| Call of the West | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1982 | |||
| Recorded | June 1982 | |||
| Studio | Hit City, Los Angeles | |||
| Label | I.R.S. (USA) Illegal (UK) | |||
| Producer | Richard Mazda | |||
| Wall of Voodoo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Call of the West is the second studio album by Los Angeles rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in September 1982. The album contains "Mexican Radio", the group's most well-known song, which was released as a single and whose video received moderate airplay on MTV.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Classic Rock |   [2] |
| The Village Voice | B [3] |
In a 1982 Trouser Press review, Jon Young said, "[t]hey're dealing in pure hokum, for sure, but Wall of Voodoo has become very good at it. Atmosphere is all in these muttered tales of desperation and weirdness, suggesting Devo on a bad trip of no return. But Call of the West doesn't repel; it's spooky halloweenish fun." [4]
All music composed by Wall of Voodoo. All lyrics composed by Stan Ridgway.
Wall of Voodoo
Additional musicians
Technical
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Billboard Pop Albums [6] | 45 |
Singles
| Year | Chart | Single | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Billboard Mainstream Rock [6] | "Mexican Radio" | 41 |
| Billboard Pop Singles [6] | 58 |
Wall of Voodoo was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Though largely an underground act for the majority of its existence, the band came to prominence when its 1982 single "Mexican Radio" became a hit on MTV and alternative radio. The band was known for surrealist lyrics drawing on iconography of the American southwest.
Stanard "Stan" Ridgway is an American singer-songwriter, and film and television composer known for his distinctive voice, dramatic lyrical narratives, and eclectic solo albums. He was the original lead singer and a founding member of the band Wall of Voodoo.
Marc Moreland was an American rock musician. He was the former guitarist for rock band Wall of Voodoo, punk band The Skulls, and rock bands Pretty and Twisted and Department of Crooks. He also released a solo album under the name Marc Moreland Mess.
"Mexican Radio" is a song by American rock band Wall of Voodoo. The track was initially released on their 1982 album Call of the West.
Everything Falls Apart is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in January 1983 by Reflex Records.
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads is a double live album by the American new wave band Talking Heads, released in 1982 by Sire Records. The first LP features the original quartet in recordings from 1977 and 1979, and the second LP features the expanded ten-piece lineup that toured in 1980 and 1981. The album contains live versions of songs that appear on their first four studio albums: Talking Heads: 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light.
Fire Dances is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in July 1983 by E.G. via Polydor Records. It was the band's first album to feature new bass player Paul Raven, recorded at Basing Street Studios in London between February and March 1983. According to Paul Ferguson the band's drug use contributed to the original mix of the album being "tinny".
Seven Days in Sammystown is the third studio album by American rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in 1985. This was the first Wall of Voodoo album to include Andy Prieboy on vocals and Ned Leukhardt on drums—following the departure of frontman Stan Ridgway and percussionist Joe Nanini—and also features the return of original bassist Bruce Moreland. It includes their cover version of Merle Travis' "Dark as a Dungeon". The track "Far Side of Crazy" is featured in the 1985 movie Head Office. The album reached No. 50 on the Australian charts.
Filth is the debut studio album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was released in 1983 through Neutral Records, following the release of the band's self-titled debut EP in 1982. Though it did not receive much contemporary attention, Filth has since been recognized as ahead of its time and significant to heavy genres of music.
Pleasure Victim is the second studio album by American new wave band Berlin. It was originally recorded in 1982 and released in October of that year by M.A.O. Records and Enigma Records. After the second single, "Sex ", received considerable attention, the album was re-released on January 26, 1983, by Geffen Records in the United States and by Mercury Records internationally. The album marked the return of lead singer Terri Nunn to the group. To date, it is Berlin's best-selling album and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 9, 1993, becoming the band's only album to be certified platinum.
Happy Planet is the fourth and final studio album by American rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in 1987. It marked the return of producer Richard Mazda, who had produced their 1982 album Call of the West.
Pygmalion is the third studio album by English rock band Slowdive, released on 6 February 1995 by Creation Records. It was the group's final album before their reformation in 2014, and their only album with Ian McCutcheon, who had replaced Simon Scott on drums.
Force the Hand of Chance is the debut studio album by English experimental group Psychic TV, released in 1982 by record label Some Bizzare. The first 5,000 pressings came with a bonus album, Themes.
The Index Masters is a compilation album by American rock band Wall of Voodoo, featuring their original 1980 EP and live recordings from 1979. Originally released in 1991 by Restless Records, it was reissued in 2005 by Rykodisc.
Dark Continent is the debut studio album by American rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in 1981 by I.R.S. Records. Early live versions of four songs are featured on the compilation The Index Masters.
The Way to Salvation is the fourth studio album by experimental music band King Missile, released on April 16, 1991 by Atlantic Records. The band's previous drummer Steve Dansiger parted from the band before recording began and his position was filled by David Ramirez.
The Ugly Americans in Australia is a live album by American rock band Wall of Voodoo, mostly recorded at the Palace Theatre in Melbourne in August 1987, during the group's Australian tour.
Bruce "Ravens" Moreland is an American rock musician and songwriter. He has worked with such bands as Wall of Voodoo, The Weirdos, Nervous Gender, and Concrete Blonde among others. As of 2011, his current project is known as Ravens Moreland.
Snakebite: Blacktop Ballads & Fugitive Songs is an album by Stan Ridgway. It was released in 2004 through redFLY Records.
Hear No Evil is the second album by American composer Bill Laswell. It was released on March 21, 1988, by Venture and Virgin Records.
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