It’s Time For The Times And Edward Ball!
This is the most ambitious (over 40 bands involved), most time consuming (many years in the works), most delayed (first submission was almost 15 years ago), most expensive (you can just imagine what it costs to mail 40 bands copies) release that we have ever worked on. And IT IS THE MOST DESERVED!
Edward Ball in our books is a musical genius that is yet to be fully discovered and understood. Starting out in the late 70’s he formed the band Television Personalities with Dan Treacy and the band “O Level” who both released singles in 1978. Then in the next 30 + years, he formed and played in so many bands, that it was hard to keep up with everything he was involved with. His main project was 60’s influenced (at least initially) band called The Times but would also use the name Teenage Filmstars and also release music as Edward Ball. BUT that was just a tip of the iceberg of the musical adventures of Edward Ball.
In addition he was a musical chameleon that never stood still, but released records in many genres, mod, beat, psych pop and power pop with his bands The Times, O’ Level and early Teenage Filmstars and later he delved into shoegaze (MBV territory) with several of the later Teenage Filmstars albums. Edward Ball was regarded by Kevin Shields as “A sensitive soul from another planet. A modernist musical alchemist”.
He also embraced electronic dance and acid house with his Love Corporation albums and he even dabbled in electronic, ambient, post rock instrumentals in the band Sand with Richard Green and a Drum & Base outfit called The Chemical Pilot with Alan McGee. He played and toured with the Boo Radleys and also with Biff Bang Pow!. And if all that wasn’t enough, throughout this period, he ran several record labels like the King’s Road label, the Whaam! Records label with Dan Treacy, the Art Pop! Records label, Ball Product and he was one of the main guys at Creation Records.
Alan McGee claimed that “Ed Ball was a superstar; sometimes I think that guy was a bigger star than any of them. He had played in Television Personalities and his own band The Times, and was such a unique person, but he was never famous, though he was an amazing, larger-than-life character.” (Quote from “How To Run A Label”)
With all that he accomplished Edward still remains an undiscovered gem for many, so we hope that this tribute will shine a light on at least a few of his songs and possibly introduce him to a few new fans. If you are a fan of Ed, we know you are going to love these covers as performed by many of our favourite bands. And if you are not yet a fan, we know you are still going to enjoy these covers as the music speaks for itself – These are absolutely brilliant songs that could easily have been big hits in an alternate universe.
As inspired by the TV Show the Prisoner, the tribute is presented in 2 Episodes:
I Helped Edward Ball Escape – A Tribute To The Times & Edward Ball
Episode 1 – Track List:
1. True Stories – I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
2. Rotifer – Red With Purple Flashes
3. The Che Men – Mill Hill Self Hate Club
4. The Yellow Melodies – Manchester
5. Moore – Liam Gallagher Our Leader
6. Summerhouse – Tears On A Rainy Sunday
7. The Leading End – Love is Blue
8. April Events – Miss London
9. Colin Swan – Last Tango For One
10. James Clarke Five – Extase
11. Mike Gale – Controversial Girlfriend
12. Lovejoy – When You Lose Your Lover Learn To Lose
13. Armstrong – It’s Kinda Lonely Where I Am
14 Pretty Eyes For Captain America – I Hate Ibiza
15. Alistair Jackson – Theres A Cloud Over Gillingham
16. The Broken Heed – Mill Hill Self Hate Club
17. Terryball – Boys About Town
18. Si Farrier – Heaven Sent Me An Angel
19. Tender Engines – Love Is Blue
20. SUPER 8 – Liam Gallagher Our Leader
21. The Answers – If Now Is The Question
22. Post Plastic World – I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
Episode 2 – Track List:
1. The Woermwood Scrubs – Britannia Sleeps Tonight
2. The Eddies – Red With Purple Flashes
3. The Painted Word – Confiance
4. Crabber – Controversial Girlfriend
5. The Selfish Cales – Thamesbeat
6. Bartholomew Mellowglass – Picture Gallery
7. Cerdito – Its Time
8. Dupont Circles – Jokes on Zandra
9. The NoMen – Kiss Me (Teenage Filmstars)
10. The Great Auk Fanciers Society – Pinstripes
11. Cherry Fez – If Only
12. Lloyd Meadows – Theme From Dangerman
13. Dodgy Accent – Big Painting
14. ¡Los Padrinos! – Looking at the World Through Dark Shades
15. Woog Riots – My Andy Warhol Poster
16. Self Love – Blue Fire
17. The Che Men – Mill Hill Self Hate Club (Instrumental)
18. Spring Rain – Liam Gallagher Our Leader
19. Terryball – Boys About Town (2025 Mix)
20. Tetley – Big Painting
21. The Tables – Looking at the World Through Dark Shades (Live)
22. The Times – Britannia Sleeps Tonight (Live London 1986)
“I Helped Edward Ball Escape – A Tribute To The Times & Edward Ball” (CD Version)
Various Artists
Beauty 030
$20.00 CDN OUT NOW!
We prefer to receive payment via PayPal (they handle all our secure credit transactions) once you click the “Add to Cart” button by the desired album, you will see your cart show on the left side of the screen. Click on the “Check Out with Paypal” button when you are done shopping, but if you would like to send cash or money order please contact admin@thebeautifulmusic.com with your order.
