Operator (Motown song)

{{Short description|Motown song}} {{Infobox song | name = Operator | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Mary Wells | album = Vintage Stock | A-side = Two Lovers | released = 1963 | recorded = 1962 | studio = | venue = | genre = Soul/pop | length = 2:46 | label = Motown M 1035 | writer = Smokey Robinson | producer = Smokey Robinson | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }}

{{Infobox song | name = Operator | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Brenda Holloway | album = | B-side = I'll Be Available | released = 1965 | recorded = 1964 | studio = | venue = | genre = Soul | length = 3:08 | label = Tamla T 54115 | writer = Smokey Robinson | producer = Smokey Robinson | prev_title = When I'm Gone | prev_year = 1964 | next_title = You Can Cry On My Shoulder | next_year = 1965 }}

'''"Operator"''' is a Motown song recorded by vocalists Mary Wells and Brenda Holloway. The Wells version was the b-side to her top ten hit, "Two Lovers"<ref> The Complete Motown Singles Vol 3: 1963 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.</ref> while Holloway's version was issued as a single in 1965.<ref> The Complete Motown Singles Vol 5: 1965 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.</ref>

==Overview==

===Song information=== In the song, written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the narrator expresses her desire for the phone operator to connect her with her boyfriend, who is supposedly on the other end of the line. However, to her dismay, the operator encounters difficulty reaching him, resulting in static. Throughout the difficulties, the narrator pleads with the operator to "put him on the line".

==Charts== ===Brenda Holloway version=== Brenda Holloway's version of the song, which is produced under a more soulful rendition than Wells' teen pop-styled version from three years before, reached number 78 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 36 on the R&B singles chart.<ref>{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=brenda-holloway-mn0000615826/awards|label=Operator}}</ref><ref>Whitburn, Joel (2004). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 289.</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !align="left"|Chart (1967) ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak position |- !scope="row" {{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|14|chartid=5619}} |- !scope="row" | UK R&B (''Record Mirror'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/65/Record-Mirror-1965-07-17-I.pdf#page=3|title=BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES|magazine=Record Mirror|page=15|date=July 17, 1965|via=worldradiohistory.com|accessdate=January 28, 2022}}</ref> | align="center"| 17 |- !scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|78|artist=Brenda Holloway}} |- !scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|36|artist=Brenda Holloway}} |}

==Credits==

===Mary Wells version=== *Lead vocal by Mary Wells *Background vocals by The Love Tones *Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

===Brenda Holloway version=== *Lead vocal by Brenda Holloway *Background vocals by The Andantes *Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1963 singles Category:1965 singles Category:Mary Wells songs Category:Brenda Holloway songs Category:Songs written by Smokey Robinson Category:Songs about telephone calls Category:Motown singles Category:Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson Category:1963 songs