Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Wiz Ball

@wizball50.bsky.social

2.3K followers 1.1K following 9.1K posts

Well versed in both the politics of dancing and the art of parties. Songwriter and vinyl bore. Wild #LFC fanatic and chant-crafter. Proud nephew to two beautiful uncles.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · Apr 26

The quintessential 70s album, the perfect antidote to late-60s naivety. 'What's going on' is the definitive soundtrack to tumultuous times; an emotional marriage of soul and wisdom; maybe the best concept album ever recorded. And a serious contender for #5albums70sfinal

#vinyl #nowplaying #musicsky

'What's going on'
Marvin Gaye
(1971)

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 21m

He's doing everything he can to avoid a senate vote on the Jeffery—with two 'F's Jeffery—Epstein files
.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 27m

Came across this recording we did a few years ago on a hard disk. My dear friend and bandmate @modern-composer.bsky.social who features also added cool public domain pics to it.

It's a bit of a #slowcore song, but if you're a patient person, you might enjoy it.

#musicsky #musiciansky #nowplaying

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 35m

I had no idea Bruce Hornsby was involved in that. Coincidentally, I only recently found out Larry Carlton, who played on Joni Mitchell tracks like 'Help Me' and 'Amelia', plays the guitar part on the HillStreet Blues theme.

Mike Post had one hell of a fucking rolodex.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

You don't get that problem with knockers.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

That's beautiful.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

The band the Beatles could have been.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

It was definitely on the marketing people's mood board...

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

Said photo...

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

Obviously, you can never be certain about these things. But I imagine whoever it was who came up with the concept of 'Only Fans' had a copy of this 2003 music DVD in his collection.

#musicsky #filmsky

'Fans Only'
Belle & Sebastian
(2003)

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 1h

Ah, meant to attach a photo...

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 2h

Still my favourite Beyonce track to this day. That Chi-Lites lift is one of the vest best examples of sampling you'll ever hear.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 2h

Absolutely adore this song. There's somethings so sadly nostalgic about that keyboard line, that runs perfectly in to the melody line.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 2h

In that video, I love the moment where the boy cues up the record again because he wasn't feeling it the first time.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 2h

The middle 8 is an absolute killer, one of the best moments on the album.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 2h

If ever a track deserved a 🤘

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 7h

That was exactly the issue. They were desperate for more of the same—a bigger hit you could not have had. And he gave them a lot of 60s inspired psychedelia instead. The glory of having full creative control that!

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 8h

Prince's run from 1999 to Sign o' the Times is pretty staggering too. But, as with most things, it's hard to top the Beatles. Rubber Soul invented the album; Abbey Road perfected it, and that's all in less than four years.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 8h

Just as pictured on the vid. I know Andy was pushing for a vulva wearing a Daisy chain on the front, nixed by Virgin for obvious reasons.

But I think there is a 'fixed mix' version that uses that cover and it's quite cool—it's actually a bit Pixies looking.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 8h

And pretty much sampling the Burundi drummers on that same track to incredible effect. The woman was so far ahead of her times we still haven't caught it with her.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 8h

Mine too.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 8h

Yes, that version off Shadows and Light is great. Though I still prefer the Hejira recording—Larry Carlton's guitar on that gives me visions. (I thought he was playing a steel pedal for years, but turns out it was just a volume pedal and his Gibson.)

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 9h

Ha! Yes, very true.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks Bitso!

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 9h

It's magnificent.

Wiz Ball @wizball50.bsky.social · 9h

One of my very favourites too. An exceptionally beautiful melody.