Customer Reviews

Goodbye Jumbo

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned this disc since shortly after it was first released in 1990. I still pull it out quite frequently today. It's that good. For those unfamiliar, World Party is the creation of ex-Waterboy Karl Wallinger. Wallinger melds sixties style Beatles and Stones sounds with eighties new wave and a sort of up to date hippie feel to produce a record that will get you humming and thinking at the same time. Wallinger sings about the environment, intolerance, and global concerns, but he is not above more personal songs about love and loss. The lyrics are only part of the enjoyment, though. Half the fun of this record is listening for the little snippets from sixties songs that Wallinger has picked up to add to his own mix. (As an example, there's a background vocal on "Way Down Now" that is a near dead ringer for the one on "Sympathy for the Devil.") Some might call it derivative, but the end product is too original ever to be derivative. I'm not generally one to hand out five star ratings, but this disc deserves it.

"I'm way down now, way down now..", from the terrific opener, to the funky, rhythmic closer, "Thank You World", Karl Wallinger and Co. have never sounded more inspired. I've still got my original 1990 pressing of this pop/soul classic and it just gets better with time! While he's often been chided for wearing his influences on his sleeve (not unlike Lenny Kravitz), Wallinger knows his way around a great melody and can write indelible hooks with the best of them. "Goodbye..." has it's heart firmly planted in 90's politics, while it's sound is rooted in various decades of rock, pop, funk and soul with a little acoustic folk ("And I Fell Back Alone") thrown in for good measure. My favorite track is the Prince-ly/Sly Stone-ish "Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready", but on the whole this entire LP is very strong, there's simply not a dud in the bunch. A fun, funky and eclectic album that holds up well.

I'm falling in love with this CD for about the 6th time now, so I thought I'd post this for all those who have yet to discover it. Yes, Karl Wallinger shamelessly borrows from his influences (mostly The Beatles, as well as the Stones, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Dylan, and others), but so what? He writes wonderful songs, and if you like those artists, you will love this album. It's too bad that less talented Beatle-apers like Lenny Kravitz and Oasis sell all the records and get played on MTV while Karl Wallinger is a virtual unknown, and it's also unfortunate that Wallinger spent the rest of the 90's trying (unsuccessfully) to recreate the magic of this album. But Karl's "band" has at least one classic CD to its name, and I've played it hundreds of times and it never gets old. "Sweet Soul Dream" and the George Harrison-esque "When The Rainbow Comes" are lovely. "God On My Side" is a perfect anthem for the post- 9/11 world. "Way Down Now," with its fade-out reminiscent of "Sympathy For The Devil" rivals anything the Rolling Stones ever did. No, that's not hyperbole...buy this record now.

I have a rather short list of "beginning-to-end" albums; that is, albums that I can listen to from beginning to end without a single song letting me down. This album is near the top of my list, and as close to a perfect pop-rock album as one can hope to get. Every single track contained here could stand alone as a pop classic, it's simply that rich a record. This is to my mind, the best CD of the 1990's. Yes, Wallinger borrows liberally from his influences (the "oo-oooo" chorus in "Way Down Now" is a direct steal from the Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil"), but that doesn't diminish the genius of the songwriting. Echoes of the Beatles, Stones, Sly Stone, Van Morrison, among others, can be heard here. This is a rich, rocking, soulful, funky, recording. Do yourself a favor and add it to your collection. I, too, don't understand why it's only available as an import, but the DVD can only be a pleasant bonus. Buy it anyway.

This is my all time favorite album. Every song is good and words just won't give it justice, you would have to hear it to know what I'm talkin' about. My favorite is Love Street, which brings out my emotions every time I hear it. I don't know why this album is not rated as one of the all-time greatest rock albums ever. It is that good...

I had lost this CD in my divorce. I remember when it came out and the dj playing "Put the Message in the Box" said how it is rare to have a CD without a bad cut on it. "Goodbye Jumbo" is one of those CD. They were absolutely right. I am going to break open my wallet and buy the import version. I miss this CD badly. Haven't listened to this CD in over 6 years and still humming "Way Down Now" in my head.

Hey, I'm 50 years old, and I can listen to this great collection of timeless songs over, and over, and over again, and always be amazed at how good this man is and how fresh the music sounds. Its the only music I even remember from the 90's. If you have not listened, you are missing out.

Hey, I'm 12 years old. You may think I'm some punk kid, but I'm not. My parents came across this album by chance, and I love it. EVERY song is absolutely great! A must-have for any rock music fan. Every song is different, but still extrordinary. Amazing. You HAVE to get this CD.

I am completely baffled at how this album never got the full attention that it deserved from the music world! It's jammed pack with awesome psychelica rock/pop that makes me melt. Karl Wallinger's voice is superb and the melodies are complex, layered, and uplifting. I'm also disappointed that it's only available as an import on Amazon. Is the domestic version out of print?! Perhaps we need to organize ;) If you missed this album in the 90s, it is a "must have." Also check out the very underrated album "Laid" by James.

I don't know what pigeon-hole this album should be placed in (power pop?, trad-rock?) - but I know what I like. It's truly Beatlesque without being derivative. Songs like "Put the Message in the Box" feel like summer any time of the year. And "When the Rainbow Comes" is one of the most haunting pop songs I've heard in a while. In short, this is just flat-out great music - a pop masterpiece!