Song #106: "Calling America"--Electric Light Orchestra (1986)

It's the swan song on American radio for the Electric Light Orchestra when they had their biggest hit in three years back in 1986 with this catchy tune about wanting to contact someone state side, only how could they do it in an age of AT&T, MCI, phone cards, pin numbers, cheaper at 11pm (there or here?), etc, etc.

Today's new generation absolutely has no concept concerning how the simple act of using a phone was for those of us who grew up in the 1970's and 1980's. Party lines, only one phone in the house, tethered to the kitchen wall. Heck, you even had to lower yourself to use the rotary dial.  :)

Today's song finished at #18 in the Billboard Top 100, and it marked ELO's final appearance on American Top 40 with Casey Kasem.

We have now revealed six of the nine Electric Light Orchestra songs that dot our countdown landscape.