Wizzard: Ball Park Incident Single (1972)

A Glam Rock Grand Slam

Wizzard’s “Ball Park Incident” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on November 3, 1972, on Harvest Records (catalogue: HAR 5062). Backed with “The Carlsberg Special (Piano's Demolished Phone 021 373 4472),” this exuberant glam rock anthem, written by Roy Wood, was the band’s debut single. Produced by Roy Wood, the A-side’s brassy horns, pounding drums, and Wood’s playful vocals about a baseball romance peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart for 12 weeks. Issued in solid centre, 4 prong centre, and promo versions, it launched Wizzard’s chart reign.

The band mimed the song on BBC TV's Top of the Pops on December 14 and 21, 1972, and again on January 4, 11, and 25, 1973. All recordings of these performances, except for the last one, have been erased.

Personnel:

Roy Wood – vocal, electric and acoustic guitars, sitar, cello, bassoon, baritone saxophone, string bass, B-flat bass tuba, trombone, recorders, percussion

Rick Price – bass guitar, vocals, percussion

Bill Hunt – piano, harpsichord, French horn, trumpet, flugelhorn, tenor horn, bugle, euphonium, E flat tuba, little glass, backing vocals

Hugh 'H' McDowell – cello and ARP synthesiser

Nick Pentelow – tenor saxophone, clarinet and flute; bass backing vocals

Mike Burney – alto, tenor, baritone & synthesized saxes, clarinet and flute

Keith Smart – drums

Charlie Grima – drums, congas, percussion

Chart Performance:

Chart (1973) Position

Australian Singles Chart 6

Irish Singles Chart 8

Dutch Top 40 1

UK Singles Chart 6

UK Chart Data:

Entry Date: December 3-9, 1972. (46)

Peak: January 7 - 13, 1973. (6)

Peak: January 14 - 20, 1973. (6)

Peak: January 21 - 27, 1973. (6)

Weeks on Chart: (Dec 3, 1972–Feb 18, 1973). (12)

The Carlsberg Phone Fiasco: A Glam Prank Gone Wild!

60 Calls in 9 Hours – Its Glam Chaos!

Evening Mail, April 1973: A Birmingham pensioner’s quiet life exploded when her new phone number – ex-Wizzard pianist Bill Hunt’s old line – became the B-side gag on “The Carlsberg Special (Pianos Demolished Phone 021 373 4472).” Roy Wood slipped it in as a prank. Miss Georgina Wyre, 75, got 60 calls in nine hours from pop fans nationwide. “I told them they had the wrong number,” she said, unplugging to sleep. The Post Office stepped in to intercept future chaos. Glam rock’s wildest wrong number!

Pensioner's phone number is top of the pops

Evening Mail Reporter

A PRACTICAL joke that backfired has shattered the normally quiet world of a 75-year-old Birmingham woman.

In nine hours she received 60 calls on her new telephone from pop fans all over the country.

And the calls are still flooding in.

For Miss Georgina Wyre, of Anderson Road, Erdington, has been given one of the pop-worlds most publicised telephone numbers.

It is the title of a record by Wizzard, now climbing the charT, called the Carisburg Special (Pianos Demolished. Phone 021 --).

And that number, given in full, is where Miss Wyre's troubles began.

"MISTAKEN"

"I could not understand what. people were talking about when I answer," she said today.

"They said something about Wizzard and pianos being smashed. I just told them they must be mistaken with the number."

But pensioner Miss Wyre, who said she had the telephone fitted "for company" was not mistaken and the calls flooded in throughout the weekend.

The telephone number was originally that of Wizzard's pianist Bill Hunt who lives in Birmingham.

TELEPHONE

And his telephone didn't stop ringing for days after the record was released.

Roy Wood leader of the group, said he put the phone number into the title without Bill knowing it.

"We did it just for a laugh," he said.

Miss Wyre had her telephone fitted, with the group's old number, on Thursday. Callers first rang rang soon after the engineers had left at 2.30 p.m. And by 11 p.m. she had. listed 60 calls. "I took the receiver off so that I could get some sleep. I did not really mind, because people have usually been quite polite.

"But it has gone past a joke now. I hope the Post Office can change my number."

A spokesman for the Post Office said later: "We are making enquiries. I would think we will be able to intercept all her calls in future."

Miss Georgina Wyre answering another call at her Erdington home today.

Evening Mail April 1973

"Ball Park Incident" is included as a bonus track on the 2006 reissue of Wizzard's first album, Wizzard Brew.

Single Overview

A-Side: “Ball Park Incident”

Written by Roy Wood. A high-energy glam rock stomper with Phil Spector-style production, brass, and Wood’s cheeky lyrics about a ballpark fling. Produced by Roy Wood.

B-Side: “The Carlsberg Special (Piano's Demolished Phone 021 373 4472)”

Written by Hunt. A chaotic, piano-driven instrumental with demolished phone sounds and a Birmingham number, showcasing Wizzard’s eccentricity. Produced by Roy Wood.

Release Details:

Label: Harvest Records (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Formats:

7-Inch Vinyl (Solid Centre) (HAR 5062):

7-Inch Vinyl (4 Prong Centre) (HAR 5062):

7-Inch Vinyl (Demo, Not For Sale, 4 Prong Centre) (HAR 5062):

Notes: ℗ 1972 The Gramophone Company Limited. Published by Roy Wood Music / Carlin Music Corp. Management: Aquarius Management, Eric Hall. Matrix/Runout (A): SHAR 5062 A-1U KT; (B): SHAR 5062 B-1U KT.

UK Variations

7-Inch Vinyl (Solid Centre) (HAR 5062):

Label: Harvest – HAR 5062

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid centre

A Ball Park Incident

B The Carlsberg Special (Piano's Demolished Phone 021 373 4472)

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Record Company – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Published By – Roy Wood Music

Published By – Carlin Music Corp.

Management – Aquarius Management, Eric Hall (5)

Producer – Roy Wood

℗ 1972 The Gramophone Company Limited.

Made in Gt. Britain

Label shades vary between yellow and green-yellow

7-Inch Vinyl (4 Prong Centre) (HAR 5062):

Label: Harvest – HAR 5062

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4 Prong Centre

A Ball Park Incident

B The Carlsberg Special (Piano's Demolished Phone 021 373 4472)

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Record Company – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Pressed By – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Published By – Roy Wood Music

Published By – Carlin Music Corp.

Management – Aquarius Management, Eric Hall (5)

Producer – Roy Wood

℗ 1972 The Gramophone Company Limited.

Made in Gt. Britain

Label shades vary between yellow and green-yellow.

7-Inch Vinyl (Demo, Not For Sale, 4 Prong Centre) (HAR 5062):

Label: Harvest – HAR 5062

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Promo

A Ball Park Incident

B The Carlsberg Special ( Piano's Demolished Phone 021 373 4472 )

Management – Aquarius Management, Eric Hall (5)

Producer – Roy Wood

A&B-sides: Roy Wood Music / Carlin Music Corp.

℗ 1972 The Gramophone Company Limited.

Made in Gt. Britain

Matrix / Runout (A Side Label): SHAR.5062A

Matrix / Runout (B Side Label): SHAR.5062B

Matrix / Runout (A Side Stamped): SHAR 5062 A-1U KT

Matrix / Runout (B Side Stamped): SHAR 5062 B-1U KT

Country Variations

The single was released in several countries with minor variations, many in picture sleeves.

Denmark - Harvest - 1972

France - Harvest - 1972

Germany - Harvest - 1972

Greece - Harvest - 1972

Ireland - Harvest - 1972

Israel - Harvest - 1972

Netherlands - Harvest - 1972

Spain - Harvest - 1972

Australia - Harvest - 1973

Japan - Odeon - 1973

New Zealand - Harvest - 1973

USA - United Artists - 1973

Yugoslavia - Harvest - 1973

Have you snagged this Wizzard debut in your vinyl collection? Does “Ball Park Incident” hit a home run? Share in the comments!

Sources

Discogs: Ball Park Incident (1972)

45cat: HAR 5062 Single

YouTube: Ball Park Incident

Wikipedia: Ball Park Incident

Official Charts Company: Wizzard Singles

AllMusic: Wizzard Discography

Billboard: N/A (No US chart data for this single)