The band was formed in 1973 in London, United Kingdom on the initiative of vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist John Foxx (born Dennis Leigh). Originally known as Tiger Lily, the first lineup included Foxx plus Chris Cross (bass guitar), Billy Currie (keyboards/violins), Stevie Shears (guitar) and Warren Cann (percussion). The group released one single in 1974, a cover of "Ain't Misbehaving," before changing their name to Ultravox!, the exclamation point being a reference to the krautrock band Neu! that was produced by Conny Plank (who later produced some Ultravox albums). On the strength of their live act, they signed to Island Records in 1976, releasing their eponymous debut album in February 1977.
In common with many other bands which would go on to form Britain's punk and New Wave movements, Ultravox drew inspiration from the art-school side of glam rock, from bands such as Roxy Music and the New York Dolls, as well as from David Bowie and Brian Eno's early pop-fueled albums. Their eponymous debut album was self-produced by the band, yet Brian Eno (whose next job after these sessions was working with Bowie on 'Low') co-produced two songs and Steve Lillywhite also contributed. Sales were disappointing, and neither 'Ultravox!' nor the associated single "Dangerous Rhythm" managed to enter the U.K. charts.
Ultravox returned later in 1977 with the punkier 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!'. Although sales of both the album and its lead single "ROckwrok" (which, despite a chorus featuring the lines "Come on, let's tangle in the dark/Fuck like a dog, bite like a shark", was played on BBC Radio 1) were still unimpressive, they had a growing fan-base. Steve Shears was sacked, later deciding to form the new band Faith Global. Although most of 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' was dominated by guitars and electric violin, the final track, "Hiroshima Mon Amour," was a prototypical synth pop song which gave a hint to the band's new direction. It remains a critical and fan favourite of the group's early incarnation, and it was even performed by the group on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. In 1978, the group quietly dropped the exclamation mark, becoming simply "Ultravox".
Their third album, 1978's Systems of Romance, was recorded under the ear of Conny Plank at his studio in rural Germany and featured new guitarist Robin Simon. It also failed commercially and Island dropped the band. After a US tour in 1979, John Foxx left to pursue a solo career whilst Robin Simon left to join the band Magazine. Musically, the album was a distinct development from the band's previous work and provided a blueprint for Ultravox's subsequent work, bringing synthesisers to the forefront of the group's sound. Island released a compilation of highlights from the group's first three albums in 1979, Three Into One, which was until the mid-1990s the most widespread of Ultravox's early releases.
Midge Ure, an already accomplished musician, was asked to join the band. He had achieved minor success with semi-glam outfit Slik and Glen Matlock's more punk-inspired The Rich Kids, although in 1979 he was temporarily playing with hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Midge Ure and Billy Currie had met in the Visage project, a studio project fronted by Steve Strange. Midge therefore replaced John Foxx for their next album, which would become their most successful to date, taking the already influential Ultravox sound and giving it a commercial appeal it had previously lacked.
Recorded in London and mixed by Conny Plank and the band once more in Germany,
Vienna was released on the new label Chrysalis Records in 1980, achieving a substantial hit with the title track (inspired by Carol Reed's The Third Man), which was accompanied with a distinctive video. It topped out at number two (Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" infamously kept it from the top spot) on the UK Top 40 in 1981. The album reached number five, and was soon followed by Rage in Eden (1981), the band returning to Conny Plank's studio for what turned out to be a difficult recording session.
Ultravox teamed up with legendary producer George Martin for 1982's Quartet, which became their most successful album in the USA.
After touring with their 1984 Lament, and appearing at Live Aid, Warren Cann was fired and pursued a career in acting in the USA. The remaining members, along with Big Country's Mark Brzezicki, resurfaced with U-Vox in 1986 before going their separate ways the following year. Billy Currie and singer/guitarist Tony Fenelle reformed the band in 1992 to record Revelation, and Sam Blue lent his voice to their final release, Ingenuity (1996).
The band's international legion of followers yearned for some sort of reconcilliation. Both Billy Currie and Midge Ure pursued solo careers after the band were put officially on ice by Currie in 1996, Ure continuing to peform solo versions of Ultravox hits live.
Fans were therefore delighted when an announcement came in November 2008 that the 'classic' Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure line-up were to reform and play a fourteen-date UK tour entitled Return To Eden in April 2009. With Vienna and Rage In Eden being remastered and re-released and plans for a greatest hits compilation to accompany the tour, Ultravox are now set for a return to prominence.
After their successful 'Return to Eden Tour', Ultravox signed a deal with Universal Records and talk of new studio albums heated up. On February 21st 2011, a new EP, Moments from Eden, came out.
The band's latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann. Picking up a strong fan response, their recent touring has brought them to big crowds alongside rockers Simple Minds.
Website: http://www.ultravox.org.uk
Call of the Wild
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Broken leaves are falling
Outside wild winds are calling
Broken leaves are falling
Like I fall before you
Outside nightfall is returning
Our home fires are burning
Wind and rain may blow
Will we watch them come and go
Don't go, and in my heart
I held you just for a while
Don't go, and in my eyes
I see the love of a child
Don't go, you can't deny
You feel the call of the wild
(Call of the wild)
In your hand a heart is falling
A howling wolf is calling
And it's calling your name
And before the night is ending
The message that it's sending
Will it all be in vain
Say that you will stay
And we'll watch them come and go
Don't go, and in my heart
I held you just for a while
Don't go, and in my eyes
I see the love of a child
Don't go, you can't deny
You feel the call of the wild
(Call of the wild)
As the wailing winds are calling
And the broken leaves are falling
And the magic that surrounds you
I will build a world around you
Don't go, and in my heart
I held you just for a while
Don't go, and in my eyes
I see the love of a child
Don't go, you can't deny
You feel the call of the wild
Don't go, and in my heart
I held you just for a while
Don't go, and in my eyes
I see the love of a child
Don't go, you can't deny
You feel the call of the wild
(Call of the wild)
In Ultravox's song "Call of the Wild," the singer is caught in the throes of a tumultuous relationship. The wild winds and broken leaves represent the chaos and turmoil surrounding the couple's interactions. Despite the singer's strong feelings for the other person, they fear that their love will not be enough to overcome the obstacles they face. The call of the wild, represented by the howling of a wolf, symbolizes the impulse to follow one's heart and embrace life's unpredictable nature. However, the singer also acknowledges the potential danger associated with this call and implores their partner not to leave. The final verse provides a glimmer of hope as the singer promises to build a world around their love and overcome the challenges together.
Overall, "Call of the Wild" is a powerful testament to the complexities of love and the unpredictable nature of human relationships. Through vivid imagery and poignant lyrics, Ultravox captures the essence of the human experience and the struggles we all face as we navigate our way through life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside wild winds are calling
There are strong winds blowing outside and they seem to be calling out to something or someone.
Broken leaves are falling
The wind is so strong that it is breaking the leaves off the trees, and they are falling to the ground.
Like I fall before you
This line is comparing the way the leaves are falling to the way the singer feels about their love for whoever they are singing to.
Outside nightfall is returning
It is getting dark outside as the sun sets and night falls.
Our home fires are burning
The fires in the artist's home are lit and burning bright.
Like I burn before you
This line is another comparison of the singer's love to a burning flame.
Wind and rain may blow
This is acknowledging that even when strong winds and rain come, they will eventually pass by.
Will we watch them come and go
The artist is wondering if they and their love will be able to watch the weather pass by together.
Don't go, and in my heart
The artist is urging their love not to leave them, and that they will always be in their heart.
I held you just for a while
The artist is reminiscing on holding their love and how it was only for a little while.
I see the love of a child
The singer sees innocence and pureness in their love's eyes, like that of a child.
You can't deny
The artist is telling their love that they know they feel the same pull and desire towards them.
You feel the call of the wild
This line is referring to the intense and natural attraction they feel towards each other.
In your hand a heart is falling
This line is describing how the singer sees their love with a heart falling into their hand, possibly breaking.
A howling wolf is calling
The imagery of a howling wolf is used to convey the feeling of something wild and intense beckoning them.
And it's calling your name
The wild and intense feeling is calling out to the artist's love specifically.
And before the night is ending
This line refers to the importance of acknowledging their love and deep emotions before the end of the night or time runs out.
The message that it's sending
The wild and intense feeling is sending a message to the singer's love, possibly telling them to stay.
Will it all be in vain
The singer is unsure if all their efforts and emotions will be worth it in the end.
Say that you will stay
The artist is once again urging their love to stay with them.
And we'll watch them come and go
If their love stays with them, the artist believes they will be able to watch life's ups and downs go by together.
As the wailing winds are calling
The winds continue to wail and call to the artist and their love, intensifying their emotions and desires.
And the broken leaves are falling
Leaves continue to be blown off the trees as the winds become stronger, further emphasizing the wildness of the situation.
And the magic that surrounds you
The artist is in awe of their love and the feeling of wildness and attraction that surrounds them.
I will build a world around you
The singer wants to create a world that encompasses and revolves around their love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COLIN KING, DANIEL ANTHONY MITCHELL, JAMES URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clivesmith9377
"Call Of The Wild" - Midge Ure, 1986.
Outside, wild winds are calling
Broken leaves are falling
Outside, wild winds are calling
Broken leaves are falling
Like I fall before you
Outside, nightfall is returning
Our home fires are burning
Like I burn before you
Wind, and pray they blow
Will we watch them come and go
Don't go And in my heart I held you just for awhile
Don't go And in my eyes I see the love of your child
Don't go You can deny you feel the call of the wild
Call of the wild
In your hand the heart is falling
A howling wolf is calling
And it's calling your name
And before the night is ending
The message that it's sending
Will it all be ending
Say, that you will stay
And we'll watch them come and go
Don't go And in my heart I held you just for awhile
Don't go And in my eyes I see the love of your child
Don't go You can deny you feel the call of the wild
Call of the wild
As the waving winds are calling
And the broken leaves are falling
And the magic that surrounds you
I will build a world around you
Don't go And in my heart I held you just for awhile
Don't go And in my eyes I see the love of your child
Don't go You can deny you feel the call of the wild
Don't go And in my heart I held you just for awhile
Don't go And in my eyes I see the love of your child
Don't go You can deny you feel the call of the wild
Call of the wild
@mrjouko8522
This song just makes you appreciate how awesome the 80s were Midge Ure is a Scottish National Treasure 🏴
@kennethkennedy6241
Gaun yersel midge
@yossarian6799
I'm one of those "on-the-spectrum" nerds who compiled "100 Favourite Songs" lists from the 60s to 80s. This topped my 1986 list... and Midge topped my 1985 list as well. Why is there not a shrine somewhere dedicated to this amazing musician?
@oscarserranolopez443
Concuerdo mucho, grandes eleccciones para un gran músico.
@dodo-ln8gf
I'm a nerd also and i make playlists like you..i'd be glad if you checked them out
@jamesmeaden9227
I’ve got a list of over 100 and I’m pretty proud of it
@curiositypiqued6573
Good for u m8....from a fellow spectrum resident aspie 👍👍
@thebarbaryghostsf
Because they don't build shrines for people who are still alive? ;)
@robertjohngunabe7771
Underrated new wave/synth pop song
@stiofandundealgan1280
Beautiful M. Ure's solo song ! Brilliant melody and music with the voice of Midge : a real delight !