Don’t Call Us (We'll Call You)

The song Don't Call Us, We'll Call You by Sugarloaf is a classic rock gem packed with clever trivia and a rebellious backstory. Released in 1975, the song was a jab at the music industry’s dismissive attitude, particularly inspired by the band’s struggles to secure a record deal after their earlier success with Green-Eyed Lady. One of the most intriguing stories about the track is its inclusion of actual touch-tone phone sounds that spelled out the unlisted number of CBS Records, a label that had rejected the band. Fans with keen ears decoded the tones, leading to a flood of calls to CBS, which eventually forced the label to change its number. Even more cheekily, the song ends with another set of tones that dialed the main number of the White House, a playful middle finger to authority. The track, co-written by lead vocalist Jerry Corbetta and John Carter, peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #5 in Canada, staying on the charts for 21 weeks—four weeks longer than their bigger hit, Green-Eyed Lady. A fan on Reddit reminisced about hearing the song on a classic rock station in Charlotte, NC, called The Ride, praising its enduring airplay and the touch-tone gimmick as a brilliant piece of music history.

Sugarloaf’s journey began in Denver, Colorado, in 1968 under the name Chocolate Hair. The band was spearheaded by Jerry Corbetta, a talented keyboardist and vocalist who started playing drums at age four before switching to keyboards by seven. Corbetta, alongside guitarist Bob Webber, had previously played in a Denver-based group called The Moonrakers, which evolved from an early 1960s surf band, The Surfin’ Classics. The Moonrakers released four singles on Tower Records, laying the groundwork for what would become Sugarloaf. When Corbetta and Webber formed Chocolate Hair, they brought in drummer Myron Pollock and bassist Bob Raymond, the latter a friend of Webber’s. By 1969, the band rebranded as Sugarloaf, named after a Colorado mountain range, and signed with Liberty Records. Their self-titled debut album in 1970 spawned the hit Green-Eyed Lady, which climbed to #3 on the pop charts, cementing their place in rock history. The band’s early years were marked by a heavy touring schedule, sharing stages with acts like The Who and Deep Purple, and even performing at a Grammy Awards afterparty in 1971 alongside Aretha Franklin.

Unfortunately, Sugarloaf does not maintain an active official website or verified social media presence today, likely due to the band’s dissolution in 1975 and the passing of Jerry Corbetta in 2016. However, fans can find a tribute page on Facebook, which has 18 likes and celebrates the band’s legacy in the Colorado music scene. There’s no official Instagram or X account for Sugarloaf, but fans keep the spirit alive through posts on platforms like Reddit, where users share memories of the band’s hits. While no dedicated fan websites or active Facebook groups appear prominently, the band’s music is still discussed on music forums like ProgArchives, where reviewers praise their psychedelic blues rock and contributions to 1970s prog. For Zoo Freaks tuning into THE ZOO, spinning this track is a chance to relive Sugarloaf’s defiance and groove.