Kevin Ayers - Joy of a Toy

Title: Joy of a Toy Artist: Kevin Ayers Release Date: 11/1969 Re-Released On: 11/21/2006 Label: Water Music Records, Beat Goes On UPCs: 646315718829, 5017261200785 Genre: Rock Styles: Psychedelic, British Psychedelia, Canterbury Scene, Art Rock Moods: Eccentric, Whimsical, Wry, Druggy, Humorous, Literate, Quirky, Trippy, Cynical/Sarcastic, Ironic, Precious, Reflective, Amiable/Good-Natured, Irreverent, Playful, Silly, Springlike, Witty, Acerbic, Detached, Rollicking, Theatrical, Bittersweet, Poignant Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 3 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Joy of a Toy Continued
2. Town Feeling
3. The Clarietta Rag
4. Girl on a Swing
5. Song for Insane Times
6. Stop This Train (Again Doing It)
7. Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)
8. The Lady Rachel
9. Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong
10. All This Crazy Gift of Time

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Water Music Records 188 1990 CD Beat Goes On 78

Joy of a Toy [UK Bonus Tracks] Joy of a Toy [Japan Bonus Tracks]

As the Soft Machine's first bassist and original principal songwriter, Kevin Ayers 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. Laissez-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. It's no accident that some of the tracks recall early Soft Machine: Robert Wyatt drums on most of the songs, and "Song for Insane Times" 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. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits David Bedford Keyboards, Creative Assistance, Piano, Arranger Hugh Hopper Bass Ian Knight Engineer Jeff Clyne Bass Kevin Ayers Vocals, Guitar, Producer Laurie Asprey Photography Martin Wakeling Liner Notes Mike Ratledge Keyboards Paul Buckmaster Cello Paul Minns Oboe Peter Jenner Producer Peter Mew Engineer Rob Tait Drums Robert Wyatt Vocals, Drums Roger Dopson Liner Notes Sean Murphy Vocals, Engineer Soft Machine Band