Mixerr Album Reviews #2,294

The single of Lil Louis & The World ‎– I Called U (US only vinyl single) showcases the much more ambient side of Lil Louis. Jazz music meets the sounds of deep house music on this song. Jazz meets electronic in other words. The songs on this Lil Louis single are perfect to dance to and do numbers on the dance floor. Lil Louis uses electronic instrumental soundscapes to many of the songs on this single.

Now the US version of the 12” vinyl single for Lil Louis & The World ‎– I Called U has the following songs: I Called U (The Conversation), I Called U (But U Went To The Party), I Called U (The Story Continues), I Called U (A Series Of Events), and I Called U (Why'd U Fall). All other pressings of this record are bootlegs. This is the rare US only promo 12” vinyl single which has the barcode of 0 9870-73153-1.



Contrary to popular belief, I Called U (The Conversation) is not a different version of I Called U (But You Weren't There). This version of I Called U went under the name I Called U (The Conversation) and is the original version  of I Called U (But You Weren't There) from his debut album From The Mind Of Lil Louis. I Called U (But You Weren't There) was just labeled as I Called U (The Conversation) and went under a different name on this particular vinyl single.

I Called U (The Conversation) is a hilarious electronic song that uses a house soundscape. A piano accompanies the house soundscape along with a saxophone. An Afro-centric percussion ensemble is used. Djembe, shakers, conga, and bongos are used. The vocals are what make the song unique along with the Afro-centric percussion which is used.

The song I Called U (But You Weren't There) charted at #16 on the BillBoard in the UK in January 1990 and at #23 in Ireland in January 1990. I Called U (But You Weren't There) also charted at #48 on the BillBoard in Belgium in March 1990. The song was a hit in several European countries in 1990. Now this song was used on this single under a different name and charted #11 on the US Dance charts for a short time.

Here is an outline for the song I Called U (The Conversation).

The song is about an ex-lover trying to get back into Lil Louis’ life by stalking him. She continuously calls him over the phone. She gets into his business by stalking him every chance. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”. The vocals are what make the song unique. The song is definitely something that the guys can definitely relate to. Both genders can relate to this song also. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”.

The song begins with a telephone ringing. Lil Louis picks up the telephone to answer whoever is calling. A man in the back asks Louis if that is another prank call. Read the lyrics below.:

Lil Louis: Hello.... hello?
Man in the background: Louis, is that another crank call?
Lil Louis: No, I know who it is.
*Lil Louis hang up the telephone*

Apparently an ex-girlfriend is stalking Lil Louis wondering about his whereabouts as she now wants him back in her life again. She calls him over and over again everyday. Now she wants him back in her life. She leaves a messages on his answering machine which is “I called you but you weren’t there.” Of course this annoys him to no end.

His ex-girlfriend confronts him on the phone by asking “I called you but you weren’t there.” Lil Louis tells her, “Well I was out taking care of business.” She questions where he went by asking him “Where did you go?” Lil Louis tells her “It’s not your place to ask me that anymore.” She asks him, “Why not?” He proceeds to tell her, “Because where I go and with home is no longer your concern.” However his ex-girlfriend knew he was not taking care of business. She obviously knows his whereabouts. She lets him know this by saying, “You weren’t out taking care of business.” Lil Louis asks her “And how do you know?” She proceeds to tell him she was following him in her blue car with the famous/infamous line “I followed you in my blue car.”

Lil Louis’ response to her is “Oh did you now?” She then asked him, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” She asks him, “Why can’t we start again?” Lil Louis clearly does not want anything to do with her anymore. He has moved on with his life.

Her responses were “I called you but you weren’t there.” and “Why can’t we start again?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” Her response was “I called you but you weren’t there.”

If you listen closely to her vocals over the phone, she sounds as if she were drunk. She says, “Why not?”, “Why can’t we start again?”, “Where did you go?”, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?”, “You weren’t out taking care of business”. and “I followed you in my blue car.” in a slow slurred manner.


I Called U (But U Went To The Party) is where Lil Louis stands up to the lady that was once his girlfriend. He goes to a night club with his friend after hanging up on his ex-girlfriend.

His ex-girlfriend asks him, “Why can’t we start again?” Lil Louis tells her, “Look. I’ve tried to be reasonable. Now I’m tired of talking. If you can’t understand that it’s over, all I can say is this.” He hangs up on her. Doing so, he slams the phone in the process. This is all out of anger and frustration of course.

His friend tells him Louis, don’t worry about that girl. Let’s go out and party.” Lil Louis wishes he ex-girlfriend would leave him alone. The song Lil Louis - French Kiss can be heard playing outside the nightclub. Him and his friend arrives to the nightclub to find a long line of people waiting outside to get in. Damn! That’s a long line. Lil Louis is glad to have arrived at nightclub.

Him and his friend pay their admission fee to get inside the club. Everyone is dancing and cheering having a good time inside to the loud music. Lil Louis found his ground at this nightclub.


I Called U (The Story Continues) a bass remix of I Called U. This remix has much heavier bass incorporated into the song. I Called U (The Story Continues) is another remixed instrumental of I Called U. I Called U (The Story Continues) incorporates the same bass lines and beats from I Called U (Why'd U Fall).

The song is classy house music with a jazzy vibe and touch due to the saxophone used. This song is also very jazzy and smooth. What particularly makes this song jazzy is the saxophone being used throughout this song at various times simultaneously. A saxophone follows the beats on a 4|4 time signature which is practically what this entire song uses. A small bit of IDM is used.

Three words to describe this are upbeat, funky, and rhythmic. This song defines the sound of Chicago house. As soon as the bass drop and horns sound, you know it’s time to dance! This is one of those timeless club bangers that is still considered fresh today! This is the upbeat rhythmic dance floor song you would hear at a party or nightclub.

The song begins with the iconic words “Feed me bass.” That was one of the greatest ways to start off a song with. How he started off this song was unbelievable!


I Called U (A Series Of Events) is followed by a series of events related to Lil Louis and his ex-girlfriend who is a stalker. She puts him through a series of unpredictable events much to his own chagrin. He is in disbelief that she is still going after him. This is where things start to get dark. His ex-girlfriend realizes he want to the party. She begins to stalk Lil Louis again.

His ex-girlfriend is trying to figure out if he hung up one her. She says, “Wait a minute. Did he hang up on me? Let me call this black African-American negro back.” She calls him back again. However instead of Lil Louis picking up to answer her call, she hears a busy signal. She knows he didn’t leave. She sighs in tiredness wonder where he went.

Could Lil Louis be at the tunnel? The Fridge? High On Hope? She questions and wonder if Lil Louis is at various clubs scattered in Chicago. Soon she figures out what club is Lil Louis is at. She says, “No. He’s at The Wildlife. Let me visit him.” She goes to The Wildlife in her blue car to visit him.

Now the song transitions into The Wildlife. His friend calls Lil Louis’ name tells him his ex-girlfriend is right behind him. Lil Louis responds back by saying, “Damn.” She tells him, “I called you, but you were at the party.” A man tells her to leave Lil Louis alone. She tells the man “Never.”

Lil Louis concludes, “Damn sista got screwed up because she got screwed. Wish she hadn’t done it but she did and got caught with her drawers down. Crawling from the attic. Tea and cream drinking. Spinning like a top because of her bottom. Hooked on a physical thrill. Twisted sister goes to the club a lot.” It is revealed she did not get any sleep at all last night.

The song ends with her vandalizing his car. She goes to the parking lot. She says, “I can’t have him now. So I’ll vandalize his car.” She vandalizes his car by breaking all the glass windows.



I Called U (Why'd U Fall) follows up to I Called U (A Series Of Events) and serves as the closer to this single. I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is a warped auto-wah version of I Called U (The Story Continues). I Called U (Why'd U Fall) actually got more play on the dance floor in Chicago than I Called U (The Story Continues).

What stands out about I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is Lil Louis morphs his vocals in with the synth line simultaneously at the same time. Very little reverb is used. Lil Louis got futuristic with this song by morphing his vocals in the synth line. Lil Louis experiments with the auto-wah sound effect by using blips and synths in the process.

I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is classic house music which was heavily influenced and inspired by the sounds of EDM.  This song was the song that got everybody dancing on the dance floor. The song gets repetitive fairly quick. This is one of those songs that will get stuck in your head. The song I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is an absolute house classic.

The beginning of the song is where Lil Louis tells his ex-girlfriend, “Wait a minute. If you were going to yield to temptation, then why’d you fall for me? Do you hear me?” The words “why fall” are repeated continuously throughout the duration of this song. Now the words “why fall” are repeated and played in a warped morphed manner.

Notice how the dial tones from the telephone are panned from left channel to right channel to center. The dial tone is off beat but has a reoccurring melody. Listen to this song with headphones to have a better understanding.

I rate this single 5/5*****!!