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The Times (band)
Encyclopedia
The Times are a British, 1980s-90s, independent band, the brainchild of Ed Ball
, co-founder member of the Television Personalities, Teenage Filmstars
and 'O' Level
.
At the same time, recorded as a proposed Teenage Filmstars' debut LP. Ball's 1980 collection of songs was completed as "Go! With The Times", from which the first Times single "Red With Purple Flashes" (1981) was released on Whaam! This was followed by "Pop Goes Art!" (1982), released in individually hand-painted sleeves that executed the band's Pop Art visions. The 1990 ARTPOP! vinyl re-issue of this album even featured individually hand-painted picture discs.
" T.V. series that starred Patrick McGoohan
. Ball's songwriting took a more serious turn with "This Is London" (1983). Songs like "Goodbye Piccadilly", "If Only", and the title track, match the bleakness and despair of Joy Division
, the cutting sarcasm of The Jam
. After the experimental electronics of "Hello Europe" (1984), Ball fulfilled a long-time ambition to stage Joe Orton
's screenplay for the Beatles
"Up Against It" at a West London theatre with Tony Conway from Mood Six
. This culminated with the Times' fifth album "Up Against It" (1985). Fancying themselves as pirate televisionaries, the Times proceeded by decimating in fiction, within the parameters of songwriting, every symbol of western civilisation with their final ARTPOP! album "Enjoy".
to continue recording his skewed visions as The Times, Edward Ball
released "Beat Torture" (1988). "E For Edward" (1989) and "Et Dieu Créa La Femme" (1990), recalls his various abilities to humourise fads and trends ("Manchester", "Aurore Boreale"), register sadness and loss ("No Love On Haight Street", "All Your Life") and generally capture the enveloping drug culture that pervaded the label. "Pure" (1991), which contains a 12-minute version of "Blue Monday" in French
("Lundi Bleu"), sees Ball plunging into his own psyche to create an undisciplined record. Cited by some as the most psychedelic
record of the 90s, it reveals the male aspects of group culture ("From Chelsea Green To Brighton Beach") and female distortions and rants ("Another Star In Heaven"), including a performance by Ball's Mum. "Alternative Commercial Crossover" (1993) suggests he is still susceptible to the psychedelics - his combining of James Joyce
with Raggamuffin culture ("Finnegan's Break") is a hit-and-miss affair. The album's strength lies in Ball's melodic and sensitive delivery ("All I Want is You to Care", "Sorry I've Written A Melody") that signposts his destiny as a solo artist. "Sad But True" (1997) and "Pirate Playlist 66" (1999) function as secondary tiers to Edward Ball
's solo output.
Red With Purple Flashes / Biff! Bang! Pow!
7" Whaam! (WHAAM 002) May 1981
Here Comes The Holidays
Here Comes The Holidays (Voici Les Vacances) / Three Cheers For The Sun
(A-side credited to Joni Dee Featuring The Times)
7" Artpop! (POP 50) June 1982
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape / Theme from 'Danger Man'
7" Artpop! (POP 49) September 1982
Boys Brigade
Boys Brigade / Power Is Forever
7" Artpop! (POP 46) 1984
Blue Fire
Blue Fire / Where The Blue Begins
7" Artpop! (POP 45) 1984
Boys About Town EP
David Jones (Is On His Way) / Victim 1960 / Up Against It / Song For Joe Orton
12" Artpop! (POP 43DOZ) 1985
London Boys
London Boys / (Where To Go) When The Sun Goes Down
7" Unicorn (PHZ 1) 1986
Times TV
Times TV / Trailer From "Enjoy"
7" Fire Records (BLAZE 16S) 1986
Times TV / Trailer From "Enjoy" / The Polite Force / El Aragua / Pick It Up
12" Fire Records (BLAZE 16T) 1986
Manchester
Manchester / Love And Truth
7" Creation Records (CRE071) Jan 1990
Manchester / DaDa Won't Buy Me A Bauhaus / Manchester (extended)
12" Creation Records (CRE071T) Jan 1990
Manchester / Manchester (extended) / Ulysses / Shoom!
CD Creation Records (CRESCD71) Jan 1990
The Mods Are Back!
The Times 'Extase' / Biff Bang Pow 'Sleep'
Split 7" Caff Corporation (Caff 13) 1990
Lundi Bleu
Lundi Bleu / Lundi Bleu (Instrumental)
7" Creation Records (CRE114) 1992
Lundi Bleu (Praise The Lord Mix) / Lundi Bleu (The Grid's World Communication Mix) / Lundi Bleu ('Smiling' Remix)
12" Creation Records (CRE114T) 1992
Lundi Bleu (Radio Edit (4:01) / Lundi Bleu (Praise The Lord Mix) / Remix (The Grid) / Lundi Bleu (The Grid's World Communication Mix) / Lundi Bleu ('Smiling' Remix) / Lundi Bleu (Brazilian Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (Japanese Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (German Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (Spanish Vocal Edit)
CD Creation Records (CRESCD114) 1992
Finnegan's Break
Finnegan's Break / Heartbroken Lost In Blue
7" Creation Records (CRE158) 1993
Finnegan's Break [Edit] / Heartbroken Lost In Blue / Soul Tight / Come Alive
12" Creation Records (CRE158T) 1993
CD Creation Records (CRESCD158) 1993
Baby Girl
Baby Girl / The Colour Of My Love
7" Creation Records (CRE162) 1993
Baby Girl / The Colour Of My Love / Mash It Up / Primrose 0822
CD Creation Records (CRESCD162) 1993
Ed Ball (musician)
Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
, co-founder member of the Television Personalities, Teenage Filmstars
Teenage Filmstars
Teenage Filmstars are an English, post punk, independent, psychedelic 1980s-90s band, formed in 1979 by Edward Ball, Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster...
and 'O' Level
'O' Level
O' Level were a British, late 1970s, post punk, indie band, founded in 1976 by Ed Ball with friends John and Gerard Bennett. The group's name refers to the 'O'-Level of the British General Certificate of Education.-History:...
.
Whaam! Records 1981-1982
After releasing a string of 7" singles variously as O'Level ("We Love Malcolm", 1978), The Television Personalities ("Part-Time Punks", 1978), Teenage Filmstars ("There's A Cloud Over Liverpool", 1979, "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape", 1980), that culminated with the debut Television Personalities album "And Don't The Kids Just Love It" (1980) on Rough Trade Records, Edward Ball and Daniel Treacy opted for even more artistic control by setting up their own label, WHAAM! Records.At the same time, recorded as a proposed Teenage Filmstars' debut LP. Ball's 1980 collection of songs was completed as "Go! With The Times", from which the first Times single "Red With Purple Flashes" (1981) was released on Whaam! This was followed by "Pop Goes Art!" (1982), released in individually hand-painted sleeves that executed the band's Pop Art visions. The 1990 ARTPOP! vinyl re-issue of this album even featured individually hand-painted picture discs.
ArTpOp! Records 1982-1986
On leaving the Television Personalities, and consequently Whaam!, Ball immediately launched the ARTPOP! label with the Times' second single "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape!" (September 1982). This was accompanied by humorous tongue in cheek video based on "The PrisonerThe Prisoner
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the UK from 29 September 1967 to 1 February 1968. Starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan, it combined spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.The series follows a British former...
" T.V. series that starred Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
. Ball's songwriting took a more serious turn with "This Is London" (1983). Songs like "Goodbye Piccadilly", "If Only", and the title track, match the bleakness and despair of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, the cutting sarcasm of The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
. After the experimental electronics of "Hello Europe" (1984), Ball fulfilled a long-time ambition to stage Joe Orton
Joe Orton
John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...
's screenplay for the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
"Up Against It" at a West London theatre with Tony Conway from Mood Six
Mood Six
Mood Six was a neo-psychedelic band formed in London's West End in 1981. Emerging from the remnants of mod revival groups like the The Merton Parkas and the VIPs, their original lineup included Phil Ward, Tony Conway, Andy Godfrey, Guy Morley, Paul Shurey, and Simon Smith.Debuting with two tracks -...
. This culminated with the Times' fifth album "Up Against It" (1985). Fancying themselves as pirate televisionaries, the Times proceeded by decimating in fiction, within the parameters of songwriting, every symbol of western civilisation with their final ARTPOP! album "Enjoy".
Creation Records 1988-1999
Given the opportunity by Alan McGeeAlan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
to continue recording his skewed visions as The Times, Edward Ball
Ed Ball (musician)
Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
released "Beat Torture" (1988). "E For Edward" (1989) and "Et Dieu Créa La Femme" (1990), recalls his various abilities to humourise fads and trends ("Manchester", "Aurore Boreale"), register sadness and loss ("No Love On Haight Street", "All Your Life") and generally capture the enveloping drug culture that pervaded the label. "Pure" (1991), which contains a 12-minute version of "Blue Monday" in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
("Lundi Bleu"), sees Ball plunging into his own psyche to create an undisciplined record. Cited by some as the most psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
record of the 90s, it reveals the male aspects of group culture ("From Chelsea Green To Brighton Beach") and female distortions and rants ("Another Star In Heaven"), including a performance by Ball's Mum. "Alternative Commercial Crossover" (1993) suggests he is still susceptible to the psychedelics - his combining of James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
with Raggamuffin culture ("Finnegan's Break") is a hit-and-miss affair. The album's strength lies in Ball's melodic and sensitive delivery ("All I Want is You to Care", "Sorry I've Written A Melody") that signposts his destiny as a solo artist. "Sad But True" (1997) and "Pirate Playlist 66" (1999) function as secondary tiers to Edward Ball
Ed Ball (musician)
Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
's solo output.
Studio albums
- Go! With The Times (November 1980)
- Pop Goes Art! (January 1982)
- This Is London (May 1983)
- I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape (November 1983)
- Hello Europe (September 1984)
- Blue Period (March 1985)
- Up Against It (January 1986)
- Enjoy The Times (December 1986)
- Beat Torture (November 1988)
- E For Edward (October 1989)
- Et Dieu Créa La FemmeEt Dieu Créa La FemmeEt Dieu Créa La Femme is the eleventh album by The Times. It was released by Creation Records in 1990-Track Listing:# Septième Ciel # Aurore Boréale # Confiance # Chagrin D'Amour # Volupté...
(August 1990) - Pure (August 1990)
- The Times At The Astradome (April 1992)
- Alternative Commercial Crossover (April 1993)
- Sad But True (March 1997)
- Pirate Playlist (December 1999)
Compilations
- 1. Pink Ball Brown Ball Ed Ball - July 1991
- 2. Welcome To The Wonderful World of Ed Ball - March 1995
- 3. Here's To Old England! - October 2005
Singles & EPs
Red With Purple FlashesRed With Purple Flashes / Biff! Bang! Pow!
7" Whaam! (WHAAM 002) May 1981
Here Comes The Holidays
Here Comes The Holidays (Voici Les Vacances) / Three Cheers For The Sun
(A-side credited to Joni Dee Featuring The Times)
7" Artpop! (POP 50) June 1982
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape / Theme from 'Danger Man'
7" Artpop! (POP 49) September 1982
Boys Brigade
Boys Brigade / Power Is Forever
7" Artpop! (POP 46) 1984
Blue Fire
Blue Fire / Where The Blue Begins
7" Artpop! (POP 45) 1984
Boys About Town EP
David Jones (Is On His Way) / Victim 1960 / Up Against It / Song For Joe Orton
12" Artpop! (POP 43DOZ) 1985
London Boys
London Boys / (Where To Go) When The Sun Goes Down
7" Unicorn (PHZ 1) 1986
Times TV
Times TV / Trailer From "Enjoy"
7" Fire Records (BLAZE 16S) 1986
Times TV / Trailer From "Enjoy" / The Polite Force / El Aragua / Pick It Up
12" Fire Records (BLAZE 16T) 1986
Manchester
Manchester / Love And Truth
7" Creation Records (CRE071) Jan 1990
Manchester / DaDa Won't Buy Me A Bauhaus / Manchester (extended)
12" Creation Records (CRE071T) Jan 1990
Manchester / Manchester (extended) / Ulysses / Shoom!
CD Creation Records (CRESCD71) Jan 1990
The Mods Are Back!
The Times 'Extase' / Biff Bang Pow 'Sleep'
Split 7" Caff Corporation (Caff 13) 1990
Lundi Bleu
Lundi Bleu / Lundi Bleu (Instrumental)
7" Creation Records (CRE114) 1992
Lundi Bleu (Praise The Lord Mix) / Lundi Bleu (The Grid's World Communication Mix) / Lundi Bleu ('Smiling' Remix)
12" Creation Records (CRE114T) 1992
Lundi Bleu (Radio Edit (4:01) / Lundi Bleu (Praise The Lord Mix) / Remix (The Grid) / Lundi Bleu (The Grid's World Communication Mix) / Lundi Bleu ('Smiling' Remix) / Lundi Bleu (Brazilian Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (Japanese Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (German Vocal Edit) / Lundi Bleu (Spanish Vocal Edit)
CD Creation Records (CRESCD114) 1992
Finnegan's Break
Finnegan's Break / Heartbroken Lost In Blue
7" Creation Records (CRE158) 1993
Finnegan's Break [Edit] / Heartbroken Lost In Blue / Soul Tight / Come Alive
12" Creation Records (CRE158T) 1993
CD Creation Records (CRESCD158) 1993
Baby Girl
Baby Girl / The Colour Of My Love
7" Creation Records (CRE162) 1993
Baby Girl / The Colour Of My Love / Mash It Up / Primrose 0822
CD Creation Records (CRESCD162) 1993
Re-issues
- "Here's To Old England!" A Compilation (Artpop! Records, October 2005)
- "This Is LondonThis Is LondonThis Is London may refer to:*thisislondon.co.uk, a website belonging to the Evening Standard*"This is London" or "This is London Calling", an opening message on the BBC World Service*This Is London, a 1983 album by The Times...
" (Artpop! Records, October 2006) - "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape" (Artpop! Records, October 2006)
Compilation Appearances
- 1. A Splash Of Colour (WEA Records 1981) "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape"
- 2. The Countdown Compilation (5-4-3-2-1 Go!) (Countdown 1985) "Whatever Happened To Thames Beat"
See also
- Ed Ball (musician)Ed Ball (musician)Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
- Creation RecordsCreation RecordsCreation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
- Television Personalities
- Scenes From Oblivion (soundtrack)