Call of the West is the second studio album by American 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.
It was the final Wall of Voodoo album to feature drummer Joe Nanini and frontman Stan Ridgway, who both departed the group along with subsequently-added keyboardist Bill Noland the following year.Wall of Voodoo - Music Publishing - Concord
Critical reception
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."
Track listing All music composed by Wall of Voodoo. All lyrics composed by Stan Ridgway.
Side one "Tomorrow" – 3:03 "Lost Weekend" – 4:59 "Factory" – 5:33 "Look at Their Way" – 3:18 "Hands of Love" – 3:54
Side two "Mexican Radio" – 4:11 "Spy World" – 2:41 "They Don't Want Me" – 4:31 "On Interstate 15" – 2:44 "Call of the West" – 5:59
The original cassette release of the album features a bonus track called "Exercise" at the end of side one, following "Hands of Love". In 2009, Australian label Raven Records reissued Call of the West and the first Wall of Voodoo album, Dark Continent, together on one CD, featuring a full color booklet with liner notes by Ian McFarlane. Both albums were digitally remastered.
Personnel Wall of Voodoo Joe Nanini – percussion, drums, voice Stanard Ridgway – vocals, words, harmonica, keyboards Chas T. Gray – synthesizer, bass, backing vocals Marc Moreland – 6- and 12-string guitars
Additional musicians Louie Rivera – percussion Richard Mazda – rhythm machine programming, bass guitars
Technical Richard Mazda – producer Jess Sutcliffe – engineer, mixing Robert Battaglia – mixing Avi Kipper – mixing Frank De Luna – mastering Stanard Ridgway – cover concept, design Scott Lindgren – cover concept Francis Delia – design, photography Paul Peterson – production design Stephen Sayadian, Genny Schorr – styling Carl Grasso – art direction, layout Marc Moreland – printing
Charts Album YearChartPosition1983Billboard Pop Albums45
Singles YearChartSinglePosition1983Billboard Mainstream Rock"Mexican Radio"41Billboard Pop Singles58
References
External links Raven Records page for Dark Continent/Call of the West