“Mr. Telephone Man” was the third #1 R&B hit by teen pop group New Edition, released in late 1984. Originally recorded by Jamaican singer Junior Tucker in 1983, the song was written and produced by Ray Parker, Jr. of “Ghostbusters” fame.

New Edition’s youngest member, Bobby Brown—who was 15 at the time—sang the song’s chorus. It was Brown’s first time singing lead, setting the stage for his successful solo career.

The lyrics of “Mr. Telephone Man” are about a conversation with a telephone operator—the heartbroken boys can’t accept that their girlfriend has hung up on them, and instead believe something must be wrong with the connection.

“Mr. Telephone Man” was the second single from New Edition’s self-titled major label debut. It topped Billboard’s R&B chart for three weeks in February 1985, and also reached #12 on the Hot 100 pop chart.