For the month’s The Original vs. The Cover, we have a Canadian Battle Royale!! We are going to look at the song “Hey Operator” which was originally recorded by Toronto’s own Coney Hatch and they are battling it out with Montreal’s own Aldo Nova. The song was written by Coney Hatch’s lead singer Carl Dixon and was on their 1982 debut self-titled album. It was released as a single and went to #19 on the Canadian charts. No real success in the U.S. though. Aldo Nova released the song in 1983 on his second album ‘Subject’. It was never released as a single, but for me was one of my favorite songs on his album. I had never heard of Coney Hatch back then, but I was a massive Aldo fan.

“Hey Operator” is a simple song about a guy wanting to call his girl long distance…or maybe it is just phone sex, who knows. There doesn’t seem to be any deep seeded meaning behind it, but that doesn’t make a great song no matter who sings it. As both versions are worth a listen. But let’s’s walk through both and see who has the best version.

CONEY HATCH

The Coney Hatch is more of a guitar and piano version and is a straight up rock track. Very radio friendly with a catchy chorus and I like how the piano gets louder during the chorus with some great riffing by Steve Shelski. His solo is also great, if not short and sweet. The rhythm section of Andy Curran and Dave Ketchum is the driving force behind the song though. But for me the real highlight is Carl’s vocals as they are quite fantastic. I love his tone and he just has a great rock & roll voice. How did these guys never make it in the U.S. is unknown as this is great, a kind of Foreigner vibe to it.

ALDO NOVA

Aldo Nova’s version is a guitar heavy one as well but instead of piano, he uses the keyboards and changes the sound of it. It has a very electronic vibe to it and guitars are even more heavy. Drums are pounding and more a focus in this one as well. The tempo seems faster and Aldo has definitely made this song his own as there is a significant difference in the tone and pacing of the song. Being that this was the first for me to hear, it is more engrained in my brain. Aldo’s vocals have a lot of effects on them during the chorus, more echo and layers. His guitar playing on this is killer as well, with guitar battles back and forth and a blistering solo. A real 80’s sounding track with a lot of techno sounds, but a total rocker at the same time. More energy and more gusto. The biggest change is at the end, the operator says “50 cents please”. That isn’t on the original.

THE VERDICT

This is really a hard one for me. I love Aldo’s techno, guitar heavy version as I think the guitar playing on here is heads and shoulders above the Coney Hatch version. However, the vocals on Coney Hatch’s version by Carl Dixon I think are better and more rocking than Aldo’s effect sounding lyrics. Each have something I like over the other’s version so I don’t know who to pick. In the end, I think I am surprising myself and going with the Coney Hatch version as I like the straight up rock & roll version better. It is simpler and more pleasing overall. Aldo’s is fantastic, but you have to like the electronics driven sounds to go with this one, and I do, but I also prefer straight up rock & roll a little more.

Let me know what you think. Which version is better in your opinion as there are no right or wrong answers here, only an individual’s taste. Thanks for stopping by and have great day.

LYRICS:

“Hey Operator”

I paid my money, dialed my numbers
I got the operator on the line
I wanna dial long-distance
That little girl of mine

She said that I could call her
Any time of day
I just dial the numbers
And she’ll be on her way

Well, I said, “Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me
Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me”

Well, don’t you rush me
Don’t you leave the floor
And don’t you tell me
That she went out the door

Well, talk and talk and talk
Is all you ever do
I paid my money
I want some results from you

Then I said, “Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me
Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me”

‘Cause I’m a dirty white boy
And I’m in love with her
So don’t you rush me
Don’t you rush me, operator

I said, “Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me
Hey, operator
Make the telephone talk to me”

Well, I said, “Hey, operator
I’m a dirty white boy
And I’m in love with her
So don’t you rush me
Don’t you trust me, operator?”

I said, “Hey, operator”
Operator
Hey operator
Operator
Hey operator
Operator
Hey operator
Operator
Hey operator

Fifty cents please