23 Comments
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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Ah, a great re-listen! I'd forgotten all about this one! One lyric really gets at me: "Here's to the lions in the cage." Wow. Also, I had no clue what the band looked like. They are kinda...uncool. I love that.

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Bryan Zug's avatar

Did y'all catch The Call thread in season 2 of Reservation Dogs? Struck me as a masterful stroke on so many levels - Oklahoma music, hope amidst ruins, sax covers and originals, and so much more - Found it deeply moving.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I love that too. They look like some of the guys on my block growing up; a little sketchy and then one day they show up out of nowhere and help you fix your car.

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Brad Kyle's avatar

Quite a revelation, Kevin! Unlike Sherman, I'd never heard this before! Really never on The Call back in their heyday...in a completely different field of endeavors in 1989 than "in the biz" where virtually all recorded product was at my fingertips! Love the sentiments in the song, certainly, and it's great to hear something besides the "expected" cynicism from our rock stars!

Also surprising to hear another band (Simple Minds) commenting positively on another artist's song--THAT didn't happen everyday! And, I had no idea lifelong fave, Peter Gabriel, weighed in on The Call at any point. And, to think they're from Santa Cruz! I was guessing they were European of some sort! I think, also, in '89, I know I was just discovering (and listening heavily to) Jellyfish and It Bites.

Thanks for schoolin' me, Kevin, on the band and this great song....and incredible sunrise pic!✈

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thanks! One of the few upsides of going to work at 4 AM are "office views" like this.

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Brad Carl's avatar

Great song. The late Michael Been is a treasured favorite of mine. His solo album On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakthrough is hard to find but one of my favorite albums of all-time.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm not sure I've hear anything off that record? I'll have to see if I can find it.

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Brad Carl's avatar

I think, at worst, you can listen on YT. Check out “Luminous,” “Worried,” “She,” and especially “To Feel This Way.” There are 2 versions of that song on the album. The 2nd one is the best but it’s hidden....comes after the 1st one but on the same track.

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Abandoned Albums Podcast's avatar

HOLY SH*TSNACKS! This band was WAY ahead of its time. Go ahead and listen to "The Walls Came Down," it's got the great Garth Hudson on it, and it's just as relevant today as it was in 1982. Great Band... I've tried getting them on the podcast, but there isn't much interest. :( - GREAT PIECE, KEVIN!!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! Man, I'd love to see these guys on the pod. That'd be an incredible "get." You & Geoff might have to turn on the charm. :)

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Chris Dalla Riva's avatar

Never heard this song. Thank you! Also, love using Songwhip. Nifty little product.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I love Songwhip! Might be one of the coolest products I've found in the last couple of years.

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Senor Fix's avatar

Ah, The Call, such an under appreciated, quintessential American band. Thanks for shining the light on them and motivating me to give them a spin at full volume. So many great albums.

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Senor Fix's avatar

Sidenote, playing the album stirred a memory that there was something quirky about it. Dug into the liner notes and there it was; 10 of the 11 tracks on that album were co-written by one of my favorite actors Harry Dean Stanton. He was such a hip dude.

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Bryan Zug's avatar

That reminds me… Been was in Scorsese's "Last Temptation of Christ" with Stanton - To which Gabriel did the soundtrack.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Wait, what?! No kidding?

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Jen Zug's avatar

Love love LOVE The Call, and this song is a favorite on my workday playlist! Bryan introduced me to The Call when we met. I also love “We Know Too Much” - was actually thinking I might write about it.

Love the sunrise pic.

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Bryan Zug's avatar

"We Know Too Much" is such a great track. Wonderful cover of the late Mark Heard… https://youtu.be/zPYs-52bvKQ

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'd love to see your take on it!

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Norman's avatar

I have been in love with The Call for a long, long time. I listen to all of their albums frequently. I also listen to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frequently. BRMC is Michael's son, Robert Levon Been's, band and where Michael was working as a stage hand when he had a fatal heart attack. BRMC have done a cover of this song that I like, not as much as the original, but it is still good.

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Ellen D Stone's avatar

I LOVE The Call! Won free tickets to see them on my birthday back in the day at The Boathouse!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

The Boathouse sounds like it was /the/ place to be back in the day!

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Ellen D Stone's avatar

You have no idea!! Those of us who were lucky enough to experience it were heartbroken when they tore it down.

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