Joy of a Toy [Extra tracks, Import]

Kevin Ayers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B00009IB2O
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,017,713 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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

11. Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning) [#][*]

12. The Lady Rachel [Extended First Mix][#][*]

13. Soon Soon Soon [*]

14. Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning) [#][*]

15. The Lady Rachel [Single Version][*]

16. Singing a Song in the Morning [*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth The Wait..., June 28, 2003

By 

Bruce A. Nelson "sydpink" (Worcester, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joy of a Toy (Audio CD)

The much anticipated re-release of the classic 1969 Kevin Ayers' solo debut, Joy Of A Toy does not disappoint. This album is another "desert island" pick.

First, you get some nice packaging. A thoughtful text by Mark Powell with some rare photographs of Ayers' busking about with some promo shots. It would have been even better if all the lyrics had been included (instead of only "The Lady Rachel" and "Song For Insane Times").

Next, you get a nice remix from Peter Mew, which is a significant improvement over The Beat Goes On release.

Of course, then there's the music. From the psychedelic "Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong", "Song For Insane Times" (with Soft Machine) and "Stop This Train", the whimsical "Joy Of A Toy" and "The Clarietta Rag", the Dylan nod on "All This Crazy Gift Of Time" and the gentle acoustic wine buzz on "Girl On A Swing", "Town Feeling" and "Eleanor's Cake", (not to mention "The Lady Rachel" which is an Ayers staple), every track is genuine and unique. Fine English songwriting colored with some excellent guests and eccentric arrangements by David Bedford.

It's the record one wished Syd Barrett made after leaving the Floyd.

And speaking of Syd, his contribution on "Religious Experience" is actually better than expected. His playing has a more Mandrax vibe than the energetic electric playing that Ayers later copied on the final release, yet it's still interesting. There's also another version, sans Syd with mellotron that's even better. The extras are not merely taken from the excellent 70's collection, Oddities. In addition to the "Religious Experience" tracks, there's an extended version of "The Lady Rachel," maybe the best version yet with Bedford's arrangement.

Get this album! The other reissues (Shooting At The Moon, Whatevershebringswesing
and Bananamour) should be as great from this marvelous songwriter.