{"title":"Kevin Ayers","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"whatevershebringswesing","title":"Whatevershebringswesing","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e, a founder member of Soft Machine, embarked on a solo career in 1969. He signed to EMI’s Harvest label, for whom he recorded a series of wonderful and stylistically eclectic albums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhatevershebringswesing\u003c\/em\u003e was issued in November 1971 and saw contributions from David Bedford, Robert Wyatt, and Mike Oldfield. The album features classic tracks such as \u003cem\u003e‘Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes’\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e‘Song from the Bottom of a Well’\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003e‘Whatevershebringswesing’\u003c\/em\u003e. It is regarded as one of Kevin’s finest works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis new vinyl edition of the classic album has been remastered from the original tapes and was cut at Abbey Road Studios. It fully restores the original LP artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50434665972043,"sku":"2206974","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50434665644363,"sku":"353408","price":23.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Whatevershebringswesing_0a447cb1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726892814"},{"product_id":"all-this-crazy-gift-of-time-the-recordings-1969-1973","title":"All This Crazy Gift Of Time - The Recordings 1969-1973","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeluxe 9 CD \/ 1 blu-ray limited edition 10-inch by 10-inch box set of the complete recordings by \u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e from 1969-1973. With 140 tracks newly remastered from the original master tapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes the albums \u003cem\u003eJoy of a Toy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eShooting at the Moon\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWhatevershebringswesing\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eBananamour\u003c\/em\u003e, along with a new mix of his complete July 1970 Hyde Park festival appearance by \u003cstrong\u003eStephen W Tayler\u003c\/strong\u003e, all of the surviving BBC sessions recorded between 1970-1973 (including a previously unreleased John Peel concert from 1970), previously unreleased session out-takes, and a concert from May 1973.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlso includes a region free 13 track Blu-ray video disc featuring previously unreleased live appearances recorded for French TV and the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test (including three unseen session out-takes) and the \u003cem\u003eCaribbean Moon\u003c\/em\u003e promo film. With a lavishly illustrated 68-page book with a new essay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA founder member of Soft Machine, \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e embarked on a solo career in 1969, signing to EMI’s Harvest label and recording the album \u003cem\u003eJoy of a Toy\u003c\/em\u003e the same year. It is a mark of \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e’s stature that his recordings during this period would feature contributions from notable musicians such as arranger and keyboard player David Bedford, \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Wyatt\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSyd Barrett\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eMike Oldfield\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLol Coxhill\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSteve Hillage\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eArchie Legget\u003c\/strong\u003e and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis boxed set includes all of the surviving BBC sessions and In Concert appearances recorded by \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e during this period, including a previously unreleased John Peel concert from 1970 and other tracks featuring Soft Machine, \u003cstrong\u003eBridget St. John\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGong\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOther highlights include the inclusion of a complete set recorded at a Hyde Park Free concert in 1970, newly mixed and restored by \u003cstrong\u003eStephen W Tayler\u003c\/strong\u003e, previously unreleased session out-takes, and a segment from a 1972 concert and a performance at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1973.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRounding off the set is a region free Blu-ray video disc which includes a series of live performances recorded for French television, along with two sessions for The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1972 and 1973 (with three previous unseen alternate performances from 1972) and the ‘Caribbean Moon’ promotional film.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe set is completed with a 68-page illustrated book with a new essay. Compiled with the full approval of \u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e’ estate and is a supreme tribute to a performer of whom John Peel once said; \"\u003cem\u003eKevin Ayers’ talent is so acute you could perform major eye surgery with it\u003c\/em\u003e\". This boxed set celebrates and confirms that talent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50447400304971,"sku":"2206973","price":99.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Kevin_Ayers.jpg_9808e84f_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1727077219"},{"product_id":"bbc-sessions-1970-1972","title":"BBC Sessions 1970-1972","description":"\u003cp\u003eOf the several Ayers BBC collections that have been assembled, this is the most interesting, focusing as it does on the most interesting phase of his solo career. Taken from four sessions (three of them from 1970), it has a good cross section of some of the better songs from his early career, including \"Lady Rachel,\" \"Whatevershebringswesing,\" and a revamp of his Soft Machine numbers \"We Did It Again\" and \"Why Are We Sleeping?.\" About half of this is pretty uncommon material: the verging-on-tipsy \"Derby Day\" and \"You Say You Like My Hat\" don't seem to have shown up on any studio releases (though the latter appears on a recording of a 1972 show, Banana Follies), \"Gemini Child\" only showed up as an outtake on the Odd Ditties collection, and \"Butterfly Dance\" was a 1970 single. Furthermore, there's a cover of \"Falling in Love Again,\" the pop standard whose languor lends itself well to Ayers' low, crooning voice, and \"Queen Thing,\" which is nothing more than a brief satire of \"Wild Thing.\" You get to hear a few different lineups of musicians as well, with the Whole World (including Mike Oldfield) backing him on two of the 1970 sessions and the Soft Machine plus David Beford and Lol Coxhill playing on the earliest 1970 session. By contrast, the 1972 session has a nice skeletal feel, for the most part drumless, with low-key reverbed guitar and harmonica.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Kidding","offers":[{"title":"Yellow | LP","offer_id":50455791894859,"sku":"1136127","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5332b8cb-7ddc-46e8-b242-b7e8b5262173_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727193997"},{"product_id":"joy-of-a-toy","title":"Joy Of A Toy","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs the \u003cstrong\u003eSoft Machine\u003c\/strong\u003e's first bassist and original principal songwriter, \u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e was an overlooked force behind the group's groundbreaking recordings in 1967 and 1968. This, his solo debut, is so tossed-off and nonchalant that one gets the impression he wanted to take it easy after helping pilot the manic innovations of the Softs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLaissez-faire sloth has always been part of Ayers' persona, and this record's intermittent lazy charm helped establish it. That doesn't get around the fact, however, that this set of early progressive rock does not feature extremely strong material. Ayers' command of an assortment of instruments is impressive, and his deep bass vocals and playful, almost goofy song-sketches are affecting, but they don't really stick with the listener.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt's no accident that some of the tracks recall early Soft Machine: \u003cem\u003eRobert Wyatt\u003c\/em\u003e drums on most of the songs, and \"\u003cem\u003eSong for Insane Times\u003c\/em\u003e\" is virtually a bona fide Soft Machine performance, featuring actual backing from the group itself. A likable but slight album that is at its best when Ayers is at his folkiest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50483696697675,"sku":"394820","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50483697287499,"sku":"162813","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50483697877323,"sku":"2165957","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/3352a448-783a-4204-9052-a953338f3881_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727571647"},{"product_id":"falling-up","title":"Falling Up","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e, formerly with \u003cem\u003eSoft Machine\u003c\/em\u003e, embarked on a solo career in 1969, recording a series of wonderful albums throughout the 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFalling Up\u003c\/em\u003e was his fifth album of the 1980s and followed his collaboration with \u003cstrong\u003eMike Oldfield\u003c\/strong\u003e (a former member of Kevin’s band The Whole World) on the album \u003cem\u003eIslands\u003c\/em\u003e in 1987.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded in Madrid, \u003cem\u003eFalling Up\u003c\/em\u003e featured seven songs written by Kevin (some in collaboration with his friend and guitarist Ollie Halsall) and the track ‘Flying Start’ which was written by \u003cstrong\u003eMike Oldfield\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnavailable for many years, this new official Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly remastered and features a booklet with an essay.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50484041515339,"sku":"2026662","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Kevin-Ayers-Falling-up-cover-LRG-1536x1536_15bdce60_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727579605"},{"product_id":"bananamour","title":"Bananamour","description":"\u003cp\u003eA founder member of \u003cstrong\u003eSoft Machine\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e embarked on a solo career in 1969, signing to EMI’s Harvest label, for whom he would record a series of wonderful and stylistically eclectic albums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBananamour\u003c\/em\u003e was \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e’s final album for Harvest during his first tenure with the label and the sessions were undertaken with a band featuring Archie Legget (bass, vocals) and Eddie Sparrow (drums), alongside \u003cstrong\u003eKevin\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cem\u003eBananamour\u003c\/em\u003e also featured guest contributions from \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Wyatt\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSteve Hillage\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eMike Ratledge\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing such classic tracks as ‘Decadence’ (an ode to Nico), ‘Oh! Wot a Dream’ (an affectionate tribute to Syd Barrett), ‘Interview’ and ‘Shouting in a Bucket Blues’, the album is regarded as one of \u003cstrong\u003eKevin Ayers\u003c\/strong\u003e’ best works.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":51184493723979,"sku":"2231374","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Bananamour_22d14ac2_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1738299759"},{"product_id":"scrapbook-gf","title":"Scrapbook","description":"\u003cp\u003ePressed on liliac coloured vinyl, the 12 tracks by Kevin Ayers presented here were recorded live in session at the BBC Radio Studios in Maida Vale for the Bob Harris and John Peel Shows between 1973 and 1976. These tracks have never previously been released on vinyl. Featured guest musicians include: Andy Summers, Mike Ratledge, Ollie Halsall \u0026amp; Zoot Money.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lumi","offers":[{"title":"LP - Lilac","offer_id":57312425705803,"sku":"R0080-5932","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5055892201528_d52219ac-4b90-4143-b78c-190445959a56.jpg?v=1778767327"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/kevin-ayers.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}