I missed Kevin Ayers' 80th birthday on 16th August so by way of compensation, here's an hour long, 15-track selection for your listening pleasure.
Although I've had Joy Of A Toy and whatevershebringswesing for a few years, I'm still very much a beginner when it comes to Kevin's music. This selection draws from a limited number of albums and odds and sods, covering 1969 to 1973.
I don't love everything that Kevin recorded and some of the lyrics are teeth-grindingly bad or off-colour at times, but there is so much gold to discover.
I won't attempt a biography or to write about Kevin's origins in Soft Machine, as I don't know enough and there are much better-written blogs out there. What will I say is that sometimes compiling a selection is more than just a pleasure. I enjoy creating every one but this was one of the 'special ones', where sequencing each track was a joy.
When I started, I had in mind a 'quick' post, maybe 10 songs and 45 minutes. It ended up that the music dictated the shape, the form and duration, so you get 15 songs and 60 minutes instead. Lose yourself for an hour in the strolling bass, the guitar and piano harmonies, the duck calls and that deep, rich voice.
Nearly brought tears to my eyes.
1) Singing A Song In The Morning (Single Version): Kevin Ayers & The Whole World (1970)
2) Stars (Single Version): Kevin Ayers & The Whole World ft. The Ladybirds (1971)
3) whatevershebringswesing: Kevin Ayers (1972)
4) The Lady Rachel (Unreleased Single Version): Kevin Ayers & The Whole World ft. The Ladybirds (1972)
5) When Your Parents Go To Sleep: Kevin Ayers ft. Archie Legget (1973)
6) Gemini Chile (Alan Black Session): Kevin Ayers (1970)
7) Song For Insane Times: Kevin Ayers ft. Soft Machine (1969)
8) May I?: Kevin Ayers & The Whole World (1970)
9) The Interview (Top Gear Session): Kevin Ayers (1970)
10) Hymn: Kevin Ayers ft. Robert Wyatt (1973)
11) Clarence In Wonderland (Album Version): Kevin Ayers & The Whole World (1970)
12) Oh! Wot A Dream: Kevin Ayers (1973)
13) The Oyster And The Flying Fish: Kevin Ayers & The Whole World ft. Bridget St. John (1970)
14) There Is Loving / Among Us / There Is Loving: Kevin Ayers (1972)
15) All This Crazy Gift Of Time: Kevin Ayers (1969)
1969: Joy Of A Toy: 7, 15
1970: Shooting At The Moon: 8, 11, 13
1970: Singing A Song In The Morning EP: 1
1971: Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes EP: 2
1972: whatevershebringswesing: 3, 14
1973: Bananamour: 5, 10, 12
1976: Odd Ditties: 4
2005: The BBC Sessions 1970-1976: 6, 9
