Sooner or later (World Party) (LP 4980 - 4981)

World Party  Goodbye Jumbo  (Vinyl, Ensign Records, 1990) ****  

World Party  Bang!  (CD, Ensign Records, 1993) *** 

Genre: Pop, alt-rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, HMV

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Way Down Now (Goodbye Jumbo), Is It Like Today? (Bang!)

Gear costume: Put the Message in the Box (Goodbye Jumbo)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8

Active compensatory factors: World Party is Karl Wallinger's band, similar to the way The Waterboys is Mike Scott's band. When Karl left The Waterboys he started a solo career under the name World Party. Goodbye Jumbo was his second album. Karl starts working with other like-minded musicians on this album and it's a winning formula.

The Beatles' influence is front and centre in that Karl enjoys working in a studio environment to craft great pop songs that develop and have hooks. He also has a touch of Lennon about his vocals at times. That doesn't mean he hasn't developed his own style.

Bang! was his/ their third album. His/ their because World Party became a real band, a trio for this album. David Catlin-Birch (guitars), and Chris Sharrock (drums) join Karl on vocals, keyboards, guitars etc. Some guest artists also appear like Guy Chambers who was also on Goodbye Jumbo.

It has a bigger sound than Goodbye Jumbo and leans more on a Prince style funk approach at times with some Robbie Williamses as well. So, I tend to prefer the more organic Goodbye Jumbo but Bang! still has a lot of fine moments. 

Where do they all belong? There are a few World Party albums to look out for - especially Egyptology (1997) and Dumbing Up (2000). Sadly, ill health stalled his career and he passed away, aged only 66, in 2024.