I was lucky enough to know Karl in the 80's, one of the best nights of my life was at an end of tour party in Leicester in 1987, we drank and sung the night away. Karl was the sweetest, kindest, most genuine man that I had ever met in my entire life. We all had such a night of fun with Karl on the piano and myself singing Under My Thumb with Guy Chambers...very happy days
I found GOODBYE JUMBO while chasing down BANG, unaware of World Party to that point. I'd spend that next week driving, literally, 300 miles around town, locating PRIVATE REV and then EGYPTOLOGY. Sometime later, I was following his news and knew DUMBING UP was arriving shortly. Those middle-three, though... wow...
Bang was my first World Party album too - I bought it in the early 90s after it was recommended to me. I loved it!! I played it over and over. It was one of those albums where I liked every song which is unusual. Hollywood is one of my favorites. I didn't buy Goodbye Jumbo until 5 years ago - I don't know why it took so long. I think all of his albums are really good, but Bang is my favorite. It seems that most people pick GJ as the favorite.
I felt surprisingly sad about this. Such a pity he didn’t put out more music over the years, even though I didn’t always like everything he did. I’ve always loved Ship of Fools which is one of the best songs of the 80s. Thank you for your touching tribute
Well, a serious brain aneurysm and a 5-6 + year recovery period learning to actually speak and play instruments all over again will do it to one 😢. Bless him for his courageous recovery. BTW, yes, great album, no Q there, even though GOODBYE JUMBO simply can't be topped.
I saw World Party… in NYC several years back… it was a three piece band… and great night of laughs and Music. Karl was very personable and genuine. I was just thinking… and wondering if there was a chance of anything new in the works… when I heard about his passing. It hit hard… Karl was just less than three months younger than me… very sad. I hope he’s resting well and his family is comforted by knowing how many people he has touched with his talents and music… I’m sorry for your loss… he was a wonderful soul and spirit. Peace 🕊️ 🌜🌞🌛
well-deserved tribute for a great, underrated artist, thanks. I got hooked immediately when I first heard „put the message…“ a few months after it came out, one of my all-time favourite songs, easy top 100 for me. the song has been a faithful companion for more than 30 years. has anybody mentioned that robbie williams‘ superhit „she‘s the one“ ii off „egyptology“? will go and listen to that album first, actually. sad news.
Thanks for this James. Hadn't really paid much attention since the mid 90's, then re listening to stuff and watching vids of Karl and WP made me 1. realised how much of a soundtrack for that time they were for my life and 2.....a bigger shock was how upset I was to hear he'd passed away. Wonderfully talented, song writer, musician and most of all Human!!
I learned how to play “is it like today?” not long after it came out… Saw him and world party play on Saturday night live, that was memorable… He would play guitar and bass lefty, right handed guitars that hadn’t had the strings changed around… Some really great songs. RIP, Karl Wallinger
I have everything he made. I have turned on so many people to his music over the years. I play guitar and have a bunch of his stuff learned. Will be missed for sure.
Periodically I always looked out for any new world party music but sadly there wasn't anything new. He was a very talented musician and songwriter. RIP
Lovely tribute James. I agree, Bang! is probably his best work, despite the I thought Is it Like Today was a fabulous single and i used to try and pick all the lyrics out whenever it was played on the radio. Hollywood and Sunshine are my two other favourites, the later having a lovely Hendrix type vibe i think. Interesting that you mentioned Prince, i definitely get that on Private Revolution, you can really hear the influence there. I only picked up Goodbye Jumbo on vinyl a couple of years ago although i always loved the single ' Put the Message in the Box' and used to busk it when i was travelling back in the early 90s...lucky to find an OG copy. I'm so glad for him that he got decent royalties from ' She's the One' to tide him over through his illnesses. Definitely gone way too soon..RIP.
When you sent me Goodbye Jumbo it was one of the greatest VCLTs I have ever received, that album means so much to me. I need to relisten to Bang. He is a favorite artist of mine.
Regretfully I still have not spent enough time with World Party...it does seem the music losses are coming thick & fast these days and all too often they are at none too very advanced an age. Is It Like Today, a magical song indeed from a very special era in music. Cheers James!
I did go for a dig in the shelves after this and found my vinyl copy of Private Revolution (jacket a bit tatty but it's a promo on Chrysalis with the vinyl in nice shape, I must have found it cheap though exactly where escapes me), definitely get the ecological and social commentary aspect you were discussing plus a bit of a spiritual or religious underpinning I'd say...though none of it done in a polemic or declamatory way...as you said, a melange of folk, country and 60's pop and rock brought up to date for the time...only other thing I've got by them is Bang on CD which I'll have to revisit as well...@@jamesgriffithsmusic
@@jamesgriffithsmusic Thought I had left a reply but it appears to have vanished; just wanted to add that after this video I did give Private Revolution a listen again, I’ve a promo copy on Chrysalis (sleeve a bit tatty but the vinyl is nice, I must have found it cheap somewhere, Seattle I suspect). Definitely concur with the ecological and political aspects you mentioned (I would say a strong religious element as well) though not done in a preachy or polemic way. A melange of folk, country and 60’s pop brought into the 80’s - only other album I have is Bang on CD, must revisit that as well. Cheers!
Hey James, Very nice tribute here. Sadly it seems we can't go more than a few days without hearing of another artist that's left us. I was previously unfamiliar with him, and am intrigued to give a further listen. Thanks for sharing. -Carm
Thanks Carm....yes, and there's been a couple more since I recorded this video! Think you would enjoy World Party as they have a lot of interesting keyboards going on.
Saw world party at the royal court in Liverpool . Karl actually smashed his guitar on the stage floor , a piece of which managed to hit someone in the audience in the eye . Apparently Karl made a visit to the hospital and was quite upset by what happened . Anyway , no one died . Loved Karl and his music , I’m genuinely saddened by his passing . All he gave was himself …..😥
@@jamesgriffithsmusic the guy that was hit and ended up in hospital was a friend of a friend and when Karl visited him , Karl himself said he didn’t know what came over him , however , if you look at the outtake of the KEXP performance you can see just how frustrated Karl was by the ever increasing slide of humanity into the abyss…
@@jamesgriffithsmusic I'd completely forgotten about that but I can confirm that it did happen; I was there that night. Hope the poor guy didn't suffer any permanent damage; it was a freak accident and Karl hadn't intended to hurt anyone. I can't remember what Karl said about why he smashed the guitar afterwards but I think it might have been primarily about the monitor sound; although I dare say he may have had other pressures and frustration with the way Bang! was being promoted that were weighing on him. It was a great tour, though, and by that point (end of October '93) IMO that incarnation of World Party was rocking. Karl sent me a link to the Brixton show from a Radio 5/6 stream some years later (it's not available any more). We were both quite excited about how good it sounded to the point that I asked him if he had tarted it up later at Seaview - but no, he said, that was us! Bless him, of the musicians that I personally have known he was the one I looked up to most. I expect I'll miss him the rest of my days.
All I’ve seen is that he has had “ health issues “… over several years… but I don’t believe his family released a cause of death… A sad day… when I heard the news. My wishes to the family.
![Infected | WHEN RIVERS MEET [LIVE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HnUCmG1rnXw/mqdefault.jpg)
I was lucky enough to know Karl in the 80's, one of the best nights of my life was at an end of tour party in Leicester in 1987, we drank and sung the night away. Karl was the sweetest, kindest, most genuine man that I had ever met in my entire life. We all had such a night of fun with Karl on the piano and myself singing Under My Thumb with Guy Chambers...very happy days
I found GOODBYE JUMBO while chasing down BANG, unaware of World Party to that point. I'd spend that next week driving, literally, 300 miles around town, locating PRIVATE REV and then EGYPTOLOGY. Sometime later, I was following his news and knew DUMBING UP was arriving shortly. Those middle-three, though... wow...
One of my all time favorite singer/songwriters. This one was a tough one to swallow James. That was done really nicely. Way to go~
Rob/Boston
Great tribute James,another Great British artist gone so young.
Bang was my first World Party album too - I bought it in the early 90s after it was recommended to me. I loved it!! I played it over and over. It was one of those albums where I liked every song which is unusual. Hollywood is one of my favorites. I didn't buy Goodbye Jumbo until 5 years ago - I don't know why it took so long. I think all of his albums are really good, but Bang is my favorite. It seems that most people pick GJ as the favorite.
I felt surprisingly sad about this. Such a pity he didn’t put out more music over the years, even though I didn’t always like everything he did. I’ve always loved Ship of Fools which is one of the best songs of the 80s. Thank you for your touching tribute
Well, a serious brain aneurysm and a 5-6 + year recovery period learning to actually speak and play instruments all over again will do it to one 😢. Bless him for his courageous recovery.
BTW, yes, great album, no Q there, even though GOODBYE JUMBO simply can't be topped.
Thanks Simon. A great pity about Karl.
Nice tribute James to a great original musician. So many classic songs and his contribution to The Waterboys was immeasurable.
I saw World Party… in NYC several years back… it was a three piece band… and great night of laughs and Music. Karl was very personable and genuine. I was just thinking… and wondering if there was a chance of anything new in the works… when I heard about his passing. It hit hard… Karl was just less than three months younger than me… very sad.
I hope he’s resting well and his family is comforted by knowing how many people he has touched with his talents and music… I’m sorry for your loss… he was a wonderful soul and spirit. Peace 🕊️ 🌜🌞🌛
Thanks. Great that you got to see him live.
He was great!
Brilliant artist, we’ll miss his talents❤ RIP Karl
well-deserved tribute for a great, underrated artist, thanks. I got hooked immediately when I first heard „put the message…“ a few months after it came out, one of my all-time favourite songs, easy top 100 for me. the song has been a faithful companion for more than 30 years. has anybody mentioned that robbie williams‘ superhit „she‘s the one“ ii off „egyptology“? will go and listen to that album first, actually. sad news.
Thanks Nick. When I did my full video on Karl and World Party a few years ago, I did explain about She's the One.
Thanks for this James. Hadn't really paid much attention since the mid 90's, then re listening to stuff and watching vids of Karl and WP made me 1. realised how much of a soundtrack for that time they were for my life and 2.....a bigger shock was how upset I was to hear he'd passed away. Wonderfully talented, song writer, musician and most of all Human!!
Agreed! Such a shame. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
I learned how to play “is it like today?” not long after it came out… Saw him and world party play on Saturday night live, that was memorable… He would play guitar and bass lefty, right handed guitars that hadn’t had the strings changed around… Some really great songs. RIP, Karl Wallinger
I had only recently spotted he played the guitar left-handed!
Goodbye Jumbo was my favourite albumn of the 90's. And I had a lot!
Had? Don't tell me you got rid!
I have everything he made. I have turned on so many people to his music over the years. I play guitar and have a bunch of his stuff learned. Will be missed for sure.
I really don't think that you do. Karl withheld quite a lot from public exposure
Periodically I always looked out for any new world party music but sadly there wasn't anything new. He was a very talented musician and songwriter. RIP
Dumbing Up, the last record is my favorite of all!
He was brilliant. RIP Karl❤
Lovely tribute James.
I agree, Bang! is probably his best work, despite the
I thought Is it Like Today was a fabulous single and i used to try and pick all the lyrics out whenever it was played on the radio.
Hollywood and Sunshine are my two other favourites, the later having a lovely Hendrix type vibe i think.
Interesting that you mentioned Prince, i definitely get that on Private Revolution, you can really hear the influence there.
I only picked up Goodbye Jumbo on vinyl a couple of years ago although i always loved the single ' Put the Message in the Box' and used to busk it when i was travelling back in the early 90s...lucky to find an OG copy.
I'm so glad for him that he got decent royalties from ' She's the One' to tide him over through his illnesses.
Definitely gone way too soon..RIP.
When you sent me Goodbye Jumbo it was one of the greatest VCLTs I have ever received, that album means so much to me. I need to relisten to Bang. He is a favorite artist of mine.
Thanks Steve. It was a pleasure and honour to send you the record.
This one really stings - I bought Goodbye Jumbo on CD the first week it was out. ❤️
Very sad news for sure.
Regretfully I still have not spent enough time with World Party...it does seem the music losses are coming thick & fast these days and all too often they are at none too very advanced an age. Is It Like Today, a magical song indeed from a very special era in music. Cheers James!
Thanks Doug. World Party are one of those bands that don't exactly demand to be listened to, but they are always enjoyable to go back to.
I did go for a dig in the shelves after this and found my vinyl copy of Private Revolution (jacket a bit tatty but it's a promo on Chrysalis with the vinyl in nice shape, I must have found it cheap though exactly where escapes me), definitely get the ecological and social commentary aspect you were discussing plus a bit of a spiritual or religious underpinning I'd say...though none of it done in a polemic or declamatory way...as you said, a melange of folk, country and 60's pop and rock brought up to date for the time...only other thing I've got by them is Bang on CD which I'll have to revisit as well...@@jamesgriffithsmusic
@@jamesgriffithsmusic Thought I had left a reply but it appears to have vanished; just wanted to add that after this video I did give Private Revolution a listen again, I’ve a promo copy on Chrysalis (sleeve a bit tatty but the vinyl is nice, I must have found it cheap somewhere, Seattle I suspect). Definitely concur with the ecological and political aspects you mentioned (I would say a strong religious element as well) though not done in a preachy or polemic way. A melange of folk, country and 60’s pop brought into the 80’s - only other album I have is Bang on CD, must revisit that as well. Cheers!
You are great! 🙏
So are you! Thanks.
Very nice tribute James. I need to give Bang a listen as not heard that one before but do quite like both private revolution and goodbye jumbo
Hi Ross. Yeah check out Bang. Be great to see you do a review of it at some point.
Hey James, Very nice tribute here. Sadly it seems we can't go more than a few days without hearing of another artist that's left us. I was previously unfamiliar with him, and am intrigued to give a further listen. Thanks for sharing. -Carm
Thanks Carm....yes, and there's been a couple more since I recorded this video! Think you would enjoy World Party as they have a lot of interesting keyboards going on.
Lovely video James, to be honest, never heard a World Party lp, I'll get to em someday
Cheers Sean.
Saw world party at the royal court in Liverpool . Karl actually smashed his guitar on the stage floor , a piece of which managed to hit someone in the audience in the eye . Apparently Karl made a visit to the hospital and was quite upset by what happened . Anyway , no one died . Loved Karl and his music , I’m genuinely saddened by his passing . All he gave was himself …..😥
Great story, though strange. I can't imagine Karl smashing his guitar!
@@jamesgriffithsmusic the guy that was hit and ended up in hospital was a friend of a friend and when Karl visited him , Karl himself said he didn’t know what came over him , however , if you look at the outtake of the KEXP performance you can see just how frustrated Karl was by the ever increasing slide of humanity into the abyss…
@@jamesgriffithsmusic I'd completely forgotten about that but I can confirm that it did happen; I was there that night. Hope the poor guy didn't suffer any permanent damage; it was a freak accident and Karl hadn't intended to hurt anyone.
I can't remember what Karl said about why he smashed the guitar afterwards but I think it might have been primarily about the monitor sound; although I dare say he may have had other pressures and frustration with the way Bang! was being promoted that were weighing on him.
It was a great tour, though, and by that point (end of October '93) IMO that incarnation of World Party was rocking. Karl sent me a link to the Brixton show from a Radio 5/6 stream some years later (it's not available any more). We were both quite excited about how good it sounded to the point that I asked him if he had tarted it up later at Seaview - but no, he said, that was us!
Bless him, of the musicians that I personally have known he was the one I looked up to most. I expect I'll miss him the rest of my days.
How did he die ?
All I’ve seen is that he has had
“ health issues “… over several years… but I don’t believe his family released a cause of death…
A sad day… when I heard the news. My wishes to the family.
Thanks. Very sad...Talented guy.@@donmcallister3745
Nice one james. Got jumbo when it came out.
Thanks George.
Having had a brain haemorrhage myself I wholly sympathise. Wasn’t suggesting he was being lazy!
Wow...did you make a full recovery? Sounds very nasty.
I was much luckier than Karl. I haven’t had such serious long term consequences. I’ve recovered well but you’re never fully recovered really