All Apologies

The Apology Line (1-212-255-7714) was/is an art project created in 1980 by an anonymous person who goes by the name of Mr. A. The idea of the line was to give people a non-religious outlet to apologize for things that they were feeling guilty about. The line recieved hundreds of calls daily from 1980 up through the mid-90s, but the numbers for the Apology Line are no longer in service or have been reassigned.

I recorded these mp3s from a tape that The Apology Line created and circulated titled The Apology Line: Uncut Gems From Year Zero (1980-1981) which I bought at this past weekend’s WFMU record fair. I didn’t bother breaking up the individual confessions into separate mp3s, and decided that it was just easier to offer each 22 minute side of the tape as its own track.

Please bear in mind that many of these confessions are very upsetting, and some of the callers seem to be genuinely disturbed individuals. There is a caller on side B who is particularly creepy, who sounds like a psychopathic murderous rapist version of Woody Allen, and another caller at the beginning of side A who admits to brutally attacking homosexuals. This is not easy listening. However, there are some lighter moments here and there, and some other parts which are just bizarre. The tape is an amazing document, and an often fascinating peek into the minds of total strangers.

(Those of you interested in the Apology Line should check out This American Life’s segment about the line in their January 3st, 1997 episode titled “Justice”. If you listen, you will find out the shocking fate of Mr. A, and get to hear several apologies not found on the tape.)