BLONDIE - HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE / ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE 

Estrena: novembre de 1978

Llistes: Regne Unit: #5 

"Hanging on the Telephone" és una cançó escrita originalment per Jack Lee i llançada per primera vegada el 1976 per la seva banda de power pop de la Costa Oest, The Nerves. Va guanyar més reconeixement quan la banda nord-americana de new wave Blondie va enregistrar i llançar la seva versió el 1978. Blondie va descobrir la cançó a través d'una cinta de cassette recopilatòria que els va donar Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Produïda per Mike Chapman, la versió de Blondie comença amb un efecte de so de telèfon. Inclosa en l'àlbum de Blondie, “Parallel Lines”, la cançó va arribar al top 5 al Regne Unit i des de llavors ha estat reconeguda com una de les pistes més destacades de la banda.

"Hanging on the Telephone" captura la perspectiva de Debbie Harry mentre espera ansiosa una resposta d'un noi al qual intenta contactar, retractat a través de la lupa d'una trucada telefònica des d'una cabina. La urgència de la lletra, especialment "Don't leave me hanging on the telephone” (No em deixis penjada al telèfon), es podria interpretar com una petició o fins i tot com una amenaça velada.

Jack Lee, el compositor, va explicar en una entrevista del 2007 amb la revista Mojo com l'oportunitat de fer que Blondie enregistrés la seva cançó va transformar la seva situació financera. Enfrontant-se a la imminent desconnexió dels seus serveis públics vom la llum o el telèfon, Lee va rebre la trucada de Debbie Harry expressant interès per enregistrar "Hanging on the Telephone". L'acord de Lee amb la proposta va canviar dràsticament les seves circumstàncies, marcant un moment decisiu a la seva vida.

"Hanging on the Telephone", la primera pista de l'àlbum de Blondie "Parallel Lines", és una barreja catxonda de punk i pop, amb només 2 minuts i 17 segons de durada. Amb el productor Mike Chapman al comandament, els ganchos pop infecciosos de la cançó són el punt focal, establint el to per a tot l'àlbum. La tornada, descrita com a capturar "aquella magia pop al estil de les Ronettes" per Harry Doherty de Melody Maker, exemplifica la naturalesa irresistiblement enganxosa de la cançó.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER 

Publicació: maig de 1979 

Llistes: EUA: #24 

"One Way or Another" inclosa a l'àlbum "Parallel Lines" (1978), explora l'experiència inquietant de la cantant principal, Debbie Harry, que va ser assetjada a principis dels anys 70, cosa que la va portar a traslladar-se de Nova Jersey. Malgrat el contingut líric fosc que detalla les accions d'un perseguidor amenaçador, la música animada i enganxosa contrasta amb el seu tema sinistre. Segons Harry, la cançó va sorgir de la seva trobada personal amb un assetjador, que la va portar a infondre una certa lleugeresa a la lletra com a mecanisme de defensa. Harry i el baixista de la banda, Nigel Harrison, van col·laborar en el procés de composició, amb Harry centrant-se en la lletra mentre Harrison contribuïa amb la música.

"One Way or Another", llançada com a quart senzill de l'àlbum "Parallel Lines", va assolir un èxit moderat als Estats Units i Canadà, arribant al número 24 a la llista Billboard Hot 100 i el número 7 a la llista RPM 100 Singles. Tot i que no es va llançar oficialment com a senzill al Regne Unit, va arribar a les llistes el febrer de 2013 a causa de la popularitat de la versió de One Direction.

BLONDIE - HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE / ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE 

Released: November 1978

Charted:  UK: #5 

"Hanging on the Telephone" is a song originally written by Jack Lee and first released in 1976 by his West Coast power pop band The Nerves. It gained more widespread recognition when American new wave band Blondie recorded and released their version in 1978. Blondie came across the song through a cassette tape compilation given to them by Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Produced by Mike Chapman, Blondie's rendition begins with a phone sound-effect, adding to its distinctive charm. Included on Blondie's breakthrough album, Parallel Lines, the song became a top-five hit in the UK and has since been celebrated as one of the band's standout tracks.

"Hanging on the Telephone" captures Debbie Harry's perspective as she waits anxiously for a response from a guy she's trying to reach, portrayed through the lens of a phone call from a booth. The urgency in the lyrics, particularly "Don't leave me hanging on the telephone," could be interpreted as a plea or even a veiled threat, adding depth to the song's narrative.

Jack Lee, the song's composer, recounted in a 2007 interview with Mojo magazine how the opportunity to have Blondie record his song transformed his financial situation. Facing imminent disconnection of utilities, Lee received Debbie Harry's call expressing interest in recording "Hanging on the Telephone." Lee's agreement to the proposal altered his circumstances dramatically, marking a pivotal moment in his life.

"Hanging on the Telephone," the opening track of Blondie's influential album "Parallel Lines," is a catchy blend of punk and pop, clocking in at just 2 minutes and 17 seconds. With producer Mike Chapman at the helm, the song's infectious pop hooks are front and center, setting the tone for the entire album. The chorus, described as capturing "that magical Ronettes-like poppiness" by Melody Maker's Harry Doherty, exemplifies the song's irresistibly catchy nature.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER 

Released: May 1979

Charted:  US: #24 

"One Way or Another" by Blondie, featured on their album "Parallel Lines" (1978), delves into the unsettling experience of lead singer Debbie Harry being stalked during the early 1970s, leading her to relocate from New Jersey. Despite the dark lyrical content detailing the actions of a menacing pursuer, the song's upbeat and catchy music contrasts with its sinister theme. According to Harry, the song emerged from her personal encounter with a stalker, prompting her to infuse some levity into the lyrics as a coping mechanism. Harry and the band's bassist, Nigel Harrison, collaborated on the songwriting process, with Harry focusing on the lyrics while Harrison contributed to the music.

"One Way or Another" released as the fourth single from the album "Parallel Lines", achieved moderate success in the US and Canada, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the RPM 100 Singles chart. While not officially released as a single in the UK, it charted there in February 2013 due to the popularity of One Direction's cover version.

Critically acclaimed since its release, "One Way or Another" has been praised for its energetic and aggressive sound. Billboard described the song as moving in "machine gun fashion", with Debbie Harry's vocals sounding almost demonic. Cash Box highlighted the gritty guitar, drumbeat, and engaging bass line, noting Harry's vocals delivered with "playful aggressiveness." Pitchfork praised it as "exuberant new wave," noting its loose feel compared to other tracks of the era.