I guess I might remember their song ‘When the Walls Came Down’. But barely, it was on MTV.
I’ve become addicted to their music by mistake. I thought I had seen them in concert in Columbus in the 80s. It wasn’t them but a band called The Blend. They were excellent also. A NH band I think.
Anyways, since I thought the band was The Call, I started listening to their music and videos on YT.

The Call was a band fronted by Michael Been. A very talented singer, song writer, and musician. He was originally from Oklahoma but moved to Chicago. He was friends with John Belushi and beat him in a comedy competition. He then focused on music after moving to California.
He also acted in a few movies, as John the Baptist in Last Temptation of Christ. He became friends with Harry Dean Stanton and each played on the others albums. He also wrote the music for a Wm Defoe movie called ‘Light Sleeper’.

The post re Carman made me decide to tell his story. Michael Been was a man of faith before there was Christian music. His songs and albums are not preachy or in your face. They relate his questions about his faith. And his unwavering desire to find answers that he asks himself about God and why it seems that there are no answers.


In the music business he was highly respected by Peter Gabriel, Bono, and Garth Hudson to name a few. His band was very talented and each member was a good musician in their own right. His record company let him down. But sometimes that happens. It is a shame that they didn’t make the big time.

I’ve recently bought all their vinyl albums except the last one. I am also looking for the soundtrack to ‘Light Sleeper’. LMK if you see it somewhere at a reasonable price. I am hoping someone takes a listen and likes the music and message as much as I do.

Go to YT and listen to their music and videos. I suggest
I Still Believe
It could have been Me
You Were There
You Run
I Don’t Wanna

Russ Taff covered his I Still Believe on his s/t album. Great song (I happen to like Russ's version better but great song either way.)

I do remember them. Anthem Rock in the vein of U2, The Alarm...

I really liked When the Walls Came Down - its playing in my head now.

I Still Believe was on the Lost Boys soundtrack IIRC

Thanks for sharing.

I still listen to Reconciled all the time. Great album!

Todd

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Russ Taff covered his I Still Believe on his s/t album. Great song (I happen to like Russ's version better but great song either way.)

I have wondered who performed this song first, The Call or Russ Taff. My wife and I were Taff fans long before I’d ever heard of The Call. Now, I’m curious to check out more of their music.

As a sidebar to “I Still Believe” in particular - in the recent (last three or four years or so) “Waco” miniseries, Koresh performs that song during the standoff. I’ve not been able to confirm if that musical interlude actually took place or if the scene was simply for dramatic effect. The tune immediately caught our attention, regardless!

And don't forget "Turn a Blind Eye"

I had The Lost Boys Cassette tape back in the day. Now I miss it.

Simple Minds was another fan of The Call,

they put a cover of Let the Day Begin on an album released 5 yrs ago or so, and gave a tribute to them in concert when they played the song (saw them in 2015(?) at the 930 club,

His son is the frontman for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

I had one of their CD's back in college. Really good stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInWV:
His son is the frontman for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Yeah.

They're good, too. Seen them a few times.