Ball (Widespread Panic album)

Last updated
Ball
WidespreadPanicBall.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 15, 2003
Genre Rock, southern rock
Length73:27
Label Widespread Records
Sanctuary Records
Producer John Keane
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic chronology
Live in the Classic City
(2002)
Ball
(2003)
Night of Joy
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg link
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link

Ball is the eighth studio album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was released on April 15, 2003 and it was the band's first studio album with George McConnell on lead guitar. McConnell joined the band in 2002 after the death of founding member Michael Houser.

Contents

This process of recording the album departed from the band's usual methodology. Widespread Panic's previous studio albums had included mostly songs already familiar to the band's fans. Ball, however, included 12 never-before-heard songs written specifically for the album, along with one song, "Time Waits", previously performed only by singer/guitarist John Bell in solo appearances. It was also the first Widespread Panic album which did not feature at least one cover song.

The album reached a peak position of #61 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Track listing

All songs by Widespread Panic unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fishing" 4:58
2."Thin Air (Smells Like Mississippi)" 5:14
3."Tortured Artist" 5:16
4."Papa Johnny Road" 4:57
5."Sparks Fly" 2:26
6."Counting Train Cars" 2:53
7."Don't Wanna Lose You" 4:56
8."Longer Look" 4:02
9."Meeting of the Waters" 6:01
10."Nebulous" 8:13
11."Monstrosity" 4:20
12."Time Waits" 3:56
13."Travelin' Man" Michael Houser 16:10
Total length:73:27

Personnel

Widespread Panic

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Widespread Panic</span> American rock band

Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. The band's original guitarist and sometime songwriter, Michael Houser, died of pancreatic cancer in 2002, and the original drummer, Todd Nance, left in 2016 and died in 2020.

<i>Dont Tell the Band</i> 2001 studio album by Widespread Panic

Don't Tell the Band, is the seventh studio album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was released on June 19, 2001, in two forms, a single disc and a double disc release. It was the second release through the band's own label, Widespread Records, in conjunction with UK-based label Sanctuary Records. The album covered a wide variety of styles, from rock to Latin and grunge to soul, yet did not depart from this jam band's signature sound.

<i>Aint Life Grand</i> (Widespread Panic album) 1994 studio album by Widespread Panic

Ain't Life Grand is the fourth studio album by the Athens, GA-based band Widespread Panic. It was released by Capricorn Records and Warner Bros. Records on September 6, 1994. It was re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group. On July 3, 2014, the band announced that Ain't Life Grand would be reissued on vinyl in August 2014.

<i>Space Wrangler</i> 1988 studio album by Widespread Panic

Space Wrangler is the first studio album by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was first released by a small Atlanta label, Landslide Records, on February 4, 1988. It was later reissued four times, the first two times by Capricorn Records/Warner Bros. Records, and, in 2001, by Zomba Music Group. Space Wrangler was reissued for the fourth time on vinyl for one day — July 15, 2014 — as a special reissue through Think Indie distribution, that was sold only at independent record stores.

<i>Everyday</i> (Widespread Panic album) 1993 studio album by Widespread Panic

Everyday is the third studio album by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was first released by Capricorn Records and Warner Bros. Records on March 3, 1993. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group. On July 3, 2014 the band announced that Everyday would be reissued on Vinyl in August, 2014. The reissue will be distributed via ThinkIndie distribution and sold only at participating independent record stores.

<i>Bombs & Butterflies</i> 1997 studio album by Widespread Panic

Bombs & Butterflies is the fifth studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. The band started recording the album in July 1996 at John Keane's studio in Athens. The band held a CD release party at Morton Theatre in Athens, one day prior to their Fox Theatre New Year's Eve run on December 28, 1996. It was first released by Capricorn Records on February 4, 1997. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group.

<i>Til the Medicine Takes</i> 1999 studio album by Widespread Panic

'Til the Medicine Takes is the sixth studio by the Athens, GA-based band Widespread Panic. The album's name refers to a line in the chorus of the fourth track, "Blue Indian". It was released by Capricorn Records on July 27, 1999. It was re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Schools</span> American musician

David Allen Schools is a bass player and founding member of American rock band Widespread Panic. He is also a record producer, songwriter and journalist with articles published in a wide variety of music magazines. Schools lives in Sonoma County, California with his two dogs; when not on tour he likes to garden.

<i>Night of Joy</i> 2004 live album by Widespread Panic

Night of Joy is the fourth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in 2003 at the House of Blues in South Carolina. It was released on March 23, 2004 and features the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

<i>Über Cobra</i> 2004 live album by Widespread Panic

Über Cobra is the fifth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in November 2003 in Myrtle Beach. It was released on July 12, 2004 and was the second of three live releases in 2004 by the band. The album is almost exclusively acoustic, with four guest tracks by John Keane on pedal steel.

<i>Jackassolantern</i> Live album by Widespread Panic

Jackassolantern is the sixth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during various Halloween shows that the band has performed. It was released on September 28, 2004 and was the third of three live releases in 2004 by the band. The album is composed of cover songs that the band has performed. The album was released both on CD and as a limited-edition vinyl record.

<i>Live at Myrtle Beach</i> 2005 live album by Widespread Panic

Live at Myrtle Beach is the seventh live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in Fall 2003 at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was released on February 22, 2005.

<i>Earth to America</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Widespread Panic

Earth to America is the ninth studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. It was recorded in January 2006 with Terry Manning producing in Nassau, Bahamas at the Compass Point Studios. The album is being offered in three variations; a regular CD release, a digipak release, and a vinyl record release. The digipak release includes free song downloads through the band's concert album web page, Live Widespread Panic.com. The vinyl release includes two extra bonus tracks not found on the regular CD release.

<i>Nine High a Pallet</i> 1995 studio album by brute.

Nine High a Pallet is the first studio album by brute., a band based in Athens, Georgia, USA, which was a collaboration band between the guitarist Vic Chesnutt and members of Widespread Panic. The album was recorded at John Keane 's studio in Athens, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George McConnell</span> American Singer from Vicksburg, Mississippi

George McConnell is an American singer from Vicksburg, Mississippi. He played for the bands Widespread Panic, Kudzu Kings, and Beanland.

<i>Earth to Atlanta</i> 2006 video by Widespread Panic

Earth to Atlanta is a live DVD concert of the band Widespread Panic filmed at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA on May 9, 2006. This 2 DVD set features the performance of the band's nationwide simulcast to 115 Regal/Edwards/United Artists cinemas nationwide. This was a companion piece to the 2006 CD release Earth To America. The DVDs were filmed in High Definition/ 5.1 surround sound. The collection features 26 songs, including live versions of “Tall Boy”, “Travelin’ Man”, “Pigeons”, “Time Zones” and “Second Skin.”

<i>Dirty Side Down</i> 2010 studio album by Widespread Panic

Dirty Side Down is the eleventh studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. The album signaled the return of John Keane as Producer and was recorded in the band's hometown of Athens, Georgia, in contrast to the previous two albums produced by Terry Manning at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. It is the fourth album released after the death of Michael Houser and the first for ATO Records

Wilmington, DE 2001 is a live album released by the band Widespread Panic on February 23, 2010. It was recorded live at Kahuna Summer Stage in Wilmington, Delaware on July 22, 2001 and released as a two-track, sound board recording for the band's project, "Porch Songs". This performance serves as the third installment of the project.

<i>Oak Mountain 2001 - Night 2</i> 2013 live album by Widespread Panic

Oak Mountain 2001 – Night 2 is a live album by Athens, Georgia's Widespread Panic. This album features a multi-track recording of a performance by the band at Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham, Alabama from 2001. The 3-disc set is the eighth multi-track release from the Widespread Panic Archives. The performance was recorded live on July 28, 2001. The album was released online and in local independent record stores on December 5, 2013 and is available on CD or as a digital download. The album features the six original members of the band: John Bell, John “JoJo” Hermann, Todd Nance, Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, Dave Schools, and the late guitarist Michael Houser.

<i>Street Dogs</i> (Widespread Panic album) 2015 studio album by Widespread Panic

Street Dogs is the twelfth studio album released by American band Widespread Panic. Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville, NC, it was released September 25, 2015.