CHRIS NORMAN - LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE

LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE

CHRIS NORMAN(SMOKIE)

SONGWRITERS: M. CHAPMAN, NICKY CHINN

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: MIDNIGHT CAFE

LABEL: RAK

GENRE: POP ROCK

YEAR: 1976

Smokie(originally spelt Smokey) are an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire. The band found success at home and abroad after teaming up with Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. They have had a number of line-up changes and were still actively touring in 2018. Their most popular hit single, "Living Next Door to Alice", peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other hit singles include "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", "Oh Carol", "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone", and "I'll Meet You at Midnight".

"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 No. 35 on the Australian chart. The song later became a worldwide hit for British band Smokie.

n November 1976, the British band Smokie released their version of "Living Next Door to Alice". The single peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart and, in March 1977, reached 25 in the United States. It was a number one hit in Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. Smokie collaborated on a parody version in 1995 with comedian Roy Chubby Brown, which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, selling almost half a million copies.

Ex-Smokie vocalist Chris Norman included his solo cover of the song on his 2000 studio album Full Circle.

Sally called when she got the word

And she said: "I suppose you've heard

About Alice"

When I rushed to the window

And I looked outside

And I could hardly believe my eyes

As a big limousine rolled up

Into Alice's drive...

Oh, I don't know why she's leaving

Or where she's gonna go

I guess she's got her reasons

But I just don't want to know

'Cos for twenty-four years

I've been living next door to Alice

Twenty-four years just waiting for a chance

To tell her how I feel, and maybe get a second glance

Now I've got to get used to not living next door to Alice...

We grew up together

Two kids in the park

We carved our initials

Deep in the bark

Me and Alice

Now she walks through the door

With her head held high

Just for a moment, I caught her eye

As a big limousine pulled slowly

Out of Alice's drive

Oh, I don't know why she's leaving

Or where she's gonna go

I guess she's got her reasons

But I just don't want to know

'Cos for twenty-four years

I've been living next door to Alice

Twenty-four years just waiting for a chance

To tell her how I feel, and maybe get a second glance

Now I gotta get used to not living next door to Alice...

And Sally called back and asked how I felt

And she said: "I know how to help

Get over Alice"

She said: "Now Alice is gone

But I'm still here

You know I've been waiting

For twenty-four years..."

And a big limousine disappeared...

I don't know why she's leaving

Or where she's gonna go

I guess she's got her reasons

But I just don't want to know

'Cos for twenty-four years

I've been living next door to Alice

Twenty-four years just waiting for a chance

To tell her how I feel, and maybe get a second glance

But I'll never get used to not living next door to Alice...

No, I'll never get used to not living next door to Alice...