Any Major Telephone Vol. 1
Here’s a mix that has been hanging on for a couple of years for completion: Songs about telephone calls. The rule was to choose songs that include some kind of conversation (or monologue) over the phone, preferably with a phone ringing or a call being disconnected. So a song like Abba’s Ring Ring, which is about the notion of making a call, rather than actually making it, is excluded. One song here bends the rule, but one ought to make some allowance for the inventor of the telephone. I might loosen the rules in the follow-up mix, which is in the works.
A bit of trivia: the voice on the other end of the line in Gene Simmons’ song is that of Cher, who at the time was in a relationship with the Kiss goon.
As for the lyrics of the opening song… Bloody Hell!
The mix is, as ever, timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes front and back covers. PW in comments.
TRACKLISTING
1. Stan Mosley – Your Wife Is My Woman (2002)
2. Cadallaca – O Chenilla (1998)
3. Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny (1981)
4. Nick Lowe – Switchboard Susan (1979)
5. Gene Simmons – Living In Sin (1978)
6. Rupert Holmes – Answering Machine (1979)
7. Alessi – All For A Reason (1977)
8. England Dan & John Ford Coley – I’d Really Like To See You Tonight (1976)
9. The Partridge Family – Echo Valley 2-6809 (1971)
10. Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn – As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone (1974)
11. Tina & Daddy (George Jones) – The Telephone Call (1974)
12. Ernie Tucker & His Operators – Telephone Me Some Lovin’ (1961)
13. Chuck Berry – Memphis, Tennessee (1963)
14. Carl Graves – Baby Hang Up The Phone (1974)
15. Esther Williams – Last Night Changed It All (1976)
16. Yazoo – Bad Connection (1982)
17. Electric Light Orchestra – Telephone Line (1976)
18. Gilbert O’Sullivan & Kirsten Siggaard – Can’t Think Straight (1993)
19. 10cc – Don’t Hang Up (1976)
20. The Sweet – Alexander Graham Bell (1971)
21. Pink Floyd – Young Lust (1979)
PW = amdwhah
Good selection of tunes, many thanks. Hope City Boy’s “5705” makes the cut next time. And thanks for publishing the password – saves a phone call!
Great theme, hope to hear Yellow Dog’s One More Night in a future compilation, classic phone conversation at the end of the song.
+lots for including Alessi ‘s “All For A Reason.”
Some others:
– The Nerves – Hanging on the Telephone (later a hit for Blondie, who also did “Call Me”)
– Wilson Picket – 634-5789
– another ELO hit Calling America
– The Jag’s awesome Back of My Hand
– and one of my all time faves, “Telephone Operator” from Pete Shelley (of the Buzzcocks)
Bonus:
Wazmo Nariz – Tele-Tele-Telephone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-APSYJP1cLw
oh crap – one more – dunno how I forgot this one. One of the best songs regardless of the subject!
The Undertones – You Got My Number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mIIvUSTig
Sorry, finishing a fine bottle of Pinot Noir, so I’m adding one more. The 60’s classic from the other hit maker from Hawthone, CA – Chris Montez doing Tony Hatch’s “Call Me”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snuk0RaAtV0
My suggestions for Volume 2 include “Doctor’s Orders” by Sunny, Fun Boy Three’s “The Telephone Always Rings”, The Carpenters “Beechwood 45-789”, Meri Wilson’s “Telephone Man” and “Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You” by Sugarloaf.
Oh, and “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” by Paul McCartney
Couple more:
Lou Reed – New York Telephone conversation
JIm Croce – Operator
Great mix as always. For Vol. 2 may I suggest “Bookie’s Blues” by H-Bomb Ferguson, “I Don’t Love You No More” by Jimmy Norman, and “Call Operator 210” by Mel Walker with the Johnny Otis Orchestra. All three start with dialing, ringing, and some kind of “Hello.” Plus they’re all great songs. And if you’re going to stretch the rules for The Sweet (and I don’t know why not) you should consider Richard Thompson’s song with the same title.
Here are a few more:
The Sylvers – Hot Line
Sheena Easton – Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)
Sheena Easton – Telephone Lines
New Edition – Mr. Telephone Man
Sylvia – Nobody
Dr. Hook – Sylvia’s Mother
Wham! – Battlestations
Squeeze – 853-5937
Phil Collins – Don’t Lose My Number
Where did you find that acoustic version of “867-5309 Jenny”? It was a nice surprise and at least 8,000 times better than the original. Thanks!
Nice idea for a compilation. I know that you also know German music, including the song by Trio ‘Sabine, Sabine, Sabine’ would have been possible on your compilation. Add the song that is backed only by a slight groove, begging the singer, so that his girlfriend puts on her separation from him again. What they eventually but then does not.
Person To Person by the Average White Band would have been an apt phone related addition.
Phone Booth – Albert King
Jesus On The Mainline – Ry Cooder
You Better Hang Up – Don Henley
Jeannie Reynolds – Phone’s Been Jumping All Day
Jeannie Reynolds – Phone’s Been Jumping All Day,
Howard Tate- Sorry Wrong Number
Rance Allen Group – Hot Line To Jesus
I’ve Got A Telephone In My Bosom – The Amazing Farmer Singers Of Chicago (I Feel The Fire Burning / I Got A Telephone In My Bosom, 1974)
Kraftwerk – Der Telefoon Aanrauf
(Note half Deutsch half Nederlands spelling, in my version)
Love your site and appreciate all your thoughtful comps!
I picked up Vol 2&3 a long time ago and for some reason, cannot find Telephone Vol 1.
Would you be kind enough to repost #1? Old link has dies with ZS.
Thank You!!
Voila: https://mega.nz/file/Q2cHVKRb#T4qoBmKHf0DlHylHCba58yXqSy0Zxxz5Bsl19uvp8n8
I think it’s time for a Volume 4 of telephone songs.
Thank you my friend!
I had already taken a pre-emptive stab at it for my own pleasure,
but feel free to borrow any for inspiration.
Some may be duplicated on 1,2,3 by other artists, so beware.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/madp209q7mafgm3/Any%20Major%20Telephone%20Vol.%204.7z?dl=0
Limited Time Offer
Much thanks!!
Oh wow, there are a few there I haven’t got on my shortlist. Two of yours are going to be on Vol. 4, and I’m sure some will go on to Vol. 5, when the time comes.
It would appear that Anita Ward’s bell that needs ringing is more metaphor than communicative device. Though if you do ring her bell, and do it well, she won’t give you the silent treatment!
Just thought of two cool ones for possible inclusion:
“She May Call You Up Tonight” by The Left Banke
“Call Me” by Chris Montez (bossa nova)