THE CALLING

I have listened to three released versions of this song: the one which was released in the original "Talk" album in 1994, the "special version" which was released in the re-issue edition of that album (with a minute and a half more in duration in comparison to the original album version, and with a keyboards part which doesn`t appear in the original album version), and this "single edit " version, which obviously is shorter than the other versions, but it also has a different mix and maybe some different guitar parts, and with some parts between the instrumental sections and the verses and choruses removed, and with an added fade out. I prefer the other two versions as this single edit version was more for radio playing and it sounds somewhat "incomplete" in comparison to the other released versions.I never listened to this single edit version in the radio. In fact, the only song that I listened from "Talk" in the radio was "Walls", which maybe was better for radio playing than this single edit of "The Calling". For collectors only.

"Now we hold the right to rearrange how the stories can be heard"

The Calling is a very good song from the excellent Talk album released in 1994. The song exists in several different versions; there is the album version that appeared on Talk which runs for just under seven minutes; there is the single edit that forms the a-side of this CD-single which runs for four minutes and forty seconds; there is a longer, "original version" which runs for just over eight minutes; and then there is apparently also a "radio edit" (which I have never heard; released exclusively to radio stations?) which runs for just under six minutes.

This CD-single holds three tracks: the single edit of The Calling, the "original version" of the same song, and Silent Spring (which is the opening section of Endless Dream, also from the Talk album).

The single edit is of minor interest but the longer, "original version" is very nice to have. The extra minute or so (compared to the album version) slows things down considerably in a new-age-like middle section. Whether it is better than the album version is a matter of taste, but it is at least interesting for fans to hear. The longer version has since been included as a bonus track on the special "Collectors Edition" of Talk. So if you have that version of the CD album this single offers little new.