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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By N. Jones
Format:Audio CD
When Kevin Ayers, a man described as `a supreme musical raconteur' went and got himself a proper band it probably wasn't ambition that led him to call it `The Whole World'
It included both Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield anyway, the latter at a time perhaps when `Tubular Bells' and everything that it went on to become was merely the stuff of Oldfield's fancy. He plays guitar and bass like a dream anyway. His playing of the latter on `May I?' is a total joy set against Ayers's rhythm guitar part and Coxhill's inimitable soprano sax takes things to another even more joyous level.
Critics of the day -1970 as it happens- were a bit dismissive of the album, which only goes to show how little attention they deserve. SATM is admittedly a bit self-indulgent but when set against some of the musical toss that was being put out at the time it's a model of rectitude the like of which ensures that `Lunatics Lament' is right in keeping with the deal even while it includes a suitably demented guitar solo.
Any road up, some forty years after this event it feels like Kevin Ayers enjoys an ever growing cult following, which is something in times like these, especially if the more recent converts can get to grips with this album.
It included both Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield anyway, the latter at a time perhaps when `Tubular Bells' and everything that it went on to become was merely the stuff of Oldfield's fancy. He plays guitar and bass like a dream anyway. His playing of the latter on `May I?' is a total joy set against Ayers's rhythm guitar part and Coxhill's inimitable soprano sax takes things to another even more joyous level.
Critics of the day -1970 as it happens- were a bit dismissive of the album, which only goes to show how little attention they deserve. SATM is admittedly a bit self-indulgent but when set against some of the musical toss that was being put out at the time it's a model of rectitude the like of which ensures that `Lunatics Lament' is right in keeping with the deal even while it includes a suitably demented guitar solo.
Any road up, some forty years after this event it feels like Kevin Ayers enjoys an ever growing cult following, which is something in times like these, especially if the more recent converts can get to grips with this album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
With Mike Oldfield and Lol Coxhill as part of Ayer's Whole World, it was always going to be an album with a difference. Starting with the romantic almost ballad like May I, my particular favourite, other tracks to note are the rock and roll of Lunatics Lament and the child like Oyster and a Flying Fish with Bridget St John. Pisser Dans Un Violin is the lowest point but then a Kevin Ayers album wouldn't be the same without a track 'of difference'. Sit back and enjoy. Vive la banana!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By D. Searle
Format:Audio CD
I bought this to replace my old vinyl copy, bought after hearing a track played by John Peel on his saturday afternoon show on radio 1. This was my first introduction to the wonderfully obtuse, still undiscovered, Kevin Ayers and it still sounds wonderful all these years later - I know there are some weird tracks on here (pisser dans un violon for instance) but they are more than balanced by tracks like Lunatics Lament, Rheinhardt and Geraldine (love the bass on this one) and Shooting the Moon. I don't know what it is about the magic that this man imbues the simplest of rhyming couplets with - I don't think anyone else could get away with stuff like "Blue is the colour of sky, and I won't even try to explain how or why - I'll just show you the sky", but Kevin just does it so artfully that it is a beautiful sound blending with the backing vocals. Some lovely savage guitar solos from Mike Oldfield too - to my mind better than anything he did on tubular bells! Overall still sounds good and I'm glad I bought it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By J
Format:Audio CD
An album of much experimentation, this probably isn't the best place to start on first listening to Kevin Ayers. Begin with Banamour. However saying that, Shooting at the Moon is a rewarding record if given time. A good endorsement for this would be a note in a Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's sleeve for an early album of theirs: Tatay. It cites Shooting at the Moon as "The best LP of all time" - It certainly was a major influence on their earlier material, and indicates how much it could mean to you if given a spin...
By Pat Eyre
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lots of happy memories from the 70's. Found myself singing and dancing along to it. I remember buying him lots of vodka when he thought I worked for Radio Blackburn. ?Well, I did but only part time interviewing.
Format:Audio CD
After 30 or so years my origional vynal record version of this is finally worn out, and I've succumbed to the CD. A brilliant one off.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another bloody Adam Dale formerly of Welwyn garden City recommendation
11 Jun 2012
Format:Audio CD
Circa 1970-71. So he handed me this vinyl as if it was something precious. Have a listen to this Belgo Geordie man. Time you got rid of that Ringo Starr solo album. Well, I let him have it! This Kevin Ayers was never in the Beatles. The Whole World, scoff, scoff, theyd never amount to much. More chance of them joining Grand Funk Railroad than getting to no 1 or being on Top of the Pops etc. Certain amount of sock in the mouth I fear. because bless his pointy little Head (Adam Dale) we were soon singing the "Oyster and the Flying Fish"-"no Adam you be Bridget this time". Anyway, mosey on down the old time warp to 2012 and reflect on "Shooting At The Moon". Firsts off, it was experimental. Pop, meets in the blender and goes six rounds with Lol Coxhill and is smothered in Ayers preglam treacle. Tubular Bells it is not-and I for one am grateful. I liked the vinyl and on the bonus CD only "Puis Je" does it for me-the Belgo part you understand. How many of you know Bradley Wiggins is Belgian? Born in Ghent. But the experimentation is superb because it challenges you to listen to what the musicians are creating. It has more than survived time. I still like it and yes Adam, I no longer have any solo Ringo Star in my collection and I am better for it. See the drugs do work. And for that matter, this is the only Kevin Ayers (if you don't count Soft Machine) in me possession. Lol Coxhill? Never heard of him guv, shifty sort of a bloke with a saxophone (invented by a Belgian) welded to his lower lip. I think he plays with Bruce Springsteen these days. Toys with him.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
always a bit up and down
the other reviews of this album seem pretty much on the money to me.There are some great tracks, some fillers, and of course the"avant-garde" stuff which is pretty dire. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2009 by Hugh Crawford
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eccentric genius
This album contains much of what is good about Kevin Ayres as a songwriter many of the songs stroll along with an unrivalled melody. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2003 by Fletch-a-sketch
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