''Bang!'' is the third studio album by Welsh-British group

World Party World Party were a British musical group, which was essentially the solo project of its sole member, Karl Wallinger. He started the band in 1986 in London after leaving the Waterboys. Career After a stint as musical director of a West End pe ...

, released by

Ensign Records Ensign Records was a record label started in 1976 by London-born Nigel Grainge, elder brother of UMG Chairman Sir Lucian Grainge. History Nigel Grainge began his career in the record business as a sales office assistant at Phonogram UK in 197 ...

on 20 April 1993.

Overview

While previous World Party albums were essentially solo projects by multi-instrumentalist

Karl Wallinger Karl Edmond De Vere Wallinger (born 19 October 1957, Prestatyn, Wales) is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for leading the band World Party and for his mid-1980s stint in the Waterboys. He also wrote and origi ...

, for this album World Party officially became a three-person group: Wallinger (vocals, keyboards, guitars, basses, etc.),

Dave Catlin-Birch David Catlin-Birch is a British musician. He was a bass guitarist for pop/alternative rock band World Party, and was the original "Paul" for the March 1980 launch of The Beatles tribute band, The Bootleg Beatles. With Rowland Rivron and Richa ...

(guitars), and

Chris Sharrock Chris Sharrock (born 30 May 1964) is an English drummer, hailing from Bebington, Cheshire (now Merseyside), England. He has been a member of the Icicle Works, the La's, the Wild Swans, World Party, the Lightning Seeds, Robbie Williams's live ...

(drums). As well, the band is aided by a number of guest artists.

Release

In 2000, the album was re-released by

Papillon Records Papillon Records was a record label started by the Chrysalis Group (who had sold their Chrysalis Records division to EMI) in 1999 with longtime Chrysalis act Jethro Tull. Whilst Echo Records was formed to provide an outlet by new and independ ...

with new cover art. Since 2000 the reissues omitted the track "Give It All Away (Reprise)".

Track listing

All songs written by Karl Wallinger, except where noted. # "Kingdom Come" – 5:27 # "Is It Like Today?" – 5:11 # "What Is Love All About?" – 4:06 # "And God Said..." (Wallinger,

Guy Chambers Guy Antony Chambers (born 12 January 1963) is an English songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for his work with Robbie Williams. Education Chambers attended Quarry Bank Comprehensive School sixth form in Liverpool. From 18, h ...

) – 0:26 # "Give It All Away""Give It All Away" is an extended mix of 8:34 in the UK version. The US version is shorter at 4:23. – 4:23 # "Sooner or Later" – 4:34 # "Hollywood" – 4:09 # "Radio Days" (Wallinger, Chambers,

David Catlin-Birch David Catlin-Birch is a British musician. He was a bass guitarist for pop/alternative rock band World Party, and was the original "Paul" for the March 1980 launch of The Beatles tribute band, The Bootleg Beatles. With Rowland Rivron and Richa ...

) – 4:53 # "Rescue Me" – 6:06 # "Sunshine" – 4:31 # "All I Gave" – 3:47 # "Give It All Away (Reprise)"There is a hidden track towards the end of ''Give It All Away (Reprise)'', a track only on the US release, entitled "Surfing in Kuwait City" or, more simply, "Kuwait City". It is a satirical song and a pastiche in the style of the

Beach Boys A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shell ...

. It makes a social commentary on the 1991

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

. Notes:

Charts

References

1993 albums World Party albums {{1990s-pop-rock-album-stub