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"Love on the Line" was a 1984 single for pop singer Lydia Murdock. It was chart hit for her on the UK disco charts. It was also a radio hit in Montreal, Canada.

Background

"Love on the Line" is a telephone song". It is a plea from a woman to the operator to put her though to her man. She has been unsuccessful in her attempt to reach him on the phone as it is busy. She says that this is an emergency and asks the operator to check the line. She also wonders who her man is talking to.

Lydia Murdock recorded the single "Love on the Line" which was released in 12" format in the US on Team TRS3006. It was written by Michael Burton and produced by Burton, Gerry Gabinelli, Bobby Eli, and Tony Bongiovi. It was released in the UK on WEA YZ17T.

Reception

It was noted in the 30 July issue of Euro Tip Sheet that a German correspondent had reported Lydia Murdock's single "Love on the Line" had been released on 28 July.

The song was reviewed by James Hamilton on the week of 25 August 1984. He confirmed that it was selling well in the UK. However, Hamilton said her lamenting about her man's phone line being busy was a bit nagging. It was also reviewed that same week by Jerry Smith in Music Week. He said that it was a strong dance single and noted the catchy vocal harmonies and sweeping strings. And even though he said that it was another song about telephones, he said that the chorus was memorable, and it should do well. And on that same week, Murdock's song lyrics for "Love on the Line" and her photo was featured in the 25 August 1984 issue of Number One magazine.

It was mentioned in the "Another Next News Corner" section in the 3 September issue of Euro Tip Sheet that Lydia Murdock had released her new single "Love on the Line".

"Love on the Line" was a recommended single in the 13 October issue of Billboard.

Airplay

For the week of 18 August, "Love on the Line" was the highest record in the Music Week Airplay Action Bubbling chart. It was also a climber on the Radio London play list.

For the week of 8 September, Music Week reported that "Love on the Line" had dropped down from sixteen playlists to fifteen. It was on the B list of seven radio stations in the South West, East and Midlands areas. It was also on the A list of one Midlands station. Radio Viking in the North had it as a hit pick. It was on the B list of two stations in the North, the A list of one station in Scotland, the B list of one station in Wales, and the A list of one station in Northern Ireland.

According to the 10 September issue of Euro Tip Sheet, "Love on the Line" was one of the three records of the week on Radio WDR in Koln, Germany.

In Montreal, Canada, "Love on the Line" debuted at no. 40 on the Radio CKGM 98 chart on the week of 1 February, 1985. On the week of 12 February, it was at no. 33. It was still in the chart at 32 on the following week.

According to the 2 March 1985 issue of RPM Weekly, "Love on the Line" was at 32-33 on CKGM. The following week it wasn't on the play list.

Chart performance

For the week of 25 August, the single debuted on the Record Mirror UK Disco Top 85 chart at number 55. The following week it had dropped down to no. 72.

It was reported by Music Week in the magazine's 8 September issue that "Love on the Line" had debuted at no. 49 on the Music Week Top Disco & Dance Singles chart. The following week, it peaked at no. 48.

Chart summary

References

1. Music Week, August 25, 1984 - Page 23 Singles Reviewed by Jerry Smith Lydia Murdock: Love On The Line (WEA YZ17 (T), WEA)
2. No 1, August 25, 1984 - Page 18 Love on the Line, Lydia Murdoch
3. Billboard, October 13, 1984 - Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, LYDIA MURDOCK -Love On The Line; Team TRS3006
4. James Hamilton's Disco Page - Odds ‘n’ Bods, Lydia Murdock: ‘Love On The Line’ (WEA YZ17T)
5. Euro Tip Sheet, No. 18 Week of July 30th 1984 - Page 7 Correspondents Germany, Here she is again, LYDIA MURDOCK had a new single released 28th of July, entitled Love On The Line
6. James Hamilton's Disco Page - Odds 'n' Bods, Lydia Murdock: ‘Love On The Line’ (WEA YZ17T)
7. Music Week, August 25, 1984 - Page 23 Singles Reviewed by Jerry Smith Lydia Murdock: Love On The Line (WEA YZ17 (T), WEA)
8. No 1, August 25, 1984 - Page 18 Love on the Line, Lydia Murdoch
9. Euro Tip Sheet, No. 23 Week of September 3rd 1984 - Page 11 Correspondents Southern Europe - Northern Europe, Another Next News Corner, This week, LYDIA MURDOCK released her new single which is entitled Love On The Line
10. Billboard, October 13, 1984 - Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, Lydia Murdock - Love On The Line; Team TRS3006
11. Music Week, August 18, 1984 - Page 6 Airplay Action, Bubbling, 9 LYDIA MURDOCK—Love On The Line—Korova YZ17 (W)
12. Music Week, August 18, 1984 - Page 42 Disco, Radio London, Climbers, Lydia Murdock: Love on the Line WEA
13. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, Playlists this week 15, Playlists last week 16, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova
14. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, S. West, East, Midlands
15. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, North, Viking ★
16. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, North
17. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, Scotland
18. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, Wales
19. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 15 Regional Airplay action, MURDOCK, LYDIA Love On The Line Korova, N.I.
20. Euro Tip Sheet, No. 24 Week of September 10th 1984 - Page 9 Correspondents Germany, WDR - Koln/SWF - Baden Baden - Udo Vieth- dj/producer: Records of the week:
21. Radio & Records, Issue Number 568 February 1, 1985 - Page 93 CHR Parallel One Playlists, CKGM 98 Montreal, PD: Stephen Anthony, D 40 Lydia Murdock/Love On The Line
22. Radio & Records, Issue Number 571 February 15, 1985 - Page 68 CHR Parallel One Playlists, CKGM 98 Montreal, PD: Stephen Anthony, 37 33 Lydia Murdock/Love On The Line
23. Radio & Records, Issue Number 572 February 22, 1985 - Page 76 CHR Parallel One Playlists, CKGM 98 Montreal, PD: Stephen Anthony, 33 32 Lydia Murdock/Love On The Line
24. RPM Weekly, Volume 41 No. 25 March 2, 1985 - Page 14 SAMPLING, NEIL KUSHNIR CKGM - Montreal, 32-33 Love On The Line - Lydia Murdock
25. RPM Weekly, Volume 41 No. 26 March 9, 1985 - Page 8 SAMPLING NEIL KUSHNIR CKGM - Montreal
26. Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in
27. James Hamilton's Disco Page - Odds ‘n’ Bods, Disco Top 85 – August 25, 1984, 55 — Love on the Line, Lydia Murdock, WEA 12in
28. Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in
29. Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 24 Music Week Disco and dance Top Singles, This Week 49, NEW
30. Music Week, September 15, 1984 - Page 43 Music Week Disco and dance Top Singles, This Week 48, Last Week 49, Weeks on chart 2
31. Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in
32. Music Week, September 15, 1984 - Page 43 Music Week Disco and dance Top Singles, This Week 48, Last Week 49, Weeks on chart 2
33. Radio & Records, Issue Number 572 February 22, 1985 - Page 76 CHR Parallel One Playlists, CKGM 98 Montreal, PD: Stephen Anthony, 33 32 Lydia Murdock/Love On The Line

External links

• Discogs - Lydia Murdock – Love On The Line
• UnidiscMusic channel, Aug 20, 2021 - Lydia Murdock - Love On the Line (Radio Mix)
• UnidiscMusic channel, Aug 20, 2021 - Lydia Murdock - Love On the Line (Club Mix)

• 1984 singles
• American disco songs
• Song recordings produced by Tony Bongiovi
• Songs written by Bobby Eli
• Songs written by Michael Burton
• Song recordings produced by Michael Burton
• Songs about telephones
• Polydor Records singles
• WEA Records singles