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Mr. Telephone ManNew Edition

Released: November 28, 1984

Songwriter: Ray Parker Jr.

Producer: Ray Parker Jr.

[Chorus: Bobby Brown]
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant]
When I dialed 6-1-1, Repair Service
She said "Hello, may I help you please?"
I told her something must be wrong with my phone
'Cause my baby wouldn't hang up on me

[Chorus: Bobby Brown]
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time

[Verse 2: Ricky Bell]
She let the phone ring 20 times before she answered
Let me tell you what happened then
A minute later, I got the operator
Saying "Please hang up and place your call again," baby

[Chorus: Bobby Brown]
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time
Mr. Telephone Man
Something's wrong with my line
I try to dial her number
But, I get a click every time

[Bridge: Ralph Tresvant + Bobby Brown + (New Edition)]
Some strange man is on the telephone (The telephone)
He keeps telling me my baby, ain't home (That she's not home)
She ain't got no party line (Oh, oh)
Situation blowing my mind (Oh, oh)
Oh, I just can't take this anymore

[Spoken Interlude: Michael Bivins]
Please operator
See what you can do
I dialed the right number
But I still couldn't get through
Could you just check the line
Just one more time if you can
I'm pretty sure her phone
Wouldn't be answered by no man

[Chorus: Bobby Brown]
Mr. Telephone Man
There's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number
I get a click every time
Mr. Telephone Man
Something's wrong with my line
I try to dial her number
But, I get a click every time

[Outro: Bobby Brown]
Must be a bad connection
I give her my love and affection
I just can't take this no more

[Ricky Bell (New Edition)]
This situation blowing my mind (Blowing my mind)
Can't get my baby on the line (On the line)

[Ralph Tresvant (New Edition)]
I tried dialing information (Mr. Telephone Man)
I can't get no cooperation (Mr. Telephone Man)
The system on the phone telling me my baby ain't at home
Ah baby, I just can't take it anymore
Help me out, please Mr. Telephone Man
Help me out, please Mr. Telephone Man

New Edition

New Edition is a Boston-based R&B group that was seen as the inspiration of the boy bands that followed them during the 1980s and 1990s. The group initially consisted of Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. They released their debut album Candy Girl in 1983 after being discovered by producer Maurice Starr. This album yielded the hits “Candy Girl,” “Popcorn Love,” and “Is This the End.” After a financial dispute, New Edition cut ties with Starr and released their second album New Edition in 1984, which features two of their biggest “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man.” In November 1985, they released All for Love featuring the hits “Count Me Out” and “A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)” and one month later released Christmas All Over the World.

Before the end of 1985, the group decided to vote Bobby Brown out of the group for his disruptive behavior. After their 1986 doo-wop cover album Under the Blue Moon, lead singer Ralph Tresvant was considering a solo career as the group’s direction was in question. In 1987, Johnny Gill was added to the group and the quintet went on to create their most popular album Heart Break with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in 1988. This album was released on June 20, 1988—the same day as Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel—and features two more of their biggest “If It Isn’t Love” and “Can You Stand the Rain.”

In 1990, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill and Bell Biv Devoe all went on to have successful hits. Among these hits was the remix to BBD’s “Word to the Mutha,” which was the first song to feature all six members. After a hiatus, all six members came together in 1996 to create the album Home Again, which hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and was a multi-platinum success. After some friction on the Home Again tour, Bobby Brown decided to depart the group again. In 2004, after leaving their longtime label MCA Records, New Edition signed with Bad Boy Records and released the album One Love but they left Bad Boy a year later due to a lack of promotion. The group continues to tour together and sell out shows after 30 years in the business. The group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2017—one day ahead of the BET premiere of their 3-night mini-series The New Edition Story.

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