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. 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 Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa, Sinéad O'Connor, Karl Wallinger, 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. Big Blue Ball was launched in the United States in June, 24th, 2008. "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 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. 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. The digital download versions of the album contain different bonus content depending on the country. UK download stores include the track "Whole Thing ". US download stores include the track "Habibe " and a digital booklet. Both versions include the "Story of the Big Blue Ball, Pt. 1" video.
Track listing
Personnel
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. ; 1. Whole Thing
Lead vocal, keyboards: Peter Gabriel
Guitars: Karl Wallinger, Paul Allen
Nord brass, backing vocals: Alex Faku
Flutes: Francis Bebey
Backing vocals: Tim Finn, Andy White
Programming: Chuck Norman
Toms: Tchad Blake
Published by Gallo Music Publishers/Mushroom Music Pty/Real World Music Ltd/WOMAD Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Reverb Music Ltd ; 2. Habibe
Vocals: Natacha Atlas
Drums & percussion: Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes
Strings: The Hossam Ramzy Egyptian Ensemble
Saz: Tim Whelan
Keyboards: Stephen Hague
Programming: Chuck Norman
Published by Annie Reed Music/Hossam Ramzy PRS, MCPS & PAMRA/copyright control/Real World Music Ltd ; 3. Shadow
Vocals: Papa Wemba
Backing Vocals: Reddy Amisi
Guitar: Juan Cañizares
Percussion: The Papa Wemba Band
Bongos: Laurent Coatalen
Frame Drums: Tchad Blake
Published by JMC Music Productions S.L./Real World Music Ltd/Universal Music Publishing/Real World Works Ltd ; 4. Altus silva
