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Product Description
4CD Set - 3 discs from the Harvest label records, 1969-80 + 1 CD previously unreleased live concert from 1973
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Kevin Ayers is one of thoe artists that we've all heard of somewhere in the dark and often murky past and like me you've probably never actually heard much if anything of his stuff - which upon finding this set is a major crime against music
Kevin ayers found initial fame as a member of the wilde flowers and latterly Soft Machine - but then decided to avoid touring and go his own way
This set draws on his 11 Harvest Lp's (some of which have been remastered and expanded on CD)
This is great music - progressive meets lounge with wierdness as an added bonus - he has a very interesting Baritone (i.e. - Deep) voice and a great band with him - usually Ollie Hassall or Andy Summers or Steve Hillage
The last CD is a corker - an unreleased show from the Royal Festival Hall in 1973 with some great songs and some good jamming / improvisation
Even the stuff from the dodgier "Island" albums stands up well
One things for sure - you'll probably want to get some more of his earlier vstuff after hearing this, I'm certainly going too
This is a great set and worthy of investment - if you like Progressive rock then you'll like this - its not like ELP / Yes or Genesis more like Syd Barrat's stuff
Get it whilst you can
Kevin ayers found initial fame as a member of the wilde flowers and latterly Soft Machine - but then decided to avoid touring and go his own way
This set draws on his 11 Harvest Lp's (some of which have been remastered and expanded on CD)
This is great music - progressive meets lounge with wierdness as an added bonus - he has a very interesting Baritone (i.e. - Deep) voice and a great band with him - usually Ollie Hassall or Andy Summers or Steve Hillage
The last CD is a corker - an unreleased show from the Royal Festival Hall in 1973 with some great songs and some good jamming / improvisation
Even the stuff from the dodgier "Island" albums stands up well
One things for sure - you'll probably want to get some more of his earlier vstuff after hearing this, I'm certainly going too
This is a great set and worthy of investment - if you like Progressive rock then you'll like this - its not like ELP / Yes or Genesis more like Syd Barrat's stuff
Get it whilst you can
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an extremely well assembled collection of recordings from one of music's true unique greats. Ayers is a new discovery of mine brought about by his wonderful new album The Unfairground and his first from '69 the brilliantly skewed Joy Of A Toy. Ayers is being discovered by a new generation and this collection is certainly aimed at us as I am sure that most people who have been fans for a long time would have most of the original albums that this collection draws upon. But here's the thing..for us newbies this is a great way to get started and for established fans this is a great way for them to introduce their hero to others (and support the artist in a way that home made compilations do not, keeping in mind that supporting artists is important).
Songs for Insane Times no doubt omits some tracks that fans might have wanted to be included, but that is testimony to Ayers' genius rather than any failing on the part of the compiler. I have played through this entire collection many many times now and have not hit skip once.
The live concert is extremely good. I read an account of this particular concert somewhere which describes a point when a bright light was flashed at the audience who once their eyes had adjusted back were surprised to see the stage filled with dancing trees and all sorts. That sort of magic comes through on the recordings. The arrangement for 'why are we sleeping' must I am sure served as a template for the quiet,loud, quiet of the Pixies.
Kevin Ayers, like the true maverick he is, eschewed fame and publicity. If he had 'gone for it' I am certain he would be a household name as this collection clearly demonstrates.
Songs for Insane Times no doubt omits some tracks that fans might have wanted to be included, but that is testimony to Ayers' genius rather than any failing on the part of the compiler. I have played through this entire collection many many times now and have not hit skip once.
The live concert is extremely good. I read an account of this particular concert somewhere which describes a point when a bright light was flashed at the audience who once their eyes had adjusted back were surprised to see the stage filled with dancing trees and all sorts. That sort of magic comes through on the recordings. The arrangement for 'why are we sleeping' must I am sure served as a template for the quiet,loud, quiet of the Pixies.
Kevin Ayers, like the true maverick he is, eschewed fame and publicity. If he had 'gone for it' I am certain he would be a household name as this collection clearly demonstrates.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a compilation of 'the best' of Kevin Ayers work it's not bad and a very good start point for the first 11 years what's missing is recordings from the other 28 years.
The pick of songs from the first 11 is wonderful, how can you go wrong the Syd Barrett version of 'singing a song' known as 'religious Experience' should attract Pink Floyd fans who have not already purchased the wonderful first album 'Joy of a Toy'. For the more serious Kevin Collectors the attraction of Live show from 1974 with radically different version of favourites 'we did it again' and 'why are we sleeping', missing some excellent songs always subjective but 'Lunatics Lament' from 'Shouting at the Moon' is a big favourite of mine with its massive Mike Oldfield Guitar solo.
Something for all, but where are those later Kevin Ayers albums on Harvest a proper re-master of 'Yes we have No Mananas' 'Rainbow takeaway' and 'That's what you get babe' would be most welcome.
A great but flawed box set of Kevin Ayers work.
The pick of songs from the first 11 is wonderful, how can you go wrong the Syd Barrett version of 'singing a song' known as 'religious Experience' should attract Pink Floyd fans who have not already purchased the wonderful first album 'Joy of a Toy'. For the more serious Kevin Collectors the attraction of Live show from 1974 with radically different version of favourites 'we did it again' and 'why are we sleeping', missing some excellent songs always subjective but 'Lunatics Lament' from 'Shouting at the Moon' is a big favourite of mine with its massive Mike Oldfield Guitar solo.
Something for all, but where are those later Kevin Ayers albums on Harvest a proper re-master of 'Yes we have No Mananas' 'Rainbow takeaway' and 'That's what you get babe' would be most welcome.
A great but flawed box set of Kevin Ayers work.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Songs for these (boring) times
Once that exploration and fun is over in music, as it happens today, we have to look back and find surprises like this one. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Argantonio
Magical Yellow Harvest (for spanish customers)
No sé como empezar esta opinión. Estoy nuevamente abrumado ante esta magnífica e inteligente colección de temas, algo más que una simple... Read more
Published 6 months ago by A.L. Pastor
Herne Bay's Rock Star!!
Compiler Mark Powell set himself an almost impossible task in trying to create a Kevin Ayers collection that would appeal to fans, old and new, and to the curious alike. Read more
Published 13 months ago by James B. Spink
Release the other albums!
Any Kevin Ayers fan willing to spend £26 would already have these albums (I'm not that bothered about the live set). Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2008 by Alan Tully
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