburb of Perth.

References

* [http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=1105 http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=1105]
* [http://www.milesago.com/Artists/new-world.htm http://www.milesago.com/Artists/new-world.htm]
* [http://www.norwegiancharts.com/ http://www.norwegiancharts.com/]
* Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
* Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Songs: 1955-2006," 2007.