Call Me (Blondie song)

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"Call Me"
Single by Blondie
from the album American Gigolo
Released February 1, 1980
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded August 1979 in New York[1]
Genre
Length
  • 3:32 (radio edit)
  • 8:05 (album version)
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder
Certification
  • Gold (US)
  • Silver (UK)
Blondie singles chronology
"The Hardest Part"
(1980)		 Call Me
(1980)		 "Atomic"
(1980)
Audio sample
file info · help
Alternative cover
German edition

"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. Released in the US early 1980 as a single, "Call Me" was number one for six consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it became the band's biggest single and second #1.[1] It also hit #1 in the UK and Canada, where it became their fourth and second chart-topper respectively. In the year-end charts of 1980 it was Billboard's #1 hit, and according to Billboard magazine, was the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1980 and RPM's #3.[4][5]

Song and single information

"Call Me" was the main theme song of the 1980 film American Gigolo. Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined as a recently signed contract with Modern Records prevented her from working with Moroder. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called "Man Machine". Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody, a process that Harry states took only a few hours.[6] Harry stated that the song is about driving, and that "When I was writing it, I pictured the opening scene, driving on the coast of California."[7] The completed song was then recorded by the band, with Moroder producing. The bridge of the original English-language version also includes Harry singing "Call me, my darling" in Italian ("Amore, chiamami") (Love, call me) and in French ("Appelle-moi, mon chéri") (Call me, darling).

In the US, the song was released by three different record companies: the longest version (at 8:06) on the soundtrack album by Polydor, the 7" and 12" on Blondie's label Chrysalis, and a Spanish language 12" version, with lyrics by Buddy and Mary McCluskey, on the disco label Salsoul Records. The Spanish version, titled "Llámame", was meant for release in Mexico and some South American countries. This version was also released in the US and the UK and had its CD debut on Chrysalis/EMI's rarities compilation Blonde and Beyond (1993). In 1988, a remixed version by Ben Liebrand taken from the Blondie remix album Once More into the Bleach was issued as a single in the UK. In 2001 the "original long version" appeared as a bonus track on the Autoamerican album re-issue.

Harry recorded an abbreviated version of the song, backed by the Muppet Band, for her guest appearance on The Muppet Show in August 1980. It was first broadcast in January 1981.

Popularity and acclaim

The single was released in the United States in February 1980. It peaked at No. 1 for six consecutive weeks, (until it was replaced by Lipps, Inc.'s worldwide smash hit "Funkytown) and was certified Gold (for one million copies sold) by the RIAA. It also spent four weeks at No. 2 on the US dance chart. The single was also No. 1 on Billboard magazine's 1980 year-end chart. The song lists at No. 44 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.[8] It was released in the UK two months later, where it became Blondie's fourth UK No. 1 single in little over a year. The song was also played on a British Telecom advert in the 1980s. 25 years after its original release, "Call Me" was ranked at No. 283 on the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1981, The Village Voice ranked "Call Me" as the third-best song of the year 1980 on their annual year-end critics' poll, Pazz & Jop.[9]

In 1981, the song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Music video

There were two videos made:

Release history

1980 Release

US, UK 7" (CHS 2414)
  1. "Call Me (Theme from American Gigolo)" (7" edit) — 3:32
  2. "Call Me" (7" instrumental) — 3:27
UK 12" (CHS 12 2414)
  1. "Call Me" (7" edit) — 3:32
  2. "Call Me" (Spanish version – 7" edit) — 3:32
  3. "Call Me" (7" instrumental) — 3:27
US 12" (Polydor PRO 124)
  1. "Call Me" (Theme from American Gigolo) — 8:04
  2. "Call Me" (12" instrumental) — 6:10
US 12" (Salsoul SG 341) [promo only]
  1. "Call Me" (Spanish version, extended) — 6:23
  2. "Night Drive" (Reprise) - by Giorgio Morodor — 6:10

1989 Release

UK 7" (CHS 3342-1)
  1. "Call Me" (Ben Liebrand Remix) — 7:09
  2. "Call Me" (Original Version) — 3:31
UK 12" (CHS 12 3342)
  1. "Call Me" (Ben Liebrand Remix) — 7:09
  2. "Backfired" (Bruce Forrest And Frank Heller Remix) — 6:03
  3. "Call Me" (Original Version) — 3:31
UK CD (CHSCD 3342)
  1. "Call Me" (Ben Liebrand Remix) — 7:09
  2. "Backfired" (Bruce Forrest And Frank Heller Remix) — 6:03
    • Performed by Debbie Harry
  3. "Call Me" (Original Version) — 3:31
  4. "Hanging on the Telephone" — 2:23

Chart performance

Chart successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by US Billboard Hot 100 number one single
April 19, 1980 – May 24, 1980 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc.
Preceded by UK number one single
April 26, 1980		 Succeeded by
"Geno" by Dexys Midnight Runners
Preceded by
"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" by Pink Floyd
(first run)
"Rock Lobster" by The B-52's (second run)
 Canadian RPM 100 number-one single
May 3, 1980 – May 17, 1980 (3 weeks)
May 31, 1980 – June 14, 1980 (re-entry, 3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Rock Lobster" by The B-52's (first run)
Cars by Gary Numan (second run)

Chipmunks version

"Call Me"
Single by The Chipmunks
from the album Chipmunk Punk
Released August 1980
Format Vinyl
Recorded September 1979
Length 3:11 (LP/radio version)
3:49 (12" version)
Label Excelsior Records
Writer(s) Debbie Harry, Giorgio Moroder
The Chipmunks singles chronology
"My Sharona"
(1980)		 Call Me
(1980)		 "On the Road Again"
(1981)

In 1980, KMET DJ Chuck Taylor played the 12" version of this single at double speed and announced, in jest, that it was The Chipmunks' latest single. So many requests came for this "new" Chipmunks release, that Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and his collaborator Steve Vining rushed to record what would be the Chipmunks' "comeback album", Chipmunk Punk in 1980.[citation needed]

Track listing

US 7" (SIS-1003)
  1. "Call Me" — 3:13
  2. "Refugee" — 3:08

In This Moment version

"Call Me"
File:Call Me ITM.jpg
Single by In This Moment
from the album The Dream
Released May 26, 2009
Recorded 2008
Genre Heavy metal, pop metal
Length 3:17
Label Century Media
Writer(s) Debbie Harry, Giorgio Moroder
Producer(s) Kevin Churko
In This Moment singles chronology
"Forever" (2008) "Call Me" (2009) "The Gun Show" (2009)
Music video
"Call Me" on YouTube

The song was recorded in 2009 by metal band In This Moment.

Tracks

  1. "Call Me" (Blondie cover) - 3:17
  2. "A Dying Star" - 4:35
  3. "Sailing Away" - 3:59

Music video

The video for the song was released in June 2009. It features vocalist Maria Brink talking through a telephone.

Other cover versions

Live cover performances

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cathy Che (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.65
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "the sly, seductive dance rock hit "Call Me,""
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "Blondie opened with "Call Me," (...) a new wave classic that appealed as much to graying baby boomers as it did to a pimply kid wearing a T-shirt from CBGB's, one of several New York clubs that helped make Blondie famous - or vice-versa - in the '70s."
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s, Episode 2, VH1
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Blondie – Call Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Blondie – Call Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Blondie"
  14. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Blondie – Call Me". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1st result of the 2nd page when searching "Blondie"
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Blondie - Call Me search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Blondie – Call Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Blondie – Call Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Blondie – Call Me". VG-lista. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Blondie – Call Me". Singles Top 60. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Blondie – Call Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1980-04-26" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Call Me in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Preceded by UK number one single
26 April 1980		 Succeeded by
"Geno" by Dexy's Midnight Runners
Preceded by US number one singles
1980, April 19th for 6 weeks		 Succeeded by
"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc
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