"Hanging on the Telephone" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Blondie | ||||
from the album Parallel Lines | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | November 1978 [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:17 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jack Lee | |||
Producer(s) | Mike Chapman | |||
Blondie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Hanging on the Telephone" on YouTube |
"Hanging on the Telephone" is a song written by Jack Lee. The song was released in 1976 by his short-lived US West Coast power pop band the Nerves;in 1978,it was recorded and released as a single by American new wave band Blondie.
Blondie had discovered the song via a cassette tape compilation which Jeffrey Lee Pierce had given the band. Beginning with a phone sound-effect courtesy of producer Mike Chapman,Blondie's version of the song was released on the band's breakthrough third album, Parallel Lines . The single was a top five hit in the UK and has since seen critical acclaim as one of the band's best songs.
"Hanging on the Telephone" was originally written by Jack Lee for his band,the Nerves. The song appeared as the lead-off track on the Nerves's 1976 EP;however,the release was a commercial failure and became the group's only release. Long after the song's eventual commercial success,Lee reflected "Even people who hated me –and there were plenty –had to admit it was great." [6]
The song was later popularized by new wave band Blondie,who covered the track on their 1978 album, Parallel Lines . The band discovered the song after Jeffrey Lee Pierce of the Gun Club sent the band a cassette of the track. [7] Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry explained:
We were playing it in the back of a taxicab in Tokyo, and the taxicab driver started tapping his hand on the steering wheel. When we came back to the US, we found that the Nerves weren't together anymore and we said, 'Gee, we should record this.'
Lee had been financially struggling at the time; he recalled the moment the band called him to ask permission to cover the song. "I remember the day vividly. It was a Friday. They were going to cut off our electricity at six o'clock, the phone too." [6] The band also performed a version of the Lee-penned track, "Will Anything Happen", on Parallel Lines.
Blondie's version of the song begins with a sound effect of a telephone system ringing tone. The idea was proposed by producer Mike Chapman; he recalled "The Blondies all thought that was stupid and too gimmicky, but I said, 'C'mon, guys! Gimmicky? This is Blondie. Let's give it a try!'". [8] The single was recorded in New York, but the telephone sound effect that opens the track is not the US version, but the two-ring signal used in the United Kingdom - Chapman asked recording engineer Peter Coleman to phone anyone he knew in the UK, and they recorded the outgoing phone line. [9] Like one of Blondie's subsequent singles, "Sunday Girl", "Hanging on the Telephone" employs a double backbeat rhythm in its drumming pattern, meaning the "off" beats alternate between a quarter note and two eighth notes. This percussion style also appeared on other power pop singles from the period, like the Romantics' 1978 release "Tell It to Carrie". [10]
Blondie released their cover of "Hanging on the Telephone" the second single from their 1978 album Parallel Lines in both the US and UK. The single failed to chart in the US, but it eventually reached number five in the UK in November 1978.
The single also was a moderate hit throughout Europe, reaching the top 20 in Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Blondie's cover of "Hanging on the Telephone" has seen critical acclaim since its release, with several writers praising the song as an improvement on the original song. Rolling Stone called the song "immortal and breathless," [11] while Tom Maginnis of AllMusic praised the song's "driving power and infectious melody." [12] The Rolling Stone Album Guide named the song "a dynamic rock & roll opener," [13] while Pitchfork praised the song as "incredible." [14] Cash Box said that it has a "fast clipping beat, varied guitar work and good lead vocals by Deborah Harry." [15] Record World called it a "fast-paced pop-rock gem with a good vocal." [16]
The Independent named the song the third best Blondie song, writing "Blondie make this song their own by injecting a previously absent sense of urgency to the build, with Harry's tone developing from stern to desperate as she begs: 'Hang up and run to me.'" [17] The Guardian ranked the song as the band's fourth best, calling the song "far superior" to the Nerves original and dubbing it "a massive power pop tune," [18] while Ultimate Classic Rock ranked it as Blondie's seventh best, writing "Blondie retain the song's New Wave edge but sharpen the melody." [19] Far Out Magazine [20] and Paste [21] both named the song as Blondie's eighth best, while The Telegraph and uDiscoverMusic both included the song in their unranked lists of Blondie's best songs. [22] [23]
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [24] | 39 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [25] | 19 |
Ireland (IRMA) [26] | 16 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [27] | 21 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [28] | 20 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [29] | 43 |
UK Singles (OCC) [30] | 5 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [31] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Blondie re-recorded the song for the 2014 2-disc set Blondie 4(0) Ever . [32]
In 1995, L7 recorded a cover for The Jerky Boys Movie Soundtrack.
In 2000, Finnish metal band Sinergy recorded a cover for their To Hell and Back album. [33]
In 2003, renowned alternative rock music band Something For Kate covered the song at a gig at The Prince Bandroom, disguised as "George Kaplan & The Editors". https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvEIJFEOG68/?igsh=NTZma3NydnQ2amo3
In 2005, English indie punk-rock band Johnny Panic released a version of the song as a B-side to their single 'Minority of One'.
In 2006, English rock band Def Leppard recorded their own version for their cover album Yeah! [34]
Also in 2006, British-Irish pop girl group Girls Aloud included a cover of the song on a bonus disc for their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud [35]
In 2009, Jimmy Somerville covered the song on his acoustic album Suddenly Last Summer. [36]
In 2012, Flowers Forever covered the song for the movie Electrick Children . [37]
In 2017, Melissa Rauch covered the song as Harley Quinn in the animated film Batman and Harley Quinn . [38]
Blondie is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid 70s.
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American rock band Blondie, released on September 8, 1978, by Chrysalis Records. An instant critical and commercial success, the album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in February 1979 and proved to be the band's commercial breakthrough in the United States, where it reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in April 1979. In Billboard magazine, Parallel Lines was listed at No. 9 in its top pop albums year-end chart of 1979. The album spawned several successful singles, notably the international hit "Heart of Glass".
Blondie is the debut studio album by American rock band Blondie, released in December 1976 by Private Stock Records.
"(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" is a song by the American band Blondie, from their 1978 album Plastic Letters. Written by former Blondie bassist Gary Valentine, the song was based on the telepathic connections that Valentine believed he experienced with his girlfriend, journalist Lisa Jane Persky, while on tour. Though Valentine had recently left the band, drummer Clem Burke convinced the band to record the song for Plastic Letters.
"One Way or Another" is a song by American new wave band Blondie from their 1978 album Parallel Lines. Lyrically, the song was inspired by Blondie frontwoman Deborah Harry's experience with a stalker in the early 1970s, an incident which forced her to move away from New Jersey. The song's music was composed by bassist Nigel Harrison, who introduced the Ventures-influenced track to keyboardist Jimmy Destri.
"Heart of Glass" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie, written by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. It was featured on the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines (1978), and was released as the album's third single in January 1979 and reached number one on the charts in several countries, including the United States Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
Eat to the Beat is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blondie, released on September 28, 1979, by Chrysalis Records. The album was certified Platinum in the United States, where it spent a year on the Billboard 200. Peaking at No. 17, it was one of Billboard's top 10 albums of 1980. It also reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in October 1979 and has been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Rapture" is a song by American rock band Blondie from their fifth studio album Autoamerican (1980). Written by band members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, and produced by Mike Chapman, the song was released as the second and final single from Autoamerican on January 12, 1981, by Chrysalis Records. Musically, "Rapture" is a combination of new wave, disco and hip hop with a rap section forming an extended coda.
The Nerves were an American power pop trio, formed in San Francisco in 1974 and later based in Los Angeles, featuring guitarist Jack Lee, bassist Peter Case, and drummer Paul Collins. All three members composed songs and sang. They managed an international tour in the U.S. and Canada, including dates with the Ramones, and performances for the troops as part of the United Services Organization (USO).
Jack Lee was an American songwriter and musician best known for composing the songs "Hanging on the Telephone", covered by the new wave band Blondie, "Come Back and Stay", covered by the singer Paul Young, and "You Are My Lover", recorded by Suzi Quatro.
"Dreaming" is a song by American new wave band Blondie. Released in 1979, the song was the opening track from their fourth album, Eat to the Beat. Written by guitarist Chris Stein and singer Debbie Harry and partially inspired by ABBA's "Dancing Queen," the song also features an active drum performance by drummer Clem Burke, who did not expect the final recording to feature his busy drum track.
Frank Infante is an American guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of the new wave band Blondie.
Michael Donald Chapman is an Australian record producer and songwriter who was a major force in the British pop music industry in the 1970s. He created a string of hit singles for artists including the Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, Mud and Racey with business partner Nicky Chinn, creating a sound that became identified with the "Chinnichap" brand. He later produced breakthrough albums for Blondie and the Knack. Chapman received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2014 Australia Day Honours.
The Complete Picture: The Very Best of Deborah Harry and Blondie is a greatest hits album released on March 4, 1991, by Chrysalis Records. It contained all of Blondie's highest-charting singles such as "Heart of Glass", "Sunday Girl", "The Tide Is High", "Atomic", and "Call Me", as well as some of Deborah Harry's solo singles, including the UK top-10 single "French Kissin' in the USA".
"Sunday Girl" is a song recorded by the American new wave band Blondie, from the band's 1978 album Parallel Lines. Written by guitarist Chris Stein, the song was inspired by Debbie Harry's cat, who was named Sunday Man—the cat had recently run away, inspiring the song's "plaintive" nature.
"Picture This" is a 1978 song by the American rock band Blondie, released on their third album, Parallel Lines. Written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and Jimmy Destri, the song features evocative lyrics that producer Mike Chapman surmised were written by Harry about Stein.
"I'm Gonna Love You Too" is a song written by Joe B. Mauldin, Niki Sullivan and Norman Petty, originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1957 and released as a single in 1958. It was covered 20 years later by American new wave band Blondie and released as the lead single in the U.S. from their multi-platinum 1978 album Parallel Lines.
Deborah Ann Harry is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached No. 1 on the US charts between 1979 and 1981.
"Good Girls Don't" is a 1979 hit single written by Doug Fieger and released by the rock band The Knack, off their album Get the Knack. It was the follow-up to the group's number-one hit single, "My Sharona". "Good Girls Don't" was a No. 1 hit in Canada. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 in Record World, and #11 in Cash Box, as well as No. 66 on the United Kingdom chart. It also reached No. 20 in New Zealand. The song has since been covered by a number of artists, including The Chipmunks, Ben Folds, The Chubbies, and The McRackins.
The Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary Tour was a 2008 worldwide concert tour by Blondie both to promote the 30th anniversary re-release of their ground-breaking 1978 album Parallel Lines, and to celebrate the longevity and success of the album. Concerts were held in North America and Europe with a single stop in Israel.
Citations
Sources