Goodbye Jumbo

From 1983-86 we knew Karl Wallinger as a member of The Waterboys before he left, gasping for musical air and bursting with the brilliant debut 'Private Revolution' (1987), featuring the Top Forty hit "Ship of Fools". Written, produced and played almost entirely by Wallinger, 'Private Revolution' has been hailed as a glorious mixture of musical styles from the Fab Four through folk to funk, with Karl's abiding love of melody face-up at all times.

After World Party added a reputation as a red-hot live act, the love continued on 'Goodbye Jumbo' (1990), which was voted "Album of the Year" by Q Magazine, featuring the hits "Put the Message in the Box" and "Way Down Now".

The third album, Bang! (1993) (#40) was a bigger success in chart placing terms, with the track "Is It Like Today?" (#62) also proving to be a huge international success. The fourth album, 'Egyptology' (1996) won an Ivor Novello award, for the single "She's The One" which was subsequently recorded by Robbie Williams. The album 'Dumbing Up' was released in 2000 and was arguably Wallinger's best work since 'Goodbye Jumbo'.

2009 marked the return of World Party in the UK with re-mastered catalog featuring enhanced packaging. The catalog had been unavailable since 1998 in the UK, with previous sales well over one million.

This excellent follow-up album from World Party is much tighter than the debut. Dealing with issues from the environment ("Take It Up," "Put the Message in the Box") to relationship woes ("And I Fell Back Alone"), these tracks manage to maintain a hopeful, positive mood without becoming trivial. In these songs, Wallinger has developed his own distinct style. A great album.