Flashback Friday: Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)

 

 

 

 

 Released in August 1972 by legendary American balladeer Jim Croce, "Operator"
(That's Not The Way It Feels) about a man trying to reach his old girlfriend via a
 telephone operator, became a big hit in the months following, spending twelve weeks 
on the charts.  By the end of the year it peaked at Number # 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Story Behind The Song 

The inspiration behind "Operator" came during Jim's military service, when he saw lines
 of soldiers waiting to use the outdoor phone on the base, calling to see if the "Dear John"
 letters they had received from back home were true. This letter was usually written by a wife
 or a girlfriend declaring that their relationship was over or that they had found someone else.
 The recipients of these letters were often soldiers and sailors stationed overseas.

While the exact origin of the "Dear John" letter is unknown, it is commonly
believed to have been coined by Americans during WWII, due to the fact that
the name "John" was the most popular name for baby boys in the United States
every year since the late 19th century.  It is further claimed that the Vietnam War
inspired more "Dear John" letters than any other U.S. conflict.

But back to Jim's song.  Not only does this ballad bring back memories of
my childhood when most of the songs I heard came over the radio while
riding in the car with my parents,  Record World called "Operator" a
"strong story-telling tune in the Chuck Berry 'Memphis' vein" and said
that "the single is a near-perfect matching of this singer to the song!"

I agree!  They don't make songs or singers like this anymore!

Operator
(That's Not The Way It Feels)
(1972)
Jim Croce