“Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)”
Travis Tritt
Written by Travis Tritt
Radio & Records
#1 (1 week)
July 19, 1991
Travis Tritt launches his second major label album with an instant classic.
The Road to No. 1
Travis Tritt was already a rising star in 1991, having scored three No. 1 hits from his Warner Bros. debut, Country Club. But he kicked things into a much higher gear with his second set for the label, aptly titled It’s All About to Change. All four of the singles released from this set would top the charts, beginning with an uptempo hit that was an instant classic upon release.
The No. 1
For the young ones among us, there used to be these things called payphones. At the time of this song’s release, it cost 25 cents to use one.
“Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares” resonated immediately as a fantastic new way to tell someone to get lost. It’s used here in the context of a straying lover attempting to rekindle the relationship she threw away, and getting dismissed with this cutting reply.
It’s a perfect fit for Tritt, who was carefully crafting his image of being a rough country boy with a heart of gold. Here, he’s able to balance in one record what he usually spread out among his rave ups and his tender ballads. He shows his sensitivity as he recalls his heart being broken, but demonstrates his resilience with cool and casual dismissiveness.
It’s not even the best single from It’s All About to Change. 1991 is ridiculous.
The Road From No. 1
We’ll cover that best single soon, as Tritt reaches his creative and commercial peak.
“Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” gets an A.
Every No. 1 Single of the Nineties
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