Welcome to the Otis Ball Discography

Albums

I'm Gonna Love You 'Til I Don't, © 1989 on Bar/None Records

Album Cover

Features Otis Ball and longtime collaborator Steve Blunt on guitars and vocals, Tom Shad (from Dumptruck) on bass, Alan Bezozi (drummer for the They Might Be Giants "Flood" album, as well as Dog's Eye View) on drums. Guest artists include They Might Be Giants, various members of Kissyfish, Bianca Miller, and Glenn "Killer" Donaldson.
Read reviews of the album here.
Dianamal
Artists in Day Jobs
Walk on Water
Love You 'Til I Don't
Sweet Charity
Hey Buddha
Slow Boat to Hoboken
Amanda for All Seasons
Amy
Under a Rock
Honesty
Dancing in the Rubble
Charles Manson's Birthday
Abbie & Cynthia Theme
Go Barbara Go
Hooray for Flowers

Favorite Love Songs, © 1991 (Unreleased)

Recorded in 1991 with the rhythm section from Das Damen, the tentatively titled Favorite Love Songs was never recognized for the genius pop music it contained:
Last One Home
She's Not Dumb
It's Your Birthday
I Don't Know What I Want
Fox Hunt
Crashing Your Wedding
I Can't Make It Alone
No One Leaves Alone
Ghost Remains
Stupid

One More Once, © 2002

Recorded live in rehearsal and in concert in May of 2002 with Rich Grula and Chris Butler:
Album Cover

Workdogs/O Ball Album

Otis jams with the hardest working band you know, Workdogs.
For more information on Workdogs, visit Sympathy for the Record Industry.
Scared Of That Jive
Brave New Blues
Back In The Days
Our Goodman
The Facts of Life
Little Jo
Robert Kennedy Blues
Stimulant
Got Me A Guinea
Moon Goin' Down
Funny $
This Blows

Compilations

Bar/None Records Semi-Idealistic Sampler Cassette, © 1989

This sampler contains two Otis tracks: an earlier recording of "Love You 'Til I Don't," and the Steve Blunt song "Sensitive Guy." Otis appeared on this sampler and on early Bar/None T-shirts as "Otis Who?"

Time for a Change: Bar/None Sampler #Two, © 1989

The album versions of Walk on Water, featuring They Might Be Giants on backing vocals, and Hooray for Flowers appear on this sampler, as do They Might Be Giants, Rage To Live, The Embarassment, Freedy Johnston (spelled Johnson in the liner notes), Bill Drummond (of the KLF and the Timelords [you know, the "Doctor Who" song they play at basketball games...]), Luka Bloom, Brian Dewan, and many others. Listen closely to Again & Again by Rage To Live - Otis contributes fingersnaps.

Smell the Luv, © 1991

At the 1991 CMJ New Music Seminar, the Knitting Factory hosted a Bar/None showcase on July 14. This promotional cassette was handed out at the show, and includes two tracks each from Yo La Tengo, Freedy Johnston, Sleepyhead, Band of Weeds, Lonesome Val, Drink Me, Swales, Shrimp Boat, and Otis. The cassette includes "Last One Home" and "Birthday," both from Otis' unreleased second album. From the liner notes... OTIS BALL: Cousin to the stars and official spokesman for the righteousity that was rockin' American pop stuff. Mmmmelodies for the back of a car, or on top of a car or a multi-kegger porch party or the inside or outside of a kegger. Otis is also finishing up work on album No. 2, with Das Damen replacing the Chains. Yes, these two songs will be on it und ja, the ladies join him for this luv-dig.

Bonograph: Sonny Gets His Share, © 1991 on Bogus Records

This Sonny Bono tribute album features Otis, Young Fresh Fellows, Ben Vaughn, Peter Holsapple, The Frampton Brothers, and the Cynics, among others.
"The record is a powerful reminder of how much a radical reinterpretation can change perceptions. By the time groups like Otis Ball or the Spuds are through, the pop pooh-bah sounds positively punky. Eat your heart out, Cher."
-People Magazine, February 17, 1992

Self-Produced Cassettes

Otis Ball and the Chains, © 1988

The self-produced, four-track cassette demo that impressed They Might Be Giants so much they made sure Otis was signed to Bar/None. The cassette includes some great early versions of songs from "I'm Gonna Love You 'Til I Don't," as well as some that Otis has probably even forgotten about.
Walk on Water
Charles Manson's Birthday
Amy
Dancing in the Moonlight (by King Harvest)
Hot Day
Sister's on the Street
Dying My Hair
Cool Moves for Modern Lovers
Down the Drain
Artists in Day Jobs
Jamaican Vacation
Don't Wind Me Up
Love Is All Around (the Mary Tyler Moore theme)
Abbie & Cynthia Theme
Hooray for Flowers
Walking After Midnight (by Patsy Cline)
Love You 'Til I Don't
Wild Child

Tell It to Del (No Eraserhead (not Otis, and not live))
Dying My Hair
Yes
I'm in Love with a Girl (by Big Star)
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (by The Tokens)
More Than Nothing
Banana Splits Theme
Amy
Artists in Day Jobs
Walk on Water
Charles Manson's Birthday (Ultra Bass Guitar Cowboy Solo version, featuring Steve Blunt on Cowboy Guitar)

(I'll enter the liner notes here in their entirety, and let the man explain himself. In cases where no other musicians are credited, Otis played all of the instruments and sang all of the backing vocals. -DW)
Hey kids!
As I write this, the bulk of my first lp is recorded and I'm in that in-between area where you start putting your package together. We're deciding on an album title, cover, working out legalities, I'm booking my first tour, and I'm basically doing all of the business end of the business. I needed to find a creative outlet once again. You're holding that creative outlet in your hands. (Don't forget to wash them thoroughly!)
I'm more than just a rock and roll fan, I'm the scariest type of fan - THE COLLECTOR! The obscurer and poppier, the better! I went through my tapes, 45's, and CD's (welcome to the 90's!) and chose some of my faves that I'd always wanted to cover, and did just that. You've probably heard a few of the tunes before, but I'd be surprised if anyone was familiar with all of them! However, now you will be, and you can follow up on your favorites! So that you know what your listening to, here's a track by track rundown.

-THE BEAT SIDE-
All You Wanna Do Is Dance - This song comes from Billy Joel, on the Turnstiles album. His version is a pseudo reggae take. It's such a great song that sounded so wrong! So with a little help from Tom Shad on bass and Alan Bezozi on drums, I did it up in Otis Ball fashion.
Faith - This was recorded at the same session as All You Wanna Do... with the same personnel. I was thumbing through the Rock & Roll rule book and discovered that every band must do a Bo Diddley tune. Needless to say, I messed with the rules. George Michael meets Bongwater.
Hound Dog - Steve Blunt and I visited Graceland the summer of '87. While there we visited Ramona at Graceland Recording Studios. If you pass through Memphis, stop off and tell Ramona that Otis and Kinch say hi!
Temptation Eyes - "All we need is a drummer, for people who just need a beat!" The line-up on this one is Kathy Howard-drums; Leslie Frank-keyboards; Killer-bass; Steve-guitar/vocals, and me. This was recorded in Dekalb on March 4, 1988. It was originally done by the Grass roots (and Sly & the Family Stone, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Bangles).
I Woke Up In Love - Eighties, schmeighties! Give me the Partridge Family over thechno-sludge anyday! Once again, this cut features Kathy Howard and Killer on drums and bass, with Jenny Hunt on background vocals, and Lancelot on guitars and vocals.
Wooden Box - Steve Blunt always underestimates his own compositions. He worries that they're too simple. Which would you rather hear, Roundabout or Wooden Box? Right!
Fun In the Sun - When I was in high school, I discovered Phil 'n' the Blanks. Actually, I attached myself to the bass drum with super glue. Although the band broke up a few years ago, I still keep in touch with Phil Bimstein and Blanche! This is one of Phil's unreleased tunes. [Note: Phil co-wrote Artists In Day Jobs with Otis. -DW]
Memory Row - If it weren't for Gary Yerkins, I might not be the rock and roll nightmare I am today. He taught me to write songs the right way. This song is proof that he knows of which he speaks. It was co-written by Johnny Siegel, also of the Insiders.
Oh, Superman - This is a country honker I've been talking about doing for a couple of years. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was originally written as a two step. Really! Laurie Anderson told me. Right Laurie?
-THE HOOTENANNY SIDE-
She May Call You Up - One of the best groups around in the 60's was the Left Banke. Their big hits were Walk Away Rene and Pretty Ballerina. This is a slightly lesser known single of theirs, but just as good as the other two. (By the way, all three songs were written about the same girl.)
Heartbreak Hospital - Anyone from Dekalb, Illinois knows who Happy Hunting were. Matt Parker wrote this one, as he did all of their tunes. If anyone knows Dave Fishman, tell him to give back my Happy Hunting video!!
Mr. Dyeingly Sad - One-hit wonders the Critters were responsible for this tune. I merely reproduced it on a cold winter's night.
I'd Love Just Once to See You - Is Brian Wilson a genius? He wrote this, you decide.
Ana Ng - The duo responsible for this tune are also the same pair responsible for exposing Otis Ball to the big league. They Might Be Giants. Actually, they're 91 on Billboard as I write this. Looks like they're well on their way to being Giants.
I Wanna Be Like You - from the Walt Disney cartoon "Jungle Book." This was done in one pass on guitar and vocals and once more on background vocals and tambourine. Oo beedoo.
Dreams of the Everyday Housewife - for me, the highlight of FarmAid was Glen Campbell. I had ignored him until then. But no longer! If you have made the same mistake I had, mend your ways sinner!
You Say You Don't Love Me - This one's from the Buzzcocks' "Different Tension" record. I read a while back that the Buzzcocks were the current hip band to cover. I figured I'd wait until it wasn't hip to cover them to do this one.
Turning Up the Heat - The most criminally ignored band in the history of pop music, Any Trouble featuring Clive Gregson. Check out any of their 4 albums or see Clive on tour with Richard Thompson. Don't put it off!
Going Up the Country - Canned Heat are probably all in jail by now. After the world hears my version of their big hit, I will probably follow them to the brig.
Thanksgiving - Get in your car, put the Partridge family in the tape deck, drive to Madison, Wisconsin, and go see Kissyfish! Do it now! Tell them Otis sent you.

1st printing - All songs copyrighted by the guys who wrote 'em.
Special thanks to:
Al Houghton at Dubway Studios
Jode Evenson for graphics and layout
Killer

Limited to 20 copies, this cassette features Otis performing live on WFMU with a band that includes Freedy Johnston. The title track is an Andy Gibb cover, and the flipside is a touching rendition of the Carpenters' "Close To You."

This page last updated on September 20, 2004.