The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and it became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7. The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
In the 1990s, The Whispers joined the Capitol Records family releasing more favorites. Expanding their creative horizons, brothers Walter and Scotty cut “My Brothers Keeper”, a critically-acclaimed duet album in 1993, scoring another R&B hit with a cover of the Intruders' "I Wanna Know Your Name." The 1995 release “Toast to the Ladies” featured a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Baby face once again with their album, "Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface”. Both albums charted on Billboard's top 100 albums.
Marcus stopped performing with the group in 1989 due to ill health and the Whispers vowed never to replace him when he died in 2000. In the new millennium, the group still performs around the world to thousands of loyal fans. The group has not made any personnel changes and still consists of Walter Scott, Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, and Leaveil Degree. They have taken the world by storm, selling out in various casinos and hotels, music venues, and they have a tremendous following throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they still find time for charity work with youth education, cancer organizations, 100 Black Men, and Domestic violence charities.
On September 23, 2003, The Whispers’ four decades of accomplishments were acknowledged when they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2005, The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter. They were also inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007, The Black Music Academy of America selected the Whispers to receive their “Living Legends” award.
They are one of only a few “old school” groups that can boast of having over 40 years in the industry with a worldwide fan base. The Whispers waited almost a decade to produce a new CD in 2005. This independent product, the first venture of their newly formed corporation Satin Tie Entertainment is a masterpiece entitled, “For Your Ears Only”. According to Walter, “This title was a way of saying to our fans that while we want everyone’s support, we very much want the support of our fans, who have been with us for many, many years.” It made its way up the Billboard chart immediately. In 2007, they release a DVD of their live concert entitled “The Whispers Live From Las Vegas”, the first of its kind. A CD soundtrack of the same concert was also released.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, Four Decades of Pop & R & B FavoritesAmerican Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees
2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 S.F. Regional Grammy Governors Award
Emergency
The Whispers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When someone else would tap my line
On hold my woman's love I have
Expecting to still be mine, yeah
Time comes around
I'm knowing I should be there
Cause when I call her
Is busy at the strangest hours
Operator got to have your help
This is an emergency
Please interrupt the line
He's trying to beat my time
Emergency
That's what I'm making, ooh
Tell her love is on the phone
I know I left her all alone
But this time I got my signals straight
When love calls she won't have to wait
Try the line one more time
This woman is much too rare for me to give her up
Knowing that love's still here
Cause all at once it came to me
Now operator got to help me please
This is an emergency
Please won't you put me through
Or she'll have somebody new
Emergency
That's what I'm making
Cause my heart is achin', ooh...ooh...
This is an emergency
I don't care about the charge
I'm suffering from a broken heart
Emergency
In the name of love, yeah
So won't you help me out
This is an emergency
He's trying to beat my time
Emergency
In the name of love, ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...
Yeah
Operator
This is an emergency
I don't care about the charge
I'm suffering from a broken
Yeah
That's what I'm making
Cause my heart is achin' for my baby
(This is an emergency) This is an emergency
Please interrupt the line
Cause he's trying to beat my time
Emergency, ooh
This is an emergency
Now you've got to put me though
Or she'll have somebody new, yeah
The Whispers's song Emergency tells the story of a man who realizes that his lover's line is busy, suspecting that there is someone else in her life. He pleads with the operator to interrupt the line, knowing that he may be too late to preserve his love. The first lines of the song "I never thought there'd come a time, when someone else would tap my line" indicates his initial disbelief that his lover could be interested in someone else. He is worried and wants to speak to her in the name of love before it's too late. The chorus repeats the phrase "This is an emergency," emphasizing his desperation and desire to win her back. He promises to get his signals straight and not leave her alone again.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought there'd come a time
I never imagined that this could happen
When someone else would tap my line
When someone else would interrupt my communication
On hold my woman's love I have
I have my woman's love waiting for me
Expecting to still be mine, yeah
Believing that my woman's love is still mine
Time comes around
As time passes
I'm knowing I should be there
I realize that I should be with her
Cause when I call her
Because when I try to contact her
A line that's always been clear
A line on which I always got connected
Is busy at the strangest hours
Is busy when it's unexpected
Operator got to have your help
I need the operator's help
This is an emergency
This is a serious situation
Please interrupt the line
Please break the connection
He's trying to beat my time
Someone's trying to steal my woman from me
That's what I'm making, ooh
That's what I'm creating, oh
Tell her love is on the phone
Let her know that I'm calling because of love
I know I left her all alone
I understand that I made her feel alone
But this time I got my signals straight
But this time I'm clear about my intentions
When love calls she won't have to wait
When I express my love, she won't have to wait for me
Try the line one more time
Attempt to connect one more time
This woman is much too rare for me to give her up
This woman is too special for me to lose her
Knowing that love's still here
Knowing that the love between us is still present
Cause all at once it came to me
Because I realized it suddenly
Now operator got to help me please
Now I really need the operator's help
Please won't you put me through
Please connect my call
Or she'll have somebody new
Or she'll choose someone else
In the name of love, yeah
For the sake of love, yes
So won't you help me out
So, can you assist me, please?
I don't care about the charge
I don't mind the cost of this call
I'm suffering from a broken heart
I'm experiencing heartbreak
That's what I'm making
That's what I'm creating
Cause my heart is achin', ooh...ooh...
Because my heart is in pain
Now you've got to put me though
Now you must connect me
Emergency, ooh
Serious situation, oh
Or she'll have somebody new, yeah
Or she'll find someone else
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY BLOOM, RITCHIE CORDELL, BO GENTRY, B. SPENCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Shira
0:50
Time comes around...
I'm knowing I should be there
Cause when I call her
A line that's always been clear
Is busy at the strangest hours
Operator got to have your help
The way they twist and turn these lyrics, just fantastic!
Hodari Daniels
The Whispers had good style in the tracksuits, they had groove and harmony that's what Solar Records were known for putting the heat on the dance floor with their grooves.
John Colkley
Such good memories, all their songs were hits and told the truth!
genobibb
This is The Whispers most underrated song. I use to play this on a regular basis on my radio show, back in the day
Paul Woodbridge
Well done 👏 ✔ 👍
Cinnamon Spice
I love the Whispers music. Two of the original members are in heaven.
Hattie Berger
Nicholas Caldwell was one of the best choreographer of all times rest in peace Nick
Coach Robinson
A hellva songwriter as well! ;))
Roger Babuse
Nicholas was above everything
Mr Right
You could tell that he loved everything about the Whispers... He brought so much energy to every performance
Wesley Vaughn, Jr.
THE WHISPERS, MAN THESE CATS ARE THE REAL DEAL IN R&B.... NOTHING BUT HITS WITH THEM !