Rabbitt has described "Hang Up the Phone" as a "country shuffle". He told the
Star-Gazette in 1991, "I wrote it in the living room when the kids were playing around and picking up the phone. At one point, I said, 'Hang up the phone'." On its release, "Hang Up the Phone" was met with some resistance by country radio. It was initially met with encouraging support and was gaining new adds throughout August. On September 7, 1991, the song was listed by
Cash Box at number three on their top three 'high debuts' for country radio. When the song reached no further than number 50 in the
Billboard country charts, Rabbitt told the
Miami Herald, "You have so many acts that come out at the same time and radio has only two or three slots to fill. It doesn't bother me, we'll get 'em with the next single." ==Critical reception==