Ed Ball

Edward Ball (born 23 November 1959) is an English 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 worked for Creation Records. He was born and brought up in Chelsea, London.

Biography

Television Personalities In 1977, singer/songwriter Ball and fellow London Oratory school-friend Dan Treacy formed the Television Personalities. Ball, meanwhile, had formed a more permanent outlet for his music in 1981 with The Times, releasing the Pop Goes Art! album in 1982, and leaving the TV Personalities the same year, although he later returned in 2004, appearing on the album My Dark Places (Domino Records, 2005) and on parts of the albums And They All Lived Happily Ever After (Damaged Goods, 2004) and Are We Nearly There Yet? (Overground, 2007).

The Times On leaving the Television Personalities, Ball concentrated on The Times, a band with an ever-changing line-up in which he remained the only constant member. Following Pop Goes Art!, from 1982 to 1986 the band released four further albums, two mini-albums and an EP on Ball's own Artpop label plus another album 'Go! With The Times' on the German label Pastell. Following the collapse of Creation in 1999 Ball was unsigned to any other label and disappeared from public view, to concentrate on experimental film documentaries about Simon Fisher Turner and London. In 2004 Ball rejoined the Television Personalities, but left soon thereafter.

In 2026 Canadian record label The Beautiful Music released a tribute to Ball, I Helped Edward Ball Escape! Various Artists Tribute to the Times/Edward Ball as a double-CD .

Discography

Studio albums L'Orange Mechanik (1989), Creation If a Man Ever Loved a Woman (1995), Creation

Catholic Guilt (1997), Creation

Why Do I Need a Gun I'm Chelsea (May 1999), Creation

Compilations Welcome to the Wonderful World of Ed Ball (March 1995), Creation Here's to Old England! (October 2005), Creation

Singles & EPs "If a Man Ever Loved a Woman" (1995), Creation

"It's Kinda Lonely Where I Am" (1995), Creation

"The Mill Hill Self Hate Club" (1996), Creation – UK No. 57

"Trailblaze" (1996), Creation

"Love Is Blue" (1997), Creation – UK No. 59

"The Mill Hill Self Hate Club" (1997), Creation – reissue

Split Xmas single (1996), Creation As Love Corporation

Studio albums Tones (1990), Creation Lovers (1991), Creation Intelligentsia (1994), Creation Dance Stance (1997), Creation

Singles "Palatial" (1990), Creation "Give Me Some Love" (1991), Creation

With Television Personalities

Albums And Don't the Kids Just Love It (1981), Rough Trade Mummy Your Not Watching Me (1982), Whaam! They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles (1982), Whaam!

Singles, EPs "14th Floor" (1978), W1 Teen Where's Bill Grundy Now? EP (1978), King's Road "Smashing Time" (1980), Rough Trade "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" (1981), Rough Trade "Three Wishes" (1982), Whaam!

With O-Level see 'O' Level Discography

With Teenage Filmstars see Teenage Filmstars Discography

With The Times see The Times Discography

With Sand The Dynamic Curve (1991), Creation Vol. Two – Five Grains (1992), Creation

With Conspiracy of Noise Chicks with Dicks and Splatter Flicks (1993), Creation