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Our list of the 10 best classic songs about the telephone harkens back to a time long before beepers, cell phones, and computers. In the fifties, sixties, seventies, and even the eighties, communication was limited to either face-to-face interactions or the good old landline. These songs reflect an era when phones were mounted on walls and operators helped people connect. There have been thousands of songs written about the telephone, many of which are quite melancholic. Often, the telephone is symbolized as the last-ditch effort to rekindle a romance, reconnect with a disgruntled lover, or simply as a cry for connection. While they are mostly sad, here are some of the great ones.
# 10 – Hanging On The Telephone – Blondie
We kick off our list with a standout track from Blondie. “Hanging on the Telephone” opens their 1978 album Parallel Lines, a record that catapulted them into stardom, fueled by the massive hit “Heart of Glass.” This album is packed with remarkable tracks, including the cult favorite “One Way or Another,” “11:59,” and many others. However, our favorite might just be the opening track, making it a fantastic way to start this list. We found a rarely seen video below so we highly recommend you check it out.
Read More: Top 10 Blondie Songs
# 9 – New York Telephone Conversation – Lou Reed
Was there anyone cooler than Lou Reed? The man left behind a legacy of fantastic rock and roll albums, starting with the Velvet Underground and continuing through his phenomenal solo career. True, he wasn’t for everyone, but he definitely resonated with us here. His song “New York Telephone Conversation” is quintessential Lou Reed, released on his brilliant Transformer album in 1972. This was Reed’s second solo album, produced by the late David Bowie and Mick Ronson.
Read More: Top 10 Lou Reed Songs
# 8 – Switchboard Susan – Nick Lowe
# 7 – Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook
# 6 – Love On The Phone – Suzanne Fellini
Arriving in the sixth spot on our classic rock songs about the telephone list is a new wave classic by Suzanne Fellini titled “Love on the Phone.” This song was released in 1980 on Suzanne Fellini’s debut album Suzanne. It wouldn’t be hard to argue that Suzanne Fellini was a one-hit wonder. However, what a song this was. It would be interesting to discover how many people remember this song after 44 years. This album was never released on CD, and she faded from the public after this song was a hit. Still, it was a great track about a topic that was quite popular for a while before the arrival of personal computers and all the other gadgets that lend themselves to virtual reality relationships.
# 5 – London Calling – The Clash
# 4 – “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” – Steely Dan
Steely Dan’s “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” was released in 1974. It was the opening track on the band’s third album, Pretzel Logic, which many fans consider one of its best. The song features a bassline from Horace Silver’s “Song for My Father,” a fact possibly only recognized by hardcore jazz enthusiasts at the time. This track has always been one of the band’s most captivating songs. At the time, the lineup included Jim Gordon on drums, Jeff Baxter and Dean Parks on guitars, Walter Becker on bass, Michael Omartian on piano, Victor Feldman on percussion, Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals, and Donald Fagen on lead vocals.
# 3 – “Telephone Line” – Electric Light Orchestra
# 2 – Operator – Jim Croce
As we wind down our telephone songs list, we turn to one of the most heartbreaking songs about the telephone ever written. Jim Croce’s “Operator” tells the sad story of a man reaching out to his ex-lover again to tell her he’s fine, although he knows he’s not. That line where he says, “She’s living in L.A. with my best friend Ray,” hits home hard. There’s nothing worse than adultery. There’s nothing worse than being betrayed, and then being betrayed by your woman with your best friend is probably the most painful thing any man could ever go through. This one hurts bad.
# 1 – Tie – 867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone
i gotta throw the Foreigner hat in the ring on this one: ‘Love On The Telephone’…deserves to be #11