I can proudly say that Sherwood Ball is one of the most
talented vocalist, songwriter, guitarist who appeared in the 90's. He
can compose and sing like a soul singer as well as a rock singer.
I think those who loves West Coast Pop had already listened to his
excellent vocals and confirmed his ability as a songwriter on 3 songs
("Show Me The Magic", "Holdin' On To Love", "One Way To Another" )
from Jay Graydon's album titled "Music
From The Planet" (1993).
Furthermore, I must hereby show you some of his original songs
recorded by other artists such as "Smile For Me" (performed by War
from the album"Peace Sign" 1995) and "You Let Me In " (performed by
Dan Siegel from the album "Late One Night" 1989), which shows that
his songwriting talent is full of variety.
In addition, Sherwood sings for many international commercials
such as JAL Airlines, Coca Cola, Toyota, Mitsubishi Panther,
Bridgestone Tires, Suntory Beer (Route 66) & Suntory Whisky ,
Nissan Gloria (in Spanish for Japan), Budweiser and many many
more.
At last, Sherwood has released his solo debut CD "White Light" as
Sherwood Ball 'n Chain from his own production Ball
Productions.
Here's what some people have to say....
Jay Oliver - "This is some of my best work"
Rodney Crowell - "Nobody sings this song like you do..." Jay Graydon - "Hey man, do you know who
I am?"
WHITE LIGHT
Label : Ball Records (6.7.93)
Release Date: September, 1995
Executive Producer: Celia Xavier
Producers: Jay Oliver, Scott Spock, Tom Hooper and
himself
Musicians:
All instruments except Guitars: Jay Oliver, Scott
Spock
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Rhodes Piano: Steve Lukather
DX7 Rhodes: Steve Porcaro
Drums, Synth Bass, Piano and Synthesizers: Tom
Hooper
Drums Overdubs: Dave Hooper
Tracks:
Say That You Love Me
Insincere
Garden Of Desire
Baby, Bye Bye
Can't Get Enough
Trouble
Piece Of My Heart
Imagine It's Me
One Day To Love You
White Light
Remarks: This album has not been distributed by major
record company. please contact directly to Ball
Productions
FOLIS PARADYCE
Label : Quintessential Records (08.30.30)
Release Date: July 9, 1996
Executive Producer: Celia Xavier
Producer: himself
Musicians:
Drums: Tris Imboden, Dave Owens
Guitars: Carl Verheyen, Tedi Sarafian
Bass: John Pierce
Keyboards: Steve Porcaro, Jay Oliver
Shamisen: Toshi Yanagi
Background Vocals: Oren Waters, Carmen Carter, Mona Lisa
Young, Katrina Perkins
Tracks:
Folis Paradyce
Living the Moment
Stand Still
Mercy
Broken Lines
Discretion
In The Light Of All Things
Baby, Bye-Bye
Garden of Desire
After Me
Remarks: Please visit Ball
'n' Chain for more detailed information about this album.
You can order this incredible CD there.
Remarks: This album has not been distributed by major
record company. please contact directly to Ball
Productions
Dreamin' Of Christmas in L.A.
Label : Quintessential Records (QRCD-0004)
Release Date: November 10, 1997
Executive Producer: Celia Xavier
Producer: Peter Roberts himself
Musicians: No Credit
Tracks:
Heaven Knows
Loving Arms
Drink Of Me
(A Tribute To) Princess Diana
Dreamin' Of Christmas in L.A.
Remarks: Please visit Ball
'n' Chain for more detailed information about this album.
You can order this incredible CD there.
STONE ANGEL c/w SHORT CHANGED
MELODY
45rpm Single: Japan Record (Tokuma, Japan) JAS-4
Release Year: 1980
Remarks : "STONE ANGEL" was written by Japanese composer
and used for the commercial film of Suntory Beer. "SHORT
CHANGED MELODY" is written by Sherwood Ball and Harry Wemple
III.
(A TRIBUTE TO) PRINCESS DIANA c/w TO HAVE
AND TO HOLD
Cassette Single: Quintessential Records (Serial number :
Nil)
Release Year: September, 1997
Remarks : The profit of this cassette single proceeds go to
Diana, Princess pf Wales Memorial Fund. And "To Have And To
Hold" can be listened only on this cassette single. Please
visit Ball 'n' Chain
for more detailed information about this cassette single. You
can order this there.
DREAMS OF VICTORY
From the album:"Impressions - Formula 1 World Championship"
(Pony Canyon PCCH-00058)
Release Date: October 20, 1995
Remarks : Sherwood wrote this song with Tadashi Namba.
More Information
* Sherwood's Musical Equipment *
Guitar
Sherwood Ball plays Music Man guitar and basses exclusively. A
modified Albert Lee model with a Humbucker pickup in the bridge
and neck position and a single coil in the center. It's wired so
that the Volume knob and Tone knob are both push-pull
potentiometers. The Tone knob when pulled up, makes the Humbuckers
single coil. The Volume knob when pulled up, turns on the rear
pickup. This way, when the pickup selector switch is in the front
position, Sherwood can have the front and rear pickup on, also in
another position on the selector switch, all of the pickups can be
on, Humbucker or Single coil.
Sherwood Ball also plays a Music Man Silhouette Special. This
guitar is stock and Sherwood love it.
Sherwood explains the reason why he use Music Man guitars as
follows: "The Music Man guitars a shorter than a Stratocaster, but
the scale of the neck is still the same. This makes it possible to
use the over head compartment of airplanes with a gig back and no
more broken necks or heads in baggage claim. I love this also
because the action stays the same. In the cargo bays of airplanes
the temperature drops to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is
not good for any guitar, even in a road case."
Amplifier
Sherwood plays two Knucklehead 55's Tops and 2 K212 Bottoms
with Vintage 30 watt Celestion speakers manufactured by Rivera
amps. Sherwood also plays the Rake Head as Jay
Graydon plays.
Guitar Strings
Sherwood uses Ernie Ball strings and volume pedals. Main
electric guitar gauge is Super Slinky 9, 11, 16, 22, 32, 42 but
Sherwood uses the reinforced plain strings (RPS) and Stainless
steel in the wound strings.
Sherwood says, "With the RPS, I never break a string, even with
the wildest of tremolo work. Also, the Stainless steel strings are
a little bright right when you first put them on, but if you're
like me, you don't like to change your strings and the Stainless
retains it's harmonics for a much longer period."
Effects
Sherwood changes his gear around constantly upgrading. At the
time of March, 1996 Sherwood are using the Rocktron's Replifex
with the Tech 21 midi mouse on his pedal board on the floor.
Basically, Sherwood are using the distortion from the amp because
he believe that none of the pedals sound as good as the amp
overdriven.
On "Folis Paradyce" CD:
Folis Paradyce:
Sherwood played the Music Man Silhouette Elec. Guitar and
Musicman Sterling Bass
Living the Moment:
Tedi Sarafian played my vintage Goya acoustic guitar (made
in Gotenberg)
Sherwood played the Music Man Silhouette 6 (Baritone Elec.
Guitar).
Carl Verheyen played vintage Fender '61 and '65
Strats.
Stand Still:
Sherwood played his Goya acoustic. (Incidentally, this
guitar was a gift to Sherwood in 1974 from Guy Mitchell "You
Got Me Singin' The Blues" - biggest selling single in the
'50's, even over Elvis.)
Mercy:
Sherwood played Music Man (was called an Axis) but is now
released as the "Albert Lee" model with maple neck, Humbucker,
Single Coil, Humbucker and Wilkinson Tremolo through a Riviera
Knucklehead 55 (2/12").
Carl played vintage '61 & '65 Strat.
John Pierce played MusicMan 5 string bass w/maple
neck.
Broken Lines:
Sherwood played the above listed MM A. Lee model direct
through the Digitech Valve FX (Tremolo patch) and the MM
Sterling Bass (Low E tuned down to Db) doubling the Synth bass
(Yes, two basses).
Discretion:
Carl played a vintage '65 Rickenbacher 12 string '70 Les
Paul with PAF pickup.
John played MusicMan 5.
In the Light of All Things:
Sherwood played the above listed modified MusicMan A.Lee
direct through the Rocktron Replifex, MM FretlessSterling
Bass.
Toshi played a real Shamisen.
Baby, Bye-Bye:
Sherwood played MM A.Lee through Riviera Knucklehead 55
(2/12").
Carl played his vintage '60 Tele Custom and Strats.
