Living Next Door to Alice

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“Living Next Door to Alice”
Single by New World
B-side	"Something to Say"
Released	1972
Label	RAK Records
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman

“Living Next Door to Alice”
Single by Smokie from the album Smokie
B-side	"Run to You"
Released	November 1976
Label	RAK Records
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman

“Living Next Door to Alice”
Single by Johnny Carver from the album The Best of Johnny Carver
Released	February 1977
Format	7"
Recorded	1976
Genre	country
Label	ABC Records
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Johnny Carver singles chronology
"Afternoon Delight" (1976) "Living Next Door to Alice" (1977) "Down at the Pool" (1977)

“Alice, Who the X is Alice?”
Single by Gompie
B-side	"Alice, Who The X Is Alice?" (Demi Karaoke Version)
Released	1995
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer	Rob Peters, Ono Pelser, John van de Ven

“Living Next Door to Alice”
Single by Smokie featuring Roy 'Chubby' Brown
B-side	"Living Next Door to Alice" (Unbleeped)
Released	1995
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman

"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.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cover versions 2.1 Smokie version 2.2 Other artists 3 References

[edit] 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."

[edit] Cover versions

[edit] Smokie 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.

[edit] 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.

Preceded by "Car Wash" by Rose Royce	United World Chart number one single February 26, 1977 – March 5, 1977	Succeeded by "New Kid in Town" by Eagles
Preceded by "New Kid in Town" by Eagles	United World Chart number one single March 26, 1977	Succeeded by "Evergreen" by Barbra Streisand

[edit] References

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