On this day in 1980: Blondie released ‘Call Me’, the main theme song of the 1980 film American Gigolo. It would go to #1 on the U.S. singles chart in mid-April of 1980 for six consecutive weeks, and became the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1980.
“Call Me” was the main theme song of the 1980 film ‘American Gigolo.’ Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined as a recently signed contract with Modern Records prevented her from working with Moroder. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debby Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called “Man Machine”. Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody, a process that Harry states took a mere few hours. The lyrics were written from the perspective of the main character in the film, a male prostitute. Harry said the lyrics were inspired by her visual impressions from watching the film and that “When I was writing it, I pictured the opening scene, driving on the coast of California.”
The single was released in the United States on February 1, 1980. It spent six consecutive weeks at number one and was certified Gold (for one million copies sold) by the RIAA. It also spent four weeks at #2 on the U.S. dance chart. The single was also #1 on Billboard magazine’s 1980 year-end chart. The song lists at #57 on Billboard’s All Time Top 100. “Call Me” was ranked at #283 on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1981, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, as well as for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1980:
1 1 ROCK WITH YOU –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-13 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME –•– The Captain and Tennille (Casablanca)-15 (2)
3 4 COWARD OF THE COUNTY –•– Kenny Rogers (United Artists)-11 (3)
4 3 ESCAPE (The Pina Colada Song) –•– Rupert Holmes (Infinity)-15 (1)
5 6 CRUISIN’ –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-17 (5)
6 5 SEND ONE YOUR LOVE –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-13 (4)
7 7 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-15 (7)
8 18 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE –•– Queen (Elektra)-6 (8)
9 11 THE LONG RUN –•– Eagles (Asylum)-8 (9)
10 15 SARA –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-7 (10)
11 13 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-10 (11)
12 12 BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-16 (12)
13 8 LADIES NIGHT –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-17 (8)
14 17 DON’T DO ME LIKE THAT –•– Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Backstreet)-11 (14)
15 16 THIS IS IT –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-15 (15)
16 24 YES, I’M READY –•– Teri DeSario with K.C. (Casablanca)-11 (16)
17 21 DEJA VU –•– Dionne Warwick (Arista)-12 (17)
18 19 WAIT FOR ME –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-14 (18)
19 20 DON’T LET GO –•– Isaac Hayes (Polydor)-14 (19)
20 9 PLEASE DON’T GO –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-23 (1)
