I’ve said before how much I love every second of the album Parallel Lines.
Hanging On The Telephone is such a prefect opener, and as I said when I used it for the same purpose in my Blondie ICA (#197, November 2018), it provides a nod to the band’s roots in terms of its sound, energy and tempo. It was also a nice touch to take a largely unknown song, written by someone whom Chris Stein and Debbie Harry thought of as deserving success, and ensure a lifetime of royalties for Jack Lee. I think it’s fair to say that without the cover treatment, this song, originally recorded in 1976 by Los Angeles-based power-pop trio The Nerves, would have gained nothing more than a minor cult status.
mp3: Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone
The single enjoyed a twelve-week stay in the UK singles chart at the end of 1978 and into the first month of 1979, peaking at #5. Four of the next six singles by Blondie would reach #1.
Oh, and the picture sleeve is quite divine……the mp3 above is ripped from the 7″ single.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
I agree re: your comments re: Parallel Lines. Pop perfection. P.S. that Divine sure did get about.
My favourite Blondie song (both now and before I knew it was a cover), and oddly the only single of theirs that I ever purchased. I did buy Parallel Lines though – as did just about every other music fan I knew at the time.
Superb start to the working week!!!
SC
“If you don’t answer me I’ll ring it off the wall…”
An absolute classic from a perfect record by the ultimate pop goddess & co..
A return to the debate about the greatest Side One Track Ones ever?
The phone rings and then the most aggressive/ alluring vocals of all time kick in.
Pure magic.
A brilliant song that I never tire of listening to. Thanks, JC
@Flimflamfan, your P.S. caused me to splutter tea over the monitor screen. Now, that’s one duet I wish I’d seen…!
@DAM, also a contender for greatest Side One closing track ever as well (1981’s The Best Of Blondie)
Jack Lee also wrote “Come Back and Stay” so he has to send Paul Young a Christmas card every year as well!
Thank you for curating this blog. It is a wonderful place.