Sweet Deceiver [Original recording remastered]

The Musicians:
KEVIN AYERS - Vocals, Fuzz Bass, Mandolin, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
OLLIE HALSALL [of Patto] - Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Piano, Vibes & Vocals
JACOB MAGNUSSON - Organ, Accordion, Piano, Clavinet & Vocals
FREDDIE SMITH - Drums & Percussion
JOHN ALTMAN - Clarinet on "Guru Banana"
ELTON JOHN - Piano on "Guru Banana", "Toujours La Voyage" and "Circular Letter"
BIAS BOSHELL - Piano on "Sweet Deceiver"
FUZZY SAMUELS on Bass with CHILLI CHARLES on Drums
and THE MUSCLE SHOALS HORNS [Ronnie Eades, Charles Ross, Harrison Calloway Jnr. and Harvey Thompson] - all featured on "Once Upon An Ocean" only

Here's the breakdown (61:12 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 9 make up the album "Sweet Deceiver" issued on Island ILPS 9322 in the UK in March 1975. Ayers & Halsall (credited as Ollie Haircut) produced the original LP with all songs written by Ayers.

Five bonus tracks are tagged onto this expanded 2009 remaster. Tracks 10 to 14 are live recordings taped at The BBC's Paris Theatre in London on 27 March 1975 (transmitted on the "In Concert" program 19 April 1975). JEFF GRIFFIN and CHRIS LYCETT of the BBC engineered and produced the concert - the Band used was KEVIN AYERS on Vocals & Guitar, OLLIE HALSALL [of Patto] on Lead Guitar; GEORGE 'ZOOT' MONEY on Keyboards, RICK WILLS on Bass and TONY NEWMAN on Drums.

The superlative 8-page liner notes are once again written by noted expert MARK POWELL and the original master tapes remastered by PETER MEW at Abbey Road. Mew has done a typically stunning job (as he has on all of Ayers' albums) - BEAUTIFUL SOUND QUALITY (see my review for "Confessions Of Dr. Dream" for further info on his remastering work).

Eagerly anticipated by fans after the weird and undeniably wonderful "Confessions..." album of 1974, Ayers' 2nd LP for Island turned out to be a bit of a 9-track damp squid - some even saying that he was treading water - or worse - trying to be a 'rock star' (the pretty boy cover). Too many of the tunes were born out of the whimsy that had made him so beloved on earlier albums, but were now sounding tired. That didn't stop the eight-minute long lullaby of "Toujours La Voyage" being brilliant and blessed with truly superb piano tinkling from Elton John. I've always loved this track and now with this 2009 remaster it sounds just gorgeous (lyrics are the title of this review). "Diminished But Not Finished" was also pretty, but the swirling effect put on "Circular Letter" ruined the feel of the tune. The Calypso structure used by the Muscle Shoals Horns on "Once Upon An Ocean" couldn't rescue it from sounding like some white guy trying to do reggae - and badly.

The 5 live bonus tracks are a strange mixture of the dull and the great. The stunning guitar work-out song "Didn't Feel Lonely `Til I Thought Of You" from "Confessions..." features Ollie Halsall's amazing guitar work, but doesn't really cook until the end. "Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes" is probably every fan's favourite, but it just doesn't work live and sounds silly and forced here. "Observations" and "Interview" however see the band kick in - great stuff. "Farewell Again" is better live than on the original LP as Zoot Money and Halsall stretch out on the keyboards and guitar - wicked jamming.

So there you have it - weak in some parts, but masterful in others - three stars instead of five - but as it's Kevin Ayers, I still had to own it.

For fans this is yet another top job done by EMI - and a sound tribute to an artist who deserved better than never charting a single album.

PS: see also separate reviews for the 2009 remasters of "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" (Island, 1974) and "Yes We Have No Mananas" (Harvest, 1976)

Always a voyage of discovery Kevin Ayers music on his second studio Album for Island (Now re-released on Harvest) is packed full of trouser snake like wit. And the charm that fans will know and love.
This today sound like a the most commercial album in the Kevin Ayers catalogue for me a weak album if there is such a thing with Kevin Ayers the highlight of the album is the eight minute tour de force `Tumours La Voyage'. Observations is a cracking and rocky opener, while `Guru Banana' showcases Kevin Banana fixation off to its best. The closing song `Farewell Again' fore tells the unhappiness with Island records and his move away from the UK to live in sunnier climbs.
Bonus material is a generous 25 minutes of 'In Concert ' show from the BBC archives recorded in 1975. Great stuff even for a weak album.

Why 2.99 for toujours la voyage? a rip-off, surely!! i know elton plays a mean "joanna" on it but come off it!!!