Description
On the 2014-album The Call: A Tribute to Michael Been released on Lightyear, Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club pays tribute to his late father’s music with an unforgettable live performance fronting his father, Michael Been’s, legendary band The Call. After a twenty year hiatus, The Call reunited at legendary Los Angeles venue The Troubadour and gave an incredible live performance with Robert Levon Been stepping into his father’s role as a lead singer and bassist, joining the remaining three The Call members (Scott Musick, Tom Ferrier and Jim Goodwin) for the one-of-a-kind event. For Robert-who grew up going out on the road with The Call anytime he had a break from school-the performance offered the chance to honor his musical legacy and perform nearly a dozen and a half songs from the band’s esteemed catalog.
The remaining members of acclaimed California new wave band the Call reunited in early 2013 to pay tribute to their fallen leader, Michael Been. Been, who formed the band in 1980, suffered a fatal heart attack in 2010 while working backstage as a sound engineer for his son Robert Levon Been’s band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Throughout the ’80s the Call released an impressive seven albums and were known for their passionate, literate, and often political music. The group disbanded in 2000 after the release of their Live Under the Red Moon concert album and Been became active during the following decade working behind the scenes with his son’s band. It’s fitting, then, that Robert Been would serve as his father’s stand-in on this poignant tribute show, which was recorded in April 2013. Robert’s moody vocals and steady bass complement the Call’s work quite well, and the band turns in stirring renditions of 14 classic songs from its deep catalog. [Timothy Monger, AMG]
It’s been four years since we lost Michael Been to a heart attack at the age of 60 and fourteen years since the demise of his critically-acclaimed band, The Call. His solo album from 1994, On The Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough, proved that, as singularly identifiable as The Call’s sound was, it was Been’s soul all along that drew us to the music. Now, as if we’re stepping back in time, we get to see The Call in concert, with The Call – A Tribute to Michael Been (Deluxe Edition) – and that soul still seems to inhabit the songs through the presence of the singer/songwriter/bass player’s son, Robert.
Much like Julian Lennon or Dani Harrison, Robert Levon Been conjures up the sound and even the physical image of his famous father. Thankfully, Robert has embraced the music that his dad created and has enthusiastically embarked on this journey to effectively re-assemble The Call, stepping into Michael’s role as singer and bassist – even to the point of actually playing the very bass guitar that his father used (the instrument had been stolen but has been recovered and is used extensively in these performances). Backed up by Jim Goodwin (keyboards, BGVs), Tom Ferrier (guitar, BGVs), and Scott Musick (drums, BGVs) – all original members – the younger Been delivers energetic yet sometimes haunting versions of classic songs by the iconic group.
The set list is basically the best of The Call, featuring signature songs such as «Everywhere I Go», «I Still Believe», «Turn a Blind Eye», «Let The Day Begin», «Modern Romans», «The Walls Came Down» and others – fourteen in all on the CD, fifteen on the main program of the DVD, and four bonus performances found in the DVD’s ‘extras’ menu.
Nostalgia and memory of the original recordings both help and hurt the audio CD experience, but the added visuals and ambiance captured by the DVD kick things up a notch. The multi-camera shoot, directed by Mark Popadic and Micah Levin, is edited with a knowledge of the music and a great rhythmic sense. The directors show a great eye for composition and artistic set-ups without distracting from, but enhancing, the experience of the music. The almost hour and a-half is a treat to the eye as well as the ear, capturing the emotion of Been’s performance and giving a tantalizing look at Ferrier’s fascinating left-handed guitar work, Musick’s unique drumming and Goodwin’s multi-layered keyboard playing.
The CD is essentially the musical soundtrack to the live performance that was captured for the DVD. The performances are strong and the sound of Robert’s vocals, perhaps a bit over-saturated in reverb and echo, are still close enough to his father’s tone and delivery to bring you immediately back to when you might have first listened to the Call. The tracks go directly from one song to the next for the most part, only interrupted by a brief few words of introduction by Robert – by the way, be prepared for a couple of tossed-off F bombs.
This is a 2 Disc Set that every fan of the music of The Call needs to have. Always somewhat under the radar of the general public but always a favorite of the critics, The Call’s fan-base remains strong. For those, like myself, that never got a chance to see the original band perform live, it’s a revelation to see the mastery of Goodwin, Ferrier, and Musick as they pick up where they left off so many years ago. Don’t expect rust – there isn’t any. This wonderful package serves not only as a great entertainment on its own but as a catalyst to drive you back to those original recordings by The Call – and I have a feeling that this would be just fine with Robert and the band. [Bert Saraco, The Phantom Tollbooth, 10 September 2014]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-tribute-to-michael-been-live-deluxe-feat-robert-levon-been/1443561365)
CD tracklist (Standard Version):
01. Everywhere I Go – 5:15
02. I Still Believe – 5:45
03. I Don’t Wanna – 5:36
04. Floating Back – 3:59
05. Into The Woods – 4:57
06. Turn A Blind Eye – 4:17
07. Oklahoma – 6:55
08. You Were There – 4:22
09. Red Moon – 3:46
10. Let The Day Begin – 4:30
11. Modern Romans – 4:22
12. You Run – 5:46
13. The Walls Came Down – 4:17
14. Uncovered – 3:11
Note: 3 versions available: // CD only Edition (Standard Version featuring 14 songs) Tracks: Everywhere I Go, I Still Believe, I Don’t Wanna, Floating Back, Into The Woods, Oklahoma, You Where There, Red Moon, Let The Day Begin, Modern Romans, You Run, The Walls Came Down, Uncovered. // CD/DVD Deluxe Edition (Digital Deluxe version features 19 songs, digital ONLY) The Deluxe Edition includes a full length DVD of the concert film with behind the scenes bonus footage. Deluxe Edition (digital ONLY) adds the following tracks: The Morning, Think It Over, Swim In The Ocean, What’s Happened To You, Same Old Story. // Limited Edition 180 gram 12-inch Vinyl Double LP Includes two bonus tracks not featured on the CD standard version: The Morning, Same Old Story.
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