The Call's stadium-friendly rock songs prompted comparisons with U2 from the very outset of their career. A California, USA-based quartet, the songs written by vocalist Michael Been (ex-Aorta) recalled the passion and melodrama of Boy-era U2, an impression compounded by the band's spiritual inclinations. The band, originally known as Motion Pictures, was formed in 1980 in Santa Cruz, California, by Been, Tom Ferrier (guitar), Greg Freeman (bass), and Scott Musick (drums). Their 1982 debut was recorded in England with Hugh Padgham producing and Garth Hudson of the Band guesting on keyboards. The following year's Modern Romans included the minor US hit single, "The Walls Came Down". Following the release of Scene Beyond Dreams, keyboard player Jim Goodwin was brought into the line-up and Been replaced the departing Freeman on bass. The band subsequently signed a new contract with Elektra Records. Their debut for the label, Reconciled, was given over to rather self-satisfied Christian mysticism, but occasionally they struck the right note with more classy and less pretentious numbers such as "Everywhere I Go". The album also included guest appearances from Robbie Robertson, Peter Gabriel and Jim Kerr. Let The Day Begin produced another memorable single in the title track, as the Call switched to MCA Records. Red Moon emerged as pressure mounted on Been to produce another hit. Despite this, it was a rewarding set, finding a more natural studio context to complement vocals that were always in danger of ill-advised grandeur. Again, the title cut was a stand-out track, though this was ably backed up by a rash of bold songwriting ventures including "What's Happened To You" and the evocative "This Is Your Life".

Listen to The Call at Finetune.

• (2005)  The Best Of The Call
• (2000)  20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Call
• (1986)  Reconciled
• (1986)  Reconciled

• The Walls Came Down
• Let The Day Begin
• I Still Believe
• Everywhere I Go
• I Don't Wanna

• The Choir
• Phil Keaggy
• Degarmo & Key
• Mike Roe
• All-Star United
• U2
• Simple Minds
• INXS
• The Waterboys
• The Police
• The Clash
• Depeche Mode
• Jars Of Clay
• Pink Floyd
• Big Country
• The Jam
• The Cure
• Peter Gabriel
• Audio Adrenaline
• Queen

• Austinian2
• Apath
• budro
• tamamiy
• rainbowrocker
• pilgrim8
• RocketDave
• Ldale
• carguslopes
• easydsg
• kerkerman
• khrobins

• Austinian2 on 2007-10-05 15:28:58.043:
  One of the greatest 80's bands ever. on a scale from 1 to 5, their a 5.