Rhythm and Blues

Where would teenagers in this first era of rock and roll be without their telephones?

“Don’t hang up (no no)
Oh don’t you do it now, don’t hang up (No No)”

The song “Don’t Hang Up,” which was co-written by musician/produucer Dave Appell and songwriter Kal Mann (both from Philadelphia), was one of the biggest hit singles for The Orlons. It reached #3 on the R&B Chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. The Orlons also had hit singles with “The Wah-Watusi” in 1962 and “South Street” in 1963. All three songs sold more than one million copies and received RIAA Gold Records.

The Orlons are an R&B group from Philadelphia, that formed in 1960.  And their career has lasted for more than 50 years. Over the years, there have been numerous personnel changes. The members for “Don’t Hang Up” consisted of Rosetta Hightower, who sang lead, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis, and Stephen Caldwell. They called themselves The Orlons as a joking response to a popular group at their high school named The Cashmeres (that is, Orlon is an inexpensive synthetic material – enough said).

Here are the lyrics to “Don’t Hang Up” by The Orlons:

“Don’t hang up (no, no),
Oh, don’t you do it now,
Don’t hang up (no, no).

Don’t hang up like you always do.
I know you think our love is true.
I’ll explain the facts to you, don’t hang up.
Give me a chance or our romance is through.

Don’t hang up (no, no),
Oh, don’t you do it now,
Don’t hang up (no, no).

I took a walk with Mary Lou.
I ran around to visit Sue.
She had some boys I never knew.
Don’t hang up.
They took a ride, so, baby, I went too.

Stopped at the record hop,
I had to be a sport.
We stomped and we did The Slop.
Then you walked in and I was caught.

Don’t hang up (no, no),
Oh, don’t you do it now,
Don’t hang up (no, no).

‘Cause you got some explainin’ too.
A-Like that chick I saw with you.
So talk fast like you always do.
Don’t hang up.
You’ve got one chance or our romance is through.

Then you walked in and you were caught.
Don’t hang up (no, no),
Oh, don’t you do it now,
Don’t hang up (no, no).

I didn’t say our love was through.
But if we made a fool for two,
‘Cause making up is fun to do.
Don’t hang up.
‘Cause no one else will ever do but you.

Don’t hang up (no, no),
Oh, don’t you do it now,
Don’t hang up (no, no).
Or you’ll be sorry, baby.
Don’t hang up (no, no).
You know I love you, baby.
Don’t hang up…”

If you would like to read about “South Street,” another song by The Orlons, please click here.

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Don’t Hang Up” by The Orlons.