He was talking to a Long Distance Directory Assistance operator who had offered to put his call through for him. Unless somebody had an answering machine, fairly rare back in the day, calling somebody could ring and ring and ring if nobody picked up. The entire thing would be far more emotionally charged than kids understand today. Jim Croce's "Operator" is a similar song that is a little more explicit about what is going on.

@GinMae

2 жыл бұрын

Yes - thanks, Bob -- "Operator" - and also, Johnny Rivers - "Memphis, Tennessee" -- you know "help me operator.. get in touch with my Marie... she's the only one who'd call me here from Memphis, TN' when I finally "got it" I was so touched.. "Marie is only six years old..."..

@ratdad48

2 жыл бұрын

Duh!!

I know that it's a foregone conclusion, Jeff Lynne is a musical genius.

@TheCornishCockney

2 жыл бұрын

There is absolutely no doubt about that.

Back when land lines were the only option as far as telephones were concerned. Very few people had answering machines, either. So, unless you happen to be around to answer, the caller would have 2 options, either hang up and try again later, or, 'hang on', the telephone in the hope that whoever they're calling hears it and answers. Missed calls weren't a thing, either. There was no indication of whether anyone rang your number, so if you missed it, you had no knowledge of the call ever taking place. The, 'twilight', he's referring to is the, 'hanging on', the line in the hope someone will answer. Back then, if you let the phone ring long enough it would hang itself up and give an, 'unobtainable', tone. The only choice then, was to hang up.

Your wife will love ELO's song, "All Over The World". Especially if you show her the fan-made flashmob compilation video of it!

@donaldlove9195

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree . This one is a must watch !

Do kids even realize how a telephone worked? No voice mail, no answering machines. If no one was home just endless ringing. Or worse, someone may have been home and just not answering. No caller ID. No information. Just questions unanswered. I wonder if the despair of this song still translates.

@donaldwhite1928

2 жыл бұрын

How about the party line we could listen to the neighbor down the road conversation

@lilly5157

2 жыл бұрын

Good point.

@lilly5157

2 жыл бұрын

@@donaldwhite1928 We had one. Having to listen to the different rings was so annoying.

@robotto8858

2 жыл бұрын

@@donaldwhite1928 that's just a few years beyond my experience but I know about it. I just don't think kids today could even imagine it. Lol.

@donaldwhite1928

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilly5157 yea but good memories so much fun as a kid

Who has not been there waiting for an answer that never comes? IMO this is their best song, evocative and deep.

When this hit the radio, I called and requested it so much they finally told me that the best they could do was twice a day. ✌

ELO ... THE BEST(OF MANY BESTS!) BRILLIANT MUSICIANSHIP, LYRICS .. VOCALS AND HEART

This song "Telephone Line" and "Big Wheel" are my all-time favorite songs from ELO!!! ELO are among the gods of Rock n' Roll!!!!

@davidgraskemper8518

2 жыл бұрын

Big Wheels is awesome.

What a song i first heard it 46 years ago and never tire of it thanks you guys ❤❤❤

I recommend playing ( strange magic) for her

I remember thinking when this debuted wow. Orchestra sounds too. Really different and I want more as I walked home from school with my transistor radio.

One of my favorite songs by them. So painful and desolate and yet it's still quite lush musically and the sound effects and everything. Somehow that reminds me of when I was very young, for a while we had to be on a party line with several other houses in our neighborhood, it's like everybody is sharing the same line even though we have different phone numbers. So if someone else is already on the phone talking and you needed to make a call, you couldn't. If you picked up you could literally hear them talking and so nosy neighbors would snoop all the time. And some people would just get on there and yak forever until somebody would have to get on there and say will you please get off so I can make an important phone call?!

Jeff Lynne's ELO - Telephone Line (Live at Wembley Stadium) is magic.He used the American dial tone for this song not the UK one.You should check out the Time album new sounds again.Cheers and all the best from England.

One of my faves of all time- “Mr. Blue Sky” is another- really brings me back.

Chod, as far as ELO is concerned, an instrumental you would appreciate is FIRE ON HIGH. You personally will enjoy the drumming in it.

@Michaelfourfour

2 жыл бұрын

Yes Bobby. Those drums! A great instrumental. I love it.

@AttorneyBCollins

2 жыл бұрын

You need to prepare them for the beginning though. The video of the dancer that goes with it is fantastic. The beginning was a shout out to People coming up with crazy theories about back masking.. recording voices backwards. It says "The music is reversable, but time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Turn back! TURN BACK!" Jeffs not so serious version of "I can reverse the music, but you can't get back the time you wasted dwelling on it". Genious.

@BIGBLOCK5022006

2 жыл бұрын

"The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!"

The phone rang forever.

In the 60’s and 70’s, the old “switchboard” days were long gone. Where you’d call the operator to connect your call (although you could if you wanted). But there was no cell phones and few (if any) answering machines. You’d make your call and if it didn’t get answered, you could let it ring all day. We also had “party lines” back then. No it wasn’t to party lol. You shared physical lines with a neighbor or two and sometimes you’d pick up the phone to make a call and your neighbor would be talking to someone already. You had to hang up and wait your turn (or eavesdrop hehe)!

Voice mail? That one made me laugh!

*Hey U Two* LOVE Jeff Lynne.!!!!! OK..... I know, I know, i gotta make a suggestion..... Checkout *The Traveling Wilburys* ! Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison {on one video, R.I.P.}, Tom Petty and Jeff.! EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT selection today *Chod* !

@aviatom1

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, traveling willbury's so many great songs

Dolang dolang! Great to hear this song again! It seems many younger people don't know what it was like before mobile phones. Back when this was written most people didn't have answering machines. (They were separate machines you'd need to buy). If you called someone and they weren't near their permanently-located phone, they didn't answer. Imagine today if someone could only reach you when you are in your home? They might well need to try calling you many times before they finally reach you. When you did get home there was no 'missed call' info to tell you who called. The situation was even worse in the early days of the internet - when everyone had dial-up internet. If your brother or sister was on their MySpace page, anyone who called got a busy signal. Getting busy signals every time you tried calling someone was not unusual. Now I'm feeling OLD!

@danwilliams9299

2 жыл бұрын

Me too.had forgot all that silly stuff. Where have the yrs gone. Ppl today dont have a clue how they have it made. Black n white t v. 3 chann. Lord. Now i feel very old. Guess i am..66. Oh well. Thankx for the memories.

@rossmacintosh5652

2 жыл бұрын

@@danwilliams9299 LOL. And remember how maddening it was if you were on the interwebs on dial-up and your family member picked up the phone & had that interrupt your connection! My dumb sister would do it on purpose. (No wonder I didn't talk to her for years!)

@danwilliams9299

2 жыл бұрын

@@rossmacintosh5652 yep.i remember all too well… EVERY time i d just get started.. click! And off i went looking for my little brother.. he did it just to do it. Then he ran off to laugh.. i was just thinking bk when cable first came to town and how my dad lost it cause the bill was $3.00! 🤣🤣🤪🤪 but then,gas was probly only about $1.60-1.80 a gal too so. Ah,the good ole days.nice chatting with you.👍😎 dan. Northern fl.4/08/22

@GinMae

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, Ross - I first heard this in high school - loved it -- and it was quite "normal" to me to have someone talking about telephone lines... "ringing, nobody answering..."... so I really enjoy hearing this again.. nostalgic... and also: ELO were rockin' amazing lol

@ratdad48

2 жыл бұрын

You feel the need to explain that!!! It's only thirty plus yrs back. Have people really got that stupid. Well maybe so. I hear that litter boxes are in some bathrooms.

Def in my top 5 ELO songs. Enjoyed hearing this again and listening to Dee’s reaction. ❤️

A telephone LINE, was the insulated wire/line that led from the nearest telephone pole, into your house.

@ratdad48

2 жыл бұрын

Your knowledge of a telephone line is just short of earth shattering. Where did your acquire such knowledge??

This song is impossible not to feel and seein y’all feel it for the first time brought me back to my first

i love watching young people listening to real music...REAL TALENT....ELO were masters

Watching a lot of their original videos they had the cellos and violins as part of the band…Jeff Lynn is one hell of a song writer and composer.

@scifimonkey3

2 жыл бұрын

Of course they did, cos the keys at the time could not play samples of strings so if you wanted them live you had to have them in the band! That was the analogue world.

@j.h.3777

2 жыл бұрын

In concert they had laser lights bouncing off the cello bending and hitting stars in the sky. I saw them outside the first time and they were fantastic!

@leestockton9367

Жыл бұрын

Jeff LYNNE

"fire on high" was used by one of the TV networks as their sports intro in the 70s.

E.L.O. will transport you every time! No bad songs!☎️🎶😁😍

The doo wop was a throwback to the music these artists grew up on. In the mid 70’s there was a revival of 50’s culture, primarily started by the movie, American Graffiti. It was a great time to be teenager. Really enjoying your work on these vids.

ELO is hard to forget. They were good days.

Thx! I could hear the string section! It was a little more subtle than usual! Jeff Lynne is a treasure!

Gotta wear headphones to appreciate the production quality.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA more you listen to it, the more you will like it. Ed Shiran is a great fan.

Don't Walk Away is another great love song from ELO. Beautiful lyrics and so much emotion in his voice.

This entire album is amazing. Please listen to more from this album.

"Mr. Blue Sky" Great music. Thanks for your reactions.

She's deep!!! Hold on to that one!

I saw Dee swaying to the vibe and said ,she likes it!!! Did you show her the live version? That way she gets the full visual effect! I'm glad you're bringing her along on your musical journey, it's always better with a partner!!

You should check out one of their earlier albums, "On the Third Day"...blew my mind when I first heard it...(first time hearing ELO)...I was16 years old. We had never heard anything like it. 🤔

Finally a reaction video from someone who's a musician

For more ELO i highly suggest Prologue + Twilight

@PaulOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Oh yes 👍😊

ELO was way ahead of their time. This music could've been made two days ago. It will hold for many more years. It's a timeless classic.

5 rings was it. You hit the nail on the head!!

Jeff Lynne is a musical genius. how he has not been knighted here in the UK is beyond me.. Set up the Travelling Wilbury's and was the prime instigator in reviving the greatest singer in the world at that time in pop...Roy Orbison...Glad you both love this tune...my favourite track from ELO's many many hits. Thanks again

ELO are one of the most underrated bands from Britain. They seem to be getting more recognition now than they did back in the day. Although as a kid I do remember hearing them on the radio. One of the best bands ever from the UK 🇬🇧

If you find the recent years live version recorded at a Wembley concert you'll witness the significance of this tune to aging Brit fans. You will consider it time well spent, I'm sure.

One of my favorites. Enjoy.

"Living Thing" ..y'all will love it.

One the greatest rock bands! 😊❤️🎸🐕

Have you never heard someone say, " I have Mr. Smith on the line,"? A lot of those cables along the road held up by the telephone poles are the telephone lines.

Chord, come on brother get your lady some earphones so she can really experience the vibe. Love watching you introduce her to these artists.

I utterly love this song

Jeff Lynne is a legend, but he can't hide his Beatles fandom from me!

If you are going to cover ELO, you HAVE to do “Can’t Get It Out of My Head”!

ROCK N ROLL IS KING

One of my favorite tunes by E.L.O.

Great couple good show boom

Back in the day, phones had to be connected by lines to work!

"E-Low"?!! What?!!!! Consider yourself chastised!!! :)LOL(:

This would make you appreciate it even more if you watch it live in Wembley it's amazing.❤️👍

ELO is THE greatest band ever created! Without question!

Dee is Adorable....and you git really "Giddy" around Dee........She looks like she holds down the Fort!!!! She takes care of business and when can't she get you to care of business. I want Dee and you to react to>>>>> Eli's Coming(Live) by Three Dog Night!!!!

Brown poles/. Black lines!🤣 still seen a lot in ohio. Dan.4/08/22. P s.ill say it again.i was soo lucky to be a teen in the 70s. Such talent.. lov ur chann.lots of fun👍

This Is Genius At Work

From what I can recall, you could be waiting for a few minutes while the phone rang that you called before someone would pick up. You'd have to give it a couple of minutes because most people only had one or two handsets in their house and it could take that long for them to come in out of the garden or the garage to where the phone was. So a two minute wait was just what you expected before giving up and trying again later. And then you'd have to ask for the particular person who might be out anyway.

I remember land lines phones would ring until someone answered the phone or some hanged up.

my cell ringtone 😄

Beautiful Dee!!!!

Saw them opening for Edgar Winter back in 73/74 great show.

what a great band. You two are great band too !!! thanks as always.

E L O Great song!☎️📞

TL is featured in episode 2 of Angelyne on Peacock

Jeff Lynne and the band are a perfect fit.

Must see Jeff Lynne live, ELO just Awesome.

another good telephone song is Operator, also from the 70's

Try the ELO song Can't Get it Out of My Head. Take her to the Ice Cream Shop

Probably my favorite of theirs. Bluebird may be the other. There are a host of other great songs of theirs. And ... Telephone poles. They are literally everywhere. Baffled and amused by that discussion. ;) As for the telephone line... Think of the phases, "Your mom's on the line." Or "I'm on the line with XXX." Just shorthand for talking on the phone.

if the person you were calling didn't answer it would ring forever. If anyone else tried to call at the same time they'd get a busy signal.

marvelous

My favorite ELO song ❤😊

Back in the day, the unofficial rule was to let it ring six times. If there was no answer, they weren’t home. You didn’t assume they were ignoring you - there was no Caller ID. Every time you answered, it was a surprise!

Aw yes, ELO

My dad loved them, great band!

Back in those days...Soldiers standing in line outside the only 'phone booth in the Company location to call their wives/girlfriends....

One of my favorites.

"No Orchestra this time " Eh? There's loads of orchestra, listen again ..... oh my God...hahaha

Could this be the best use of strings on an ELO song? They just come in so right.

Incredible band from the UK 🔥

Great reaction to a wonderful song.... Have a listen to "Tightrope" from the same album. It will blow your mind... In a good way 👍😊

Classic..

Wilburn you need to hear elo live at Wembley . It’s on you tube and it’s wow

Hey Wilburn, they had plenty of orchestra in this song!

strange to think that the only phones when this came out were land lines and none of the young that I knew wanted to be in constant contact with anybody but now you are forever in contact and telling everybody what you are doing.

As has been stated numerous times, ELO were brilliant! Another underrated song by ELO with a similar feel to this is 'Mission', a song about an alien sent to Earth to observe and report back.... here is a link: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mWSCtdVsfdG2ops.html

Telephone poll!

We were so so lucky to have grown up in the 70s we will never see the likes of it again, the current generation are hell bent on self destruction.

How DARE YOU cough during "Telephone Line"? You hold that cough in until the end then choke on it 😂

Jeff Lynne is a genius

Jeff Lynn….also known as the fifth Beatle….can you hear the influence…try doing some ELO live….believe it or not….they’re must better live….I saw them live before Covid-19 hit back on September 2019….

Take Jeff Lynn and add a few Willburies and you get magic