The Call
Despite great critical acclaim due to their literate, passionate rock, praise from some well-respected contemporaries, and a string of strong releases, the San Francisco band the Call never quite escaped cult status. The predicted breakthrough to a wider audience never materialized. Formed in Santa Cruz in 1980, the quartet, led by vocalist/guitarist Michael Been, released their self-titled debut in 1982 and earned positive reviews. The following year, the band issued Modern Romans and managed to broaden their fan base when "The Walls Came Down" became a minor hit single. In 1984, keyboardist Jim Goodwin replaced bass player Greg Freeman to round out the lineup for the release of Scene Beyond Dreams, which despite receiving more critical acclaim, failed to build on their commercial momentum. Reconciled followed in 1985 and featured guest appearances by Peter Gabriel (who had once referred to the band as "the future of American music") and Robbie Robertson. Both "I Still Believe" and "Everywhere I Go" achieved significant airplay on college rock and AOR stations, giving a boost to the band's profile.
The Call scaled back a bit from the anthemic feel of Reconciled for Into the Woods, but managed to score again at college rock outlets with the somber "In the River." Been took time out from the band in 1988 to appear as the apostle John in Martin Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ. The band switched labels from Elektra to MCA in 1989, edging back into more radio-friendly territory with Let the Day Begin. The rousing title track became their biggest hit to date, topping the AOR charts and reaching number 51 on the pop charts, propelling the album to become their highest-charting release. Despite the success, when they returned with Red Moon, the Call had scaled back their sound, embracing an organic, more roots-oriented feel that recalled the Band (not surprising, as that act's Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson had both guested on earlier albums).
Perhaps their most mature and fully realized album, Red Moon made little impact beyond the Call's core audience (despite Bono lending vocals to "What's Happened to You?"). Been tested the waters as a solo artist and released the harder-edged On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough in 1994, managing to gain a bit of airplay with "Us." The Call were given the compilation treatment on a couple releases in the '90s, and reunited for Heaven & Back in 1997 and a tour. They issued a live record, Live Under the Red Moon, in 2000. Been died of a heart attack in 2010 while touring (and working as a soundman) with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, founded by his son Robert Levon Been. After a few years had passed, the Call reunited for a string of concerts with Robert on bass and vocals, which resulted in a 2014 live album. The band continued to perform and tour later in the decade.
© Tom Demalon /TiVo
-
To Heaven And Back
Rock - Released by LIGHTYEAR (LTY) on 18 nov. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of The Call
Rock - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 8 jul. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
The Walls Came Down: The Best Of The Mercury Years
Pop - Released by Mercury Records on 11 jun. 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Reconciled
Alternative en Indie - Released by Elektra Asylum on 11 jun. 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Tribute To Michael Been (Live / Deluxe)
Rock - Released by LIGHTYEAR (LTY) on 1 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Into the Woods
Alternative en Indie - Released by Rhino - Elektra on 7 jul. 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Winning Combinations
Pop - Released by Universal Music Enterprises on 1 jan. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Red Moon (Album Version)
Rock - Released by Geffen on 1 aug. 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live Under the Red Moon (Live)
Rock - Released by The Call Band Partnership LLC, under license to Triple Pop on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Tribute To Michael Been (Live)
Rock - Released by LIGHTYEAR (LTY) on 1 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Welcome To My World (Radio Edit)
Rock - Released by The Call Band Partnership LLC, under license to Triple Pop on 26 jan. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Scene Beyond Dreams
Pop - Released by Mercury Records on 1 jan. 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Collected
Pop - Released by Universal Music, a division of Universal International Music BV on 1 jan. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Yes You Gave (Mary's Song)
Divers - Released by The Call on 1 dec. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Lost Tapes
Rock - To be released on 17 mei 2024 by The Call Band Partnership LLC, under license to Triple Pop
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo