Ball of Fire (album)

Ball of Fire
Studio album by
Skatalites
Released1997 (UK)
1998 (US)
GenreSka jazz
LabelIsland Jamaica Jazz[1]
Skatalites chronology
Greetings from Skamania
(1996)		 Ball of Fire
(1997)		 Ska Titans: Laurel Aitken & the Skatalites
(1999)

Ball of Fire is an album by the Jamaican band the Skatalites, released in 1998 in the United States.[2][3] The band supported the album with a North American tour, including shows with several Hellcat bands.[4][5]

Production

The eight-piece Skatalites recorded Ball of Fire with four original members.[6] The band reinterpreted some of their older instrumentals—which had been hits in the United Kingdom—stretching them out and giving them a jazzier sound, with longer guitar and horn solos.[7][8][9] Ernest Ranglin played guitar on some of the tracks.[10] The title track was written in the early 1960s.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[12]
The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionB+[13]
The Austin ChronicleStarStarStarStarStar[14]
The Indianapolis StarStarStarStarHalf star[15]
Los Angeles Daily NewsStarStarStar[16]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album GuideStarStarStarHalf star[17]
NMEStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[18]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[19]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStar[20]

The Austin Chronicle wrote that Ball of Fire "is nothing less than a live, in-the-studio recording with a sparkling sound... Here is one of the greatest 'groove' bands of all time at the top of their form."[14] The Independent stated: "Ultimately, you're left with the feeling that it's being done for their benefit, rather than yours. That's jazz, I guess."[21] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution determined that Ranglin "contributes lightning quick bebop lines, taking the music beyond its structural limitations."[13]

Rolling Stone deemed the album "a casual, disarmingly sweet trip through the band's storied songbook."[19] The Los Angeles Daily News opined that "the current lineup recaptures the original energy and jazz roots."[16] The Indianapolis Star determined that "enough cannot be said about the strong, smooth solos on trumpet (Nathan Breedlove) and alto sax (Lester Sterling)."[15]

AllMusic wrote that the album "finds a reunited Skatalites reworking their greatest hits, playing long, extended passages that allow the band to demonstrate their substantial instrumental abilities."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."James Bond Theme" 
2."Latin Goes Ska" 
3."Confucious" 
4."Occupation" 
5."Rock Fort Rock" 
6."Eastern Standard Time" 
7."Ball of Fire" 
8."Swing Easy" 
9."Ringo" 
10."Freedom Sound" 

Personnel

  • Lloyd Brevett – Electric upright bass
  • Lloyd Knibb – Drums
  • Devon James – Guitar
  • Lester Sterling – Alto saxophone
  • Roland Alphonso – Tenor saxophone
  • Will Clark – Trombone
  • Nathan Breedlove – Trumpet
  • Bill Smith – Piano, organ
  • with Special Guest Ernest Ranglin – Guitar
  • Produced by Nathan Breedlove, Bill Smith, Shay & the Skatalites
  • Engineered by Danny Kadar
  • Assistant engineer – Jen Wyler
  • Mastered by John Dent at Loud Mastering
  • Designed by Michael + K8 @Intro
  • Liner notes by Jon Preston

References

  1. ↑ "New World '98". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 57, no. 601. January 11, 1999. p. 22.
  2. ↑ "The Skatalites Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Walker, Klive (June 21, 2005). Dubwise: Reasoning from the Reggae Underground. Insomniac Press. ISBN 978-1-897414-60-6.
  4. ↑ Sherr, Sara (February 6, 1998). "Alternative Choice". Philadelphia Daily News. p. F15.
  5. ↑ Piccoli, Sean (February 15, 1998). "Hellcat Revue". Sun-Sentinel. p. 2D.
  6. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (February 4, 1998). "Reaching for the Ska". The Washington Post. p. D7.
  7. ↑ Augusto, Troy J. (March 4, 1998). "The Skatalites". Variety.
  8. ↑ Bell, Carrie (October 18, 1997). "Current craze opens doors for classic acts, reissues". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 42. pp. 1, 92.
  9. ↑ Boehm, Mike (February 25, 1998). "The Ska Fathers". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  10. ↑ Wolk, Douglas (February 1998). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 54. p. 40.
  11. ↑ Masouri, John (November 11, 2009). Wailing Blues: The Story of Bob Marley's Wailers. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-035-9.
  12. 1 2 "The Skatalites Ball of Fire". AllMusic.
  13. 1 2 "Ska". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 19, 1998. p. K6.
  14. 1 2 "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
  15. 1 2 Bacon, Scott (February 8, 1998). "Skatalites trip to the past yields lively delights". The Indianapolis Star. p. I7.
  16. 1 2 Shuster, Fred (February 6, 1998). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L23.
  17. ↑ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 719.
  18. ↑ Perry, John. "The Skatalites: Ball of Fire". New Musical Express. p. 51.
  19. 1 2 Moon, Tom (February 5, 1998). "Ball of Fire". Rolling Stone. No. 779. pp. 60, 62.
  20. ↑ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 741.
  21. ↑ Gill, Andy (August 29, 1997). "The Skatalites Ball of Fire". Features. The Independent. p. 12.
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