Big Blue Ball is an album by multiple artists which "grew from 3 recording weeks" at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in the summers of 1991, 1992, and 1995.Big Blue Ball Big Blue Ball Website. It is Peter Gabriel's fourteenth album project overall.
Background In production for more than 18 years, "Big Blue Ball" is a project featuring several artists from all around the world working together. Gabriel said that although the initial recording was finished by 1995, "the tapes were left in a mess and it's taken this long to sort out." Producer Stephen Hague was finally called in to sort out the project.
Guests on the album include Wendy Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa, Sinéad O'Connor, Karl Wallinger (of World Party), Natacha Atlas, and Papa Wemba. Gabriel takes the lead vocals on several tracks on the album. A mix of western, African, and Asian musicians are also included.Gabriel Has A 'Ball' With Long-Gestating Album by Nigel Williamson, 4 August 2006. billboard.com
Big Blue Ball was launched in the United States in June, 24th, 2008. The European premiere took place 13 days previously on June, 11th, 2008 in the city of Aachen, Germany in collaboration with the Ludwig Forum Museum of Modern Art and the city's cultural director Richard Takvorian. "After all these years, it's a fine wine ready to be drunk," says Peter Gabriel, "It was the most fun music making I've ever had." It was released thanks to a venture-capital trust initiative. Bosses at London-based firm Ingenious raised more than $4 million (£2 million) to help promote the release in the US. The venture capitalists, Gabriel, and his Real World Limited partners, created a new joint venture company, High Level Recordings Limited, to oversee the release of the album. The new album deal covers the North America territory, where Gabriel is currently out of contract. The worldwide distribution of the album will be dealt by Proper Music Distribution.Gabriel Deals a Blow to the Record Business by Paul Durman, 21 January 2007. timesonline.co.ukGabriel Calls on Venture Capitalists to Help Album Launch — 24 January 2007. contactmusic.com
The first track released from the project was "Whole Thing", included on the soundtrack album for the TV series Long Way Down. A version of "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" was also included on Gabriel's 2003 compilation album Hit, with a radio edit released as a single.
There are two CD editions of the album with different covers; the music is the same on both.
A limited edition of 1000 copies of the album was released on blue vinyl, from Rykodisc. — rykodistribution.com
The digital download versions of the album contain different bonus content depending on the country. UK download stores include the track "Whole Thing (Adrian Sherwood & Jazzwad Remix)". US download stores include the track "Habibe (Stefan Goodchild Remix)" and a digital booklet. Both versions include the "Story of the Big Blue Ball, Pt. 1" video.
Track listing
Personnel Produced by Peter Gabriel, Steven Hague and Karl Wallinger. Original recordings produced by Peter Gabriel and Karl Wallinger except "Altus silva" by Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez. Mixed by Tchad Blake except "Habibe" by Stephen Hague and "Everything Comes from You" by Richard Chappell.Gabriel Real World News: Big Blue Ball's Credits
1. "Whole Thing" (original mix) Lead vocal, keyboards: Peter Gabriel Guitars: Karl Wallinger, Paul Allen Nord brass, backing vocals: Alex Faku Flutes: Francis Bebey Backing vocals: Tim Finn, Andy White Programming: Chuck Norman Toms: Tchad Blake Published by Gallo Music Publishers/Mushroom Music Pty/Real World Music Ltd/WOMAD Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Reverb Music Ltd
2. "Habibe" Vocals: Natacha Atlas Drums and percussion: Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes Strings: The Hossam Ramzy Egyptian Ensemble (Wael Abu Bakr, Adel Eskander, Momtaz Talaat) Saz: Tim Whelan Keyboards: Stephen Hague Programming: Chuck Norman Published by Annie Reed Music/Hossam Ramzy PRS, MCPS & PAMRA/copyright control/Real World Music Ltd
3. "Shadow" Vocals: Papa Wemba Backing vocals: Reddy Amisi Guitar: Juan Manuel Cañizares Percussion: The Papa Wemba Band, Alan Gyorffy Bongos: Laurent Coatalen Frame drums: Tchad Blake Published by JMC Music Productions S.L./Real World Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Real World Works Ltd
4. "Altus silva" Vocals: Joseph Arthur, Iarla Ó Lionáird Bass: Noel Ekwabi Conga: The Papa Wemba Band Piano, keyboards: Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez Guitar synth: Vernon Reid Whistle, low whistle: James McNally Uilleann pipes: Ronan Browne Programming: Chuck Norman Keyboards, harmonium and flute like body bells: Tchad Blake Published by Real World Music Ltd/ WOMAD Music Ltd/Editions La Paya (Catalogue YEAA Music)/Michel Sanchez Music (MSM)
5. "Exit Through You" Vocals: Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel Guitar: Joseph Arthur, Karl Wallinger Bass: Peter Gabriel Keyboards: Peter Gabriel Backing Vocals: Justin Adams, Karl Wallinger Programming: Chuck Norman Shaker, tambourine, bass: Tchad Blake Published by Real World Music Ltd
6. "Everything Comes from You" Vocals: Sinead O'Connor Backing vocals: Sevara Nazarkhan Drums, percussion, Chinese drum: Joji Hirota Drums: Ged Lynch Flutes: Guo Yue Keyboards: Rupert Hine Piano: Angie Pollock Guitar, mandolin and recorder: Richard Evans Published by WOMAD Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing
7. "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" Vocals, keyboards: Peter Gabriel Backing vocals: The Holmes Brothers: Wendell, Sherman & Popsi; Jules Shear; Karl Wallinger Guitar: Justin Adams, David Rhodes Bass: Jah Wobble, Wendy Melvoin Djembe, sabar: Arona N'Diaye Drums: Billy Cobham Programming: Chuck Norman Guitar synth, organ, skin shake, hi hat, frame drum: Tchad Blake Published by Real World Music/Universal Publishing Ltd
8. "Forest" Vocals: Hukwe Zawose Guitar: Vernon Reid Percussion: Arona N'Diaye Doudouk: Levon Minassian Programming: Chuck Norman and Stephen Hague Published by Explorians/Copyright Control/WOMAD Music Ltd
9. "Rivers" Lead vocal, flute: Marta Sebestyen Bass: Karl Wallinger Drones, river pad, general programming: Chuck Norman Guitar synth: Vernon Reid Accordion: Stephen Hague Drones: Peter Gabriel Published by Kismet Bt.
10. "Jijy" Vocals: Rossy Programming: Chuck Norman and Stephen Hague Percussion: Arona N'Diaye Drums and vibes: Alan Gyorffy Bass: Jah Wobble Published by Real World Music Ltd/Heaven Music PRS MCPS/Universal Music Publishing/Copyright Control
11. "Big Blue Ball" Vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards: Karl Wallinger Piano, organ, keyboards, solo keyboards: Peter Gabriel Drums: Manu Katché Accordion: Stephen Hague Programming: Chuck Norman Kick drum, bells: Tchad Blake Published by Universal Music Publishing
References
External links Big Blue Ball — official site at Real World Records NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday" — interview with Peter Gabriel, Stephen Hague and Karl Wallinger