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			{{short description\|1986 single by Electric Light Orchestra}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=~~February~~ ~~2012~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=February 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=February 2012}}
	{{Infobox song		{{Infobox song
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	\| artist = ]		\| artist = ]
	\| album = ]		\| album = ]
	\| B-side = ~~{{ubl\|~~"Caught in a Trap"\|"Destination Unknown" (12" only) ~~(UK)}}~~		\| B-side =
			*"Caught in a Trap"
			*"Destination Unknown" (UK 12-inch only)
	\| released = ~~24 January 1986 (US)<br/>21 February 1986 (UK)~~		\| released =
			*{{Start date\|1986\|01\|24\|df=y}} (US)
	\| format = ]
			*21 February 1986 (UK)
⚫	~~\| recorded = 1985,~~ ], ] and Hartmann Digital Untertrubach, ]
			\| recorded = 1985
	\| studio =		\| studio =
		⚫	*], ]
⚫	\| ~~venue~~ =
			*Hartmann Digital, Untertrubach, Germany
	\| genre = ]		\| genre = ]
	\| length = 3:28		\| length = 3:28
	\| label = ] (US)~~<br/>~~] (UK)		\| label =
			*] (US)
			*] (UK)
	\| writer = ]		\| writer = ]
	\| producer = Jeff Lynne		\| producer = Jeff Lynne
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	\| next_title = ]		\| next_title = ]
	\| next_year = 1986		\| next_year = 1986
		⚫	\| misc =
	\| misc = {{Extra music sample \|filename=Electric Light Orchestra - Calling America.ogg \|title="Calling America" \|type=single}}
	{{External music video\|{{YouTube\|xn_XsOUC9s0\|"Calling America"}}}}
	}}		}}

	"'''Calling America'''" is a song by the rock music group ] (ELO) released as a single from their 1986 ~~(see ])~~ album '']''. The single reached number 28 in the ] and peaked at number 18 on the ], making it their 20th and final Top 40 hit single in the ].		"'''Calling America'''" is a song by the rock music group ] (ELO) released as a single from their 1986 album '']''. The single reached number 28 in the United Kingdom, making it their 26th and final Top 40 hit single in their native country and peaked at number 18 on the ], making it their 20th and final Top 40 hit single in the United States.

	==Overview==		==Overview==
			Like most of the songs on ''Balance of Power'', "Calling America" is musically upbeat and bright. Lyrically, the song can be considered an update to ELO's 1976 single "]". In both songs, the narrator is attempting to contact a lover by telephone, although "Calling America" also discusses ] communication. Appropriately, the song pays homage to the track "]", which had celebrated the ] ], in the instrumental break. In his column ''Real Life Rock'' (published in '']''), ] called the song an "answer record to 24-year old hit".<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Marcus \|first1=Greil \|title=Real Life Rock: The Complete Top Ten Columns, 1986-2014 \|date=January 2015 \|publisher=Yale University Press \|isbn=978-0-300-19664-1 \|page=4 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTmbCgAAQBAJ&q=elo+calling+america+telstar&pg=PA4 \|language=en}}</ref> Fellow American music journalist ] said, "Greil Marcus was the only person besides me who realized that 'Calling America' by ELO was one of the most brilliant records of last year. I thought it was really neat that it ended up on both our top 10s."<ref></ref>
	The song is like most of the songs on ''Balance of Power'' being musically upbeat and bright. Lyrically, it features a similar theme to ELO's earlier single "]", where the narrator is longing for a lover from across the telephone.

		⚫	] released a three-track 12-inch single in the UK, with "Destination Unknown" as the ].

			The promotional music video was shot in ], and contains shots of the band playing in front of ].

			==Reception==
⚫	~~There~~ ~~was~~ ~~also~~ a UK 12~~ ~~inch ~~EPIC~~ 3 ~~Track~~ ~~version~~ with "Destination Unknown" as the ].
			'']'' called it a "bright, cleanly done bit of pop sheen from the masters of the genre" with a "very ]y lyric."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine\|title=Single Releases\|magazine=Cash Box\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1986/CB-1986-02-01.pdf\|date=February 1, 1986\|accessdate=2022-08-03\|page=11}}</ref> '']'' said that it has ELO's "familiar ] and sci-fi predilections."<ref>{{cite magazine\|magazine=Billboard\|date=February 1, 1986\|accessdate=2022-08-03\|page=81\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RSQEAAAAMBAJ\|title=Reviews}}</ref>

	==Track listing==		==Track listing==
	All songs written by ].		All songs written by ].

			;7-inch single
	;7"
	#"Calling America" – 3:28		#"Calling America" – 3:28
	#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43		#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43

	;US 12"		;US 12-inch single
	#"Calling America" – 3:28		#"Calling America" – 3:28
	#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43		#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43
	#"Endless Lies" – 2:54		#"Endless Lies" – 2:54

	;UK 12"		;UK 12-inch single
	#"Calling America" – 3:28		#"Calling America" – 3:28
	#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43		#"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43
	#"Destination Unknown" – 4:10		#"Destination Unknown" – 4:10
			#"Rock'n' Roll Is King" - 3:49
			#"Secret Messages" - 4:44

	==Chart history==		==Chart history==
	{\|class="wikitable sortable"		{\|class="wikitable sortable"
	! Chart (1986)		! Chart (1986-1987)
	! Peak<br/>position		! Peak<br/>position
	\|-		\|-
	\| ]<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book\|title=]\|last=Kent\|first=David\|~~authorlink~~=David Kent (historian)\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|location=]\|year=1993\|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>		\| ]<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book\|title=]\|last=Kent\|first=David\|author-link=David Kent (historian)\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|location=]\|year=1993\|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 47		\|align="center"\| 47
	\|-		\|-
	\| Austrian '']''<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Electric+Light+Orchestra \|title=Discographie Electric Light Orchestra \|publisher=austriancharts.at ~~\|date=~~ \|accessdate=6 March 2013}}</ref>		\| Austrian '']''<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Electric+Light+Orchestra \|title=Discographie Electric Light Orchestra \|publisher=austriancharts.at \|accessdate=6 March 2013}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 22		\|align="center"\| 22
			\|-
			\|Canada '']'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0661.pdf\| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - April 19, 1986}}</ref>
			\| style="text-align:center;"\|28
	\|-		\|-
	\| French '']'' Singles Chart		\| French '']'' Singles Chart
	\|align="center"\| 10		\|align="center"\| 10
	\|-		\|-
	\| German '']'' Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Electric+Light+Orchestra&country=de \|title=charts.de - Electric Light Orchestra \|publisher=charts.de ~~\|date=~~ \|accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref>		\| German '']'' Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Electric+Light+Orchestra&country=de \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205303/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Electric+Light+Orchestra&country=de \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=12 September 2014 \|title=charts.de - Electric Light Orchestra \|publisher=charts.de \|accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 31		\|align="center"\| 31
	\|-		\|-
	\| ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement \|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know \|publisher=Irishcharts.ie ~~\|date=~~ \|accessdate=6 March 2013 \|~~deadurl~~=~~yes~~ \|archiveurl=https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~5hFf8iFDu?url=~~http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement \|archivedate=3 June 2009 ~~\|df=dmy~~ }} ''Enter'' Electric Light Orchestra ''in the'' Search by Artist ''field, then click'' Search.</ref>		\| ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement \|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know \|publisher=Irishcharts.ie \|accessdate=6 March 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement \|archivedate=2 June 2009}} ''Enter'' Electric Light Orchestra ''in the'' Search by Artist ''field, then click'' Search.</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 16		\|align="center"\| 16
	\|-		\|-
	\|~~]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.~~lp3~~.pl//~~alpt~~.~~phtml?m=1&xa=1&nn=210\|title=Lista Przebojów Programu 3\|publisher=]~~\|accessdate=30 ~~November~~ 2018\|}}</ref>~~		\|South Africa (])<ref>{{cite web\|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989\|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(E).html\|accessdate=5 September 2018}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\|2		\|align="center"\|23
	\|-		\|-
	\| ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/electric%20light%20orchestra/ \| title= Electric Light Orchestra\| publisher=~~Offfical~~ Charts Company \| accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref>		\| ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/electric%20light%20orchestra/ \| title= Electric Light Orchestra\| publisher=Official Charts Company \| accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 28		\|align="center"\| 28
	\|-		\|-
	\| US ]<ref name=AM>{{cite web\|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/electric-light-orchestra-mn0000163229/awards \|title=Electric Light Orchestra - Awards \|publisher=AllMusic ~~\|date=~~ \|accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref>		\| US ]<ref name=AM>{{cite web\|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/electric-light-orchestra-mn0000163229/awards \|title=Electric Light Orchestra - Awards \|publisher=AllMusic\|accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref>
	\|align="center"\| 18		\|align="center"\| 18
	\|-		\|-
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	==Video==		==Video==
	The video was shot in ] and contains shots of ]; the band plays in front of Pompidou.		The video, directed by John Beug and ],<ref>{{cite web \|title=Electric Light Orchestra: Calling America \|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8141890/?ref_=nm_flmg_c_17_dr \|website=imdb.com \|access-date=2023-05-26}}</ref> was shot in ] and contains shots of ]; the band plays in front of Pompidou.{{citation needed\|date=December 2020}}

	==References==		==References==
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	*		*
	*		*
	*{{~~youtube~~\|xn_XsOUC9s0&ob\|Calling America}} (licensed content by ])		*{{YouTube\|xn_XsOUC9s0&ob\|Calling America}} (licensed content by ])
	* {{MetroLyrics song\|electric-light-orchestra\|calling-america}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->

	{{Electric Light Orchestra singles}}		{{Electric Light Orchestra singles}}
			{{authority control}}

	]		]
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	]		]
	]		]
	]		]


	{{1980s-rock-song-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:11, 27 September 2024

1986 single by Electric Light Orchestra

"Calling America"

Single by Electric Light Orchestra

from the album Balance of Power

B-side

"Caught in a Trap"
"Destination Unknown" (UK 12-inch only)

Released

24 January 1986 (1986-01-24) (US)
21 February 1986 (UK)

Recorded

1985

Studio

Compass Point, Nassau, Bahamas
Hartmann Digital, Untertrubach, Germany

Genre

Pop rock

Length

3:28

Label

CBS Associated (US)
Epic (UK)

Songwriter(s)

Jeff Lynne

Producer(s)

Jeff Lynne

Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology

"Stranger"
(1983)

"Calling America"
(1986)

"So Serious"
(1986)

"Calling America" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released as a single from their 1986 album Balance of Power. The single reached number 28 in the United Kingdom, making it their 26th and final Top 40 hit single in their native country and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard singles chart, making it their 20th and final Top 40 hit single in the United States.

Overview

Like most of the songs on Balance of Power, "Calling America" is musically upbeat and bright. Lyrically, the song can be considered an update to ELO's 1976 single "Telephone Line". In both songs, the narrator is attempting to contact a lover by telephone, although "Calling America" also discusses satellite communication. Appropriately, the song pays homage to the track "Telstar", which had celebrated the communication satellite of the same name, in the instrumental break. In his column Real Life Rock (published in The Village Voice), Greil Marcus called the song an "answer record to 24-year old hit". Fellow American music journalist Chuck Eddy said, "Greil Marcus was the only person besides me who realized that 'Calling America' by ELO was one of the most brilliant records of last year. I thought it was really neat that it ended up on both our top 10s."

Epic Records released a three-track 12-inch single in the UK, with "Destination Unknown" as the B-side.

The promotional music video was shot in Paris, and contains shots of the band playing in front of Centre Georges Pompidou.

Reception

Cash Box called it a "bright, cleanly done bit of pop sheen from the masters of the genre" with a "very hooky lyric." Billboard said that it has ELO's "familiar wall of sound and sci-fi predilections."

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Lynne.

7-inch single

"Calling America" – 3:28
"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43

US 12-inch single

"Calling America" – 3:28
"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43
"Endless Lies" – 2:54

UK 12-inch single

"Calling America" – 3:28
"Caught in a Trap" – 3:43
"Destination Unknown" – 4:10
"Rock'n' Roll Is King" - 3:49
"Secret Messages" - 4:44

Chart history

Chart (1986-1987)	Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart	47
Austrian Ö3 Austria Top 40	22
Canada RPM Top Singles	28
French SNEP Singles Chart	10
German Media Control Singles Chart	31
Irish Singles Chart	16
South Africa (Springbok)	23
UK Singles Chart	28
US Billboard Hot 100	18
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	22
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	20
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles	26
US Radio & Records (R&R)	20

Video

The video, directed by John Beug and Jane Simpson, was shot in Paris and contains shots of Centre Georges Pompidou; the band plays in front of Pompidou.

References

Marcus, Greil (January 2015). Real Life Rock: The Complete Top Ten Columns, 1986-2014. Yale University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-300-19664-1.
Interview with Chuck Eddy, Nerve magazine, 1986
"Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 1 February 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
"Reviews". Billboard. 1 February 1986. p. 81. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
"Discographie Electric Light Orchestra". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
"RPM Top 100 Singles - April 19, 1986" (PDF).
"charts.de - Electric Light Orchestra". charts.de. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
"The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2013. Enter Electric Light Orchestra in the Search by Artist field, then click Search.
"SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
"Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
^ "Electric Light Orchestra - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
ELO
Charts!
"Electric Light Orchestra: Calling America". imdb.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.

External links

Single chart positions
ftmusic.com - UK single b-side "Destination Unknown"
Calling America on YouTube (licensed content by Sony BMG)

v t e Electric Light Orchestra
Jeff Lynne Bev Bevan Roy Wood Richard Tandy Mike Edwards Wilfred Gibson Hugh McDowell Mike de Albuquerque Colin Walker Mik Kaminski Kelly Groucutt Melvyn Gale
Studio albums	The Electric Light Orchestra (No Answer) ELO 2 (Electric Light Orchestra II) On the Third Day Eldorado Face the Music A New World Record Out of the Blue Discovery Time Secret Messages Balance of Power Zoom Alone in the Universe From Out of Nowhere
Live albums	The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach Live at Wembley '78 Live at Winterland '76 The BBC Sessions Live at the BBC Electric Light Orchestra Live Wembley or Bust
Soundtracks	Xanadu
Compilations	Showdown Olé ELO The Light Shines On Three Light Years The Light Shines On Vol 2 ELO's Greatest Hits A Box of Their Best Four Light Years Afterglow ELO's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra Strange Magic Light Years Definitive Collection Friends & Relatives Flashback The Ultimate Collection The Essential Electric Light Orchestra All Over the World Ticket to the Moon The Essential Electric Light Orchestra (2 CD Edition) Mr. Blue Sky
Singles	"10538 Overture" "Mr. Radio" (withdrawn) "Roll Over Beethoven" "Showdown" "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" "Can't Get It Out of My Head" / "Illusions in G Major" "Boy Blue" / "Eldorado" "Evil Woman" "Strange Magic" "Nightrider" "Strange Magic" "Livin' Thing" / "Fire On High" "Rockaria!" "Do Ya" "Telephone Line" / "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" "Turn to Stone" / "Mister Kingdom" "Mr. Blue Sky" / "One Summer Dream" "Sweet Talkin' Woman" "Wild West Hero" "It's Over" "Shine a Little Love" "The Diary of Horace Wimp" "Don't Bring Me Down" "Confusion" "Last Train to London" "I'm Alive" "Xanadu" (with Olivia Newton-John) "All Over the World" "Don't Walk Away" "Hold On Tight" "Twilight" "Here Is the News" / "Ticket to the Moon" "Rain Is Falling" "The Way Life's Meant to Be" "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" "Secret Messages" "Four Little Diamonds" "Stranger" "Calling America" "So Serious" "Getting to the Point"
Videography	Out of the Blue: Live at Wembley (1980) Fusion – Live in London (1990) Zoom Tour Live (2001) ELO – Total Rock Review (2006) Live: The Early Years (2010) Jeff Lynne's ELO: Live in Hyde Park (2015) Wembley or Bust (2017)
Tours	Jeff Lynne's ELO Tour 2019 The Over and Out Tour (2024-25)
Touring members	Louis Clark Dave Morgan Gregg Bissonette Matt Bissonette Marc Mann Rosie Vela
Related articles	Discography Members Song list The Move Wizzard ELO Part II The Orchestra Violinski Earthrise L.E.O. Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO
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