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.
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.