Operator (Motown song)

"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"^[1] while Holloway's version was issued as a single in 1965.^[2]

"Operator"
Single by Mary Wells
from the album Vintage Stock
A-side	"Two Lovers"
Released	1963
Recorded	1962
Genre	Soul/pop
Length	2:46
Label	Motown M 1035
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson

"Operator"
Single by Brenda Holloway
B-side	"I'll Be Available"
Released	1965
Recorded	1964
Genre	Soul
Length	3:08
Label	Tamla T 54115
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson
Brenda Holloway singles chronology
"When I'm Gone" (1964) "Operator" (1965) "You Can Cry On My Shoulder" (1965)

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.^[3][4]

Chart (1967)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5]	14
UK R&B (Record Mirror)[6]	17
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	78
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8]	36

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