It is indeed an oddity that, for all the considerable ambition of his albums, this collection of singles and unreleased outtakes may be Ayers' most satisfying LP. Why? Perhaps because when he's constrained within the 45 format, he taps his strongest and most endearing qualities: easygoing, singalong melodies, droll, nonchalant (even non sequitur) lyrics, good-natured sotto voce vocals, even female backup harmonies. There's little trace of the inaccessible, difficult (usually instrumental) passages that occupy much of the space on his early albums. Spanning 1969 to 1973, this includes eight tracks that wound up on flop singles, as well as six outtakes from the albums he recorded during this period, though there were no obvious reasons for their exclusion (too pop oriented, perhaps?). These are, indeed, "odd ditties": catchy, with occasional Caribbean rhythms and French lyrics, but way too goofball to be taken to heart by a mass audience, at times sounding like a more together Syd Barrett. Needless to say, none of these nifty tunes were anything close to hits. But if they had been, the world would have been a better place.
Cardboard sleeve reissue from Kevin Ayers features remastering in 2014 and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). The cover faithfully replicates the original UK LP artwork. Includes an obi featuring design of original Japanese limited edition's LP (subject to change). Comes with a description and lyrics. Part of eight-album Kevin Ayers cardboard sleeve reissue series features the albums, "Joy Of A Toy +5," "Shooting At The Moon +6," "Whatevershebrings Wesing +10," "Bananamour +7," "Odd Ditties +3," "Yes We Have No Mananas. So Get Your Mananas Today +9," "Rainbow Takeaway +7," and "That's What You Get Babe +4." Bonus tracks.
01 - Soon, Soon, Soon
02 - Singing A Song In The Morning
03 - Gemini Child
04 - Puis-je
05 - Butterfly Dance
06 - Stars
07 - Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes
08 - Jolie Madame
09 - Lady Rachel
10 - Connie On A Rubber Band
11 - Fake Mexican Tourist Blues
12 - Don't Sing No More Sad Songs
13 - Take Me To Tahiti
14 - Caribbean Moon
15 - Star (Single Version) (bonus track)
16 - Religious Experience (Singing A Song In The Morning) (bonus track)
17 - Hat (bonus track)
*2014 Parlophone / Warner Music Japan | WPCR-15528 {2014 Remaster Japan Mini LP SHM-CD Edition}
Personnel:
Vocals, Guitar, Bass – Kevin Ayers
Saxophone – Lol Coxhill
Bass – Archie Legget, Mike Oldfield, Richard Sinclair
Guitar – Mike Oldfield
Organ – David Bedford, David Sinclair
Accordion – David Bedford
Drums – Dave Dufort, Eddie Sparrow, Mick Fincher, Richard Coughlan, Tony Carr, Whack Skins
Flute – Keith Bachelo
Harmony Vocals – Archie Legget
Percussion – Eddie Sparrow, Mick Fincher
Piano – David Bedford, Ronnie Price
Piccolo Flute – Harry Smith, Roy Smith-Field
Backing Vocals – Bridget St John, Doris Troy, Ladybirds, Liza Strike
Trumpet – Duncan Brown
Vocals – Bridget St John, Greyhound
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