Friday, November 13, 2026

Weekend Listomania: Special "Where's Don Ameche Now That We Need Him?" Edition

Okay, I had a long trying week, so let's forego the customary snarky intro about some imagined Manual Catharsis Technician and get right to the business at hand (heh). To wit:

...BEST OR WORST POST-ELVIS POP/ROCK/FOLK/SOUL SONG OR SINGLE REFERENCING TECHNOLOGICAL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE TITLE OR LYRICS!

DISCUSS!!!

The New York Times magazine ran a similar list just last week; I didn't agree with many of their selections, and I've slightly altered the perameters they used so this is not quite the lazy slacker rip-off you might suspect. Also, it strikes me as there's gotta be at least one song out there along the same lines written specifically for the Internet Age, but I just can't think of one at the moment. Taylor Swift, maybe?

In any case, my totally Top of My Head Top Six is/are:

6. The Hounds -- Call Me

Originally I was gonna include the wonderful Chris Montez song of the same name, but then for obvious reasons I figured -- go with something I'm playing guitar on.

5. The Five Americans -- Western Union

Those kids were very clean, weren't they.

4. The Kinks -- Party Line

This is the only entry I have in common with the Times' list. I should add that the opening -- "Hello, Who is That Speaking Please?," as intoned by the band's unutterably posh then manager Robert Wace -- has been the ringtone of a ertain Shady Dame of my acquaintance for over a decade now.

3. Blondie -- Call Me

The Times went with Blondie's "Hangin' on the Telephone," but this one just strikes me as more apt.

2. The Beatles -- No Reply

"I tried to telephone/they said you were not home." Hey, it doesn't get more poignant than that.

And the Numero Uno song celebrating the joys talking of to your honey over long distances is...

It's a tie!!!

1. Wilson Pickett -- 634-5789/The Marvelettes -- Bechwood 4-5789

File under: phone numbers without area codes.

Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend everybody!!!

26 comments:

Cleveland Jeff said...

Convoy by C. W. McCall

MJConroy said...

The Beatles- Paperback Writer
Golden Earring - Radar Love
Box Tops - The Letter
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309/Jenny
Nick Lowe - Switchboard Susan

steve simels said...

Ooh — good call on the Nick Lowe.

Tinpot said...

Does this qualify? Lou Reed; Satellite of Love.

Rob said...

Video Killed The Radio Star

Dave Leonatti said...

Rupert Hine - "Picturephone"
Tornados - :Telstar"

Rob said...

Space Oddity as well

M_Sharp said...

"Please Call Me Baby" - Tom Waits
"Answering Machine" - The Replacements
"No Action" - Elvis Costello
"Long Distance Operator" - The Band
"You Didn't Try To Call Me" - The Mothers Of Invention
"Call Me A Cab" - Delbert McClinton

Without a doubt, the all-time worst-
"New York Telephone Conversation" - Lou Reed

Anonymous said...

Great:
Intergalactic communication:
CTA 102 - The Byrds

The Worst in the Universe:
Love Letters in the Sand: Pat Boone

Captain Al

Alzo said...

I was about to blurt out Kraftwerk: Pocket Calculator, but then I read "communication," so...
ELO: Telephone Line
Jim Croce: Operator
Dr. Hook: Sylvia's Mother
Blondie: Hanging on the Telephone
Sex Pistols: Satellite
T. Rex: Telegram Sam

Alzo said...

Not to forget Chuck Berry/Johnny Rivers: Memphis, Tennessee

steve simels said...

Oh god -- the Replacements' "Answering Machine." I'm getting all verklempt.

steve simels said...

I mean to include Jim Croce's "Operator." Let's face it -- I'm a sentimental old fluff.

Anonymous said...

Red Guitars - Good Technology
https://redguitars.co.uk/goodTech.html
https://youtu.be/o2IWqFyP20U

- Paul in DK

Rob said...

Blondie - Hanging on the telephone

Guy Incognito said...

No action, yes!

Guy Incognito said...

The Nerves - Hanging on the Telephone
Tom Waits - Telephone Call from Istanbul
Fountains of Wayne - Little Red Light

MJConroy said...

Left Banke - She May Call You Up Tonight

Rob said...

Be Bop Deluxe - Blazing Apostles
"Why don't you give us a call"
Telephone, Cell phone who knows 🤔

Anonymous said...

Dolly Parton Northern Soul rarity "Busy Signal."

Bob in IL

Rob said...

Jackson Browne - Song for Adam

Cleveland Jeff said...

Isn't Pat Boone always in the worst list?

Cleveland Jeff said...

And the Faces version!

Anonymous said...

Calling Occupant by Klaatu
Message in a Bottle by The Police
Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando & Dawn ( worst)
rs

steve simels said...

Ooh — I have a video of my 90s band doing that live. Think I’ll put that up as a bonus track tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

"Don't Call Us We'll Call You" by Sugarloaf