The Call “Let the Day Begin” charted

Let the Day Begin The Call

Writer(s): Michael Been (see lyrics here) First Charted: June 10, 1989 Peak: 51 US, 74 CB, 11 AR, 5 MR, 42 UK, 74 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.9 video, 4.39 streaming

Awards (The Call): Click on award for more details. Awards (Simple Minds):

About the Song: The Call formed in 1980 in Santa Cruz, California. The original lineup featured Michael Been on vocals and guitar alongside drummer Musick, guitarist Tom Ferrier, and bassist Greg Freeman. They released nine studio albums before disbanding in 2000. They found their first success with the album-rock track “The Walls Came Down” in 1983. They landed seven songs on the album-rock chart between 1983 and 1990. Their greatest success came in 1989 with “Let the Day Begin,” a song which topped that chart. The “anthemic song” SF was “a rousing track” AMG with an “insistent bassline and driving guitars.” AMG It is a tribute to the working class, offering up a “salute [to] just about anyone and everything: teachers, preachers, winners, losers, strangers, loved ones. Even lions.” SF Al Gore used “Let the Day Begin” as his official song for his 2000 U.S. presidential campaign. It “conveyed the optimism and blue-collar feel Gore was going for.” SF The song bears similarities to “Waterfront,” a 1983 song by the Scottish rock band Simple Minds. Jim Kerr, the band’s lead singer, says Been ran it by him first and Kerr assured him he had no problem with the band recording the song. SF Simple Minds recorded the song themselves in 2009 for the covers album Searching for the Lost Boys. They released it again in 2014 on the studio album Big Music. It was also recorded in 2013 by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club for their Specter at the Feast album. Singer Robert Levon Been was the son of Michael Been, who died in 2010 while working as a sound engineer at one of their concerts in Belgium. SF Michael had also produced their 2010 album Beat the Devil’s Tattoo. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Call DMDB encyclopedia entry for Simple Minds AMG All Music Guide review by Tom Demalon SF Songfacts Related Links: First posted 9/3/2022.