K-Chuck Radio: Call me…

Once upon a time, there was a device called a telephone.  It allowed people to communicate with each other over long distances.  You know, similar to a cell phone today.  The telephone was often wired directly to the walls of a house; some public telephones required the user to drop quarters into a slot for communication time.  God, this seems so ancient, doesn’t it?

So on today’s K-Chuck Radio, let’s celebrate the telephone and all the calls we made with it.  Including these classic hits:

THE MARVELETTES
Beechwood 4-5789

This was from the first iteration of the Marvelettes, when they were more of a dance music group. Before Smokey Robinson turned them into a smoky ballad music group.

WILSON PICKETT
634-5789

Okay, for all you youngsters, this is not the same telephone number as the Marvelettes’ hit. The Marvelettes’ “Beechwood” would have meant the first two letters – BE – were replaced by the telephone button numbers 2-3. It was our early version of texting. 🙂

SQUEEZE
853-5937

Thankfully, I can still hear all of Squeeze’s classic hits on my SiriusXM “First Wave” channel. Would have preferred to have heard these tracks on Top 40 radio when they were originally released.

THE TIME
777-9311

If you’re not familiar with Morris Day and the Time, they were an awesome funk band from the 1980’s who worked with Prince back in the day. They’re also in the movie Purple Rain. Go put that film on your Netflix.

TOMMY TUTONE
867-5309 (Jenny)

Oh you knew I was going to add this to the playlist. Sing it with me, 8-6-7, 5-3-0-9eyne…

JIM CROCE
Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)

Telephone songs are also used as metaphors for breakups. This is one of the most beautiful of that genre. Just remember this – Jim Croce wrote some absolutely breathtaking and heartbreaking ballads. Yes.

DR. HOOK AND THE MEDICINE SHOW
Sylvia’s Mother

This has to be the cheeziest break-up song of all time. I don’t know if I should start crying or laughing at the end of the song. “And the operator says forty cents more for the next … three … minutes … pleeeeeeeeease…”

NEW EDITION
Mr. Telephone Man

Ray Parker, Jr. produced and wrote this song, and it’s arguably one of my favorite New Edition songs. Yes, I used to listen to New Edition. Back in the day. Yeah, I was young once. Once.

MERI WILSON
Telephone Man

Two minutes of double-entendre. I do remember hearing this song on the radio, although halfway through the song someone would turn off the radio, commenting on how filthy the song was. This song was filthy? Have you heard what WFLY 92.3 is playing lately?

GLEN CAMPBELL
Wichita Lineman

One of these days I’m going to do a K-Chuck Radio on the music of Jimmy Webb. And it will be an excellent K-Chuck Radio. Because of songs like this. Trust me.

Oh good, my cell phone is charged. I’ve got a lot of projects to do today, so if you need to get in touch with me, dial 1-800-K-Chuck radio. Operators are standing by. Order before midnight tonight.