The 17 Series: World Party


Karl Wallinger, the musician that recorded as World Party, and who was a member of The Waterboys during the mid-1980s, passed away last week at age 66. No cause of death was announced, though his recording career was derailed back in 2001 due to a brain aneurysm. Prior to that misfortune though, he released five World Party albums, starting with 1987's Private Revolution and ending with 2000's Dumbing Up.

 I was a huge fan. The debut album, which features the great song "Ship of Fools" brings me back to Minneapolis and resurrects such clear memories of my girlfriend Autumn.

The second album, 1990's Goodbye Jumbo reminds me of Nick and Glen and our first summer in Marin. "Put the Message in a Box" was a constant through that summer.

His 1993 album, Bang, is my favorite and, again, strikes crystal clear memories of that year. "Is It Like Today?" is my favorite song of his and was on that album. 

I saw him perform in San Francisco that year at the Warfield and he was so fantastic! He did a cover of Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" that was raucous and created the feeling of a jubilant party in the audience. I remember him asking rhetorically at some point, "Anyone been reading their Bertrand Russell?" (I had to look him up afterward... he was a famous philosopher, and a fellow Welshman).

I was genuinely saddened to hear that Karl died, but also was struck by the thought of what a good life he lived. He was a great musician, sure, but he truly cared about the state of the planet and seemed like a genuinely nice person.

I hope you enjoy his installment in the 17 series. You can download by clicking on the cover art above.

...

1. Kingdom Come

2. Way Down Now

3. What Is Love All About?

4. Thank You World

5. This World

6. Hollywood

7. Ship of Fools

8. She's the One

9. Sweet Soul Dream

10. Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready

11. Another Thousand Years

12. Sunshine

13. Love Street

14. It Can Be Beautiful (Sometimes)

15. Is It Too Late?

16. Is It Like Today?

17. Put the Message in a Box

...

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