The Smooth Operators present 'Mellow Phone Moods'

John Goodman, Phone Booth, Turro, From Not Recent Color, 1980

The Smooth Operators (Martijn Soetens and I) pay tribute to the 1970s FM radio sound with our series Mellow Moods. This is our latest chapter: Mellow Phone Moods!

Back in the day people used to say, of a particularly great singer, that she or he could sing the phone book and it would sound good. Now, it's safe to say that if someone actually said that, quite a few would ask themselves: ‘What's a phone book?’ Still, songs about phones are relevant. Everyone has a phone and the universal themes about (unrequited) love can stand the test of time easily. There are lots of songs about not being phoned, not (or fear of) picking up or simply about the joy of a telephone call. So enjoy this 2 hour telephone conversation!

Tracklist:

Carol Douglas – Doctor's Orders (1974)
Trinity ‎– 002.345.709 (That's My Number) (1976)
Symbol 8 – Call Me (1978)
The Stylistics – One Night Affair (1979)
Jim Croce ‎– Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels) (1972)
Steely Dan ‎– Rikki Don't Lose That Number (1974)
Boz Scaggs ‎– What Can I Say (1976)
Sugarloaf / Jerry Corbetta ‎– Don't Call Us, We'll Call You (1974)
The Stampeders – Hit The Road Jack (1975)
Roger McGuinn – Car Phone (1991)
Mayer Hawthorne – You Called Me (2011)
Johnny Bristol – I Got Your Number (1974)
Glen Campbell ‎– Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)
The Checkmates, LTD – All Alone By The Telephone (1976)
Jeff Perry – Call On Me (1977)
England Dan & John Ford Coley ‎– I'd Really Love To See You Tonight (1976)
Hal Bradbury – Call Me (1980)
Jay Brannan – Somebody That I Used To Know (2013)
Chicago - Call On Me (1974)
Al Jarreau - I Keep Callin (1983)
Robert Cray Band - Phone Booth (1983)
Rupert Holmes - Answering Machine (1979)
Patrice Rushen - Call On Me (1979)
Johnny Guitar Watson - Telephone Bill (1980)
Curiosity Killed The Cat - Name And Number (1989)
Jorge Ben - O Telefone Tocou Novamente (1970)
Ned Doheny - I’ve Got Your Number (1976)
Windjammer - Call Me Up (1984)
Michael Franks - When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone) (1983)
Jamie Lidell - I Wanna Be Your Telephone (2010)
Prince - How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (Live) (Edit) (2002)
Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line (1976)
Labi Siffre - Bless The Telephone (1971)