| Big Blue Ball | ||||
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| Studio album by
Big Blue Ball (Peter Gabriel and various artists)
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| Released | June 24, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 1991–2007 | |||
| Studio | Real World, Box, UK | |||
| Genre | World | |||
| Length | 59:01 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Peter Gabriel chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
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.[3] It is Peter Gabriel's fourteenth album project overall.
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 MelvoinofWendy & Lisa, Sinéad O'Connor, Karl Wallinger (ofWorld 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.[4]
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.[5][6]
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.[7]
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.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whole Thing" (original mix) (featuring Francis Bebey, Alex Faku, Tim Finn, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger, Andy White) | Alexis Faku, Tim Finn, Peter Gabriel, Geoffrey Oryema, Karl Wallinger & Andy White | 5:27 |
| 2. | "Habibe" (featuring Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes, The Hossam Ramzy Egyptian Ensemble [Adel Eskander, Wael Abu Bakr, Momtaz Talaat]) | Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Vernon Reid, Neil Sparkes | 7:12 |
| 3. | "Shadow" (featuring Juan Manuel Cañizares, Papa Wemba) | Juan Manuel Cañizares, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger, Shungu Wembadio | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Altus Silva"[8]" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, Deep Forest, James McNally, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vernon Reid) | Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, James McNally, Eric Mouquet, Iarla Ó Lionáird & Michel Sanchez | 6:07 |
| 5. | "Exit Through You" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger) | Joseph Arthur & Peter Gabriel | 5:52 |
| 6. | "Everything Comes from You" (featuring Richard Evans, Joji Hirota, Sevara Nazarkhan, Sinéad O'Connor, Guo Yue) | Joji Hirota & Sinéad O'Connor | 4:42 |
| 7. | "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" (featuring Billy Cobham, Peter Gabriel, The Holmes Brothers, Wendy Melvoin, Arona N'Diaye, Jah Wobble) | Peter Gabriel, Neil Sparkes & Karl Wallinger | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Forest" (featuring Levon Minassian, Arona N'Diaye, Vernon Reid, Hukwe Zawose) | Levon Minassian, Arona N'Diaye, Chuck Norman & Hukwe Zawose | 6:16 |
| 9. | "Rivers" (featuring Vernon Reid, Márta Sebestyén, Karl Wallinger) | Márta Sebestyén | 5:45 |
| 10. | "Jijy" (featuring Arona N'Diaye, Rossy, Jah Wobble) | Peter Gabriel, Rossy, Karl Wallinger & Jah Wobble | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Big Blue Ball" (featuring Peter Gabriel, Manu Katché, Karl Wallinger) | Karl Wallinger | 4:52 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Habibe" (Stefan Goodchild remix) (US digital download bonus track) | |
| 13. | "Whole Thing" (Adrian Sherwood & Jazzwad remix) (UK digital download bonus track) | |
| 14. | "Story of the Big Blue Ball, Pt. 1" (digital download bonus video) |
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.[9]
Published by Gallo Music Publishers/Mushroom Music Pty/Real World Music Ltd/WOMAD Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Reverb Music Ltd
Published by Annie Reed Music/Hossam Ramzy PRS, MCPS & PAMRA/copyright control/Real World Music Ltd
Published by JMC Music Productions S.L./Real World Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Real World Works Ltd
Published by Real World Music Ltd/ WOMAD Music Ltd/Editions La Paya (Catalogue YEAA Music)/Michel Sanchez Music (MSM)
Published by Real World Music Ltd
Published by WOMAD Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing
Published by Real World Music/Universal Publishing Ltd
Published by Explorians/Copyright Control/WOMAD Music Ltd
Published by Kismet Bt.
Published by Real World Music Ltd/Heaven Music PRS MCPS/Universal Music Publishing/Copyright Control
Published by Universal Music Publishing
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