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Joy Of A Toy
''Joy of a Toy'' is the debut solo album of Kevin Ayers, a founding member of Soft Machine. He is accompanied on the LP by pianist and arranger David Bedford as well as his erstwhile Soft Machine colleagues Robert Wyatt and Mike Ratledge, and his eventual replacement Hugh Hopper, who had previously worked with him in the semi-pro band Wilde Flowers. Among the session musicians are cellist and arranger Paul Buckmaster, jazz bassist Jeff Clyne, oboist Paul Minns (of Third Ear Band) and drummer Rob Tait (formerly of Pete Brown and His Battered Ornaments before going on to join Vinegar Joe). Background After a Soft Machine tour of the US with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Ayers had decided to retire from the music business. Hendrix, however, presented Ayers with an acoustic Gibson J-200 guitar on the condition that he continue his songwriting. Ayers repaired to a small London flat where he composed and arranged a whole LP which was then presented to Malcolm Jones' fledgling Harv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers (16 August 1944 – 18 February 2013) was an English singer-songwriter who was active in the English psychedelic music movement. Ayers was a founding member of the psychedelic band Soft Machine in the mid-1960s, and was closely associated with the Canterbury scene. He recorded a series of albums as a solo artist and over the years worked with Brian Eno, Syd Barrett, Bridget St John, John Cale, Elton John, Robert Wyatt, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Nico and Ollie Halsall, among others. After living for many years in Deià, Mallorca, he returned to the United Kingdom in the mid-1990s before moving to the south of France. His last album, '' The Unfairground'', was released in 2007. The British rock journalist Nick Kent wrote: "Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett were the two most important people in British pop music. Everything that came after came from them." Biography Early life Ayers was born in Herne Bay, Kent, the son of BBC producer Rowan Ayers. Following his parents ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hugh Hopper
Hugh Colin Hopper (29 April 1945 – 7 June 2009) was a British progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and other bands. Biography Early career Starting in 1963 as bassist with The Daevid Allen Trio, alongside drummer Robert Wyatt, he alternated between free jazz and rhythm and blues. In 1964 with Brian Hopper (his brother), Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers and Richard Sinclair he formed The Wilde Flowers, a pop music group. Although they never released any records during their existence (a compilation was released 30 years later), The Wilde Flowers are acknowledged as the founders of the Canterbury scene and spawned its two most important groups, Soft Machine and Caravan. With Soft Machine (1968–1973) Hopper's role with Soft Machine was initially as the group's road manager, but he already composed for their first album ''The Soft Machine'' and played bass on one of its tracks. In 1969 he was r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Singing A Song In The Morning
"Singing a Song in the Morning" (originally titled "Religious Experience") was the first solo single released by Kevin Ayers, one of the founding members of the band Soft Machine. It was issued three months after Ayers' debut solo LP ''Joy of a Toy'', and the artist was credited on the record label as Kevin Ayers and the Whole World. Although the song was not included on the original ''Joy of a Toy'' album, the single's B-side, "Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her)", was on the album. Accompanying Ayers were three members of the band Caravan—cousins David and Richard Sinclair, and Richard Coughlan. Syd Barrett, recently departed from Pink Floyd, played guitar on the session, but his part was left off the mix of the 1970 single. Members of Soft Machine had recorded on Barrett's first solo album, ''The Madcap Laughs''. It was around this time that Barrett recorded the guitar part for Ayers on this track. The version with Barrett was first issued on the 2003 expanded reissue of ''Joy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Madcap Laughs
''The Madcap Laughs'' is the debut solo album by the English singer-songwriter Syd Barrett. It was recorded after Barrett had left Pink Floyd in April 1968. The album had a chequered recording history, with work beginning in mid-1968, but the bulk of the sessions taking place between April and July 1969, for which five different producers were credited − including Barrett, Peter Jenner (1968 sessions), Malcolm Jones (early-to-mid-1969 sessions), and fellow Pink Floyd members David Gilmour and Roger Waters (mid-1969 sessions). Among the guest musicians are Willie Wilson from Gilmour's old band Jokers Wild and several members of Soft Machine. ''The Madcap Laughs'', released in January 1970 on Harvest in the UK but not released in the US until 1974, enjoyed minimal commercial success on release, reaching number 40 on the UK's official albums chart. It was re-released in 1974 as part of ''Syd Barrett'' (which contained ''The Madcap Laughs'' and '' Barrett''), which saw the first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Syd Barrett
Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Barrett was their original frontman and primary songwriter, becoming known for his whimsical style of psychedelia, English-accented singing, and stream-of-consciousness writing style. As a guitarist, he was influential for his free-form playing and for employing effects such as dissonance, distortion, echo and feedback. Originally trained as a painter, Barrett was musically active for less than ten years. With Pink Floyd, he recorded four singles, their debut album ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' (1967), portions of their second album '' A Saucerful of Secrets'' (1968), and several unreleased songs. In April 1968, Barrett was ousted from the band amid speculation of mental illness and his excessive use of psychedelic drugs. He began a brief solo career in 1969 with the single "Octopus" and followed with the album ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Ladybug Transistor
The Ladybug Transistor is a Brooklyn-based indie pop group associated with The Elephant Six Collective. History Started in 1995 by Gary Olson, Edward Powers and Javier Villegas, The Ladybug Transistor released '' Marlborough Farms'' the same year on Park N' Ride records, adding and subtracting a couple of members and going on an international tour. With Jeff Baron ( Guppyboy, The Essex Green) and Jennifer Baron (Saturnine) added to the line-up, they released ''Beverley Atonale'' in 1997, this time on Merge Records. Powers left the band and the remaining members, with San Fadyl and Sasha Bell of The Essex Green and the solo act Finishing School, embarked on a United States tour. With a more stable line-up, the band released ''The Albemarle Sound'' in 1999, and added the violinist and bass guitarist Julia Rydholm (The Four Corners, The Essex Green, Jens Lekman) to the line-up. In 2001, ''Argyle Heir'' was released. In 2003, the band recorded a self-titled album at WaveLab S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Candie Payne
Candice "Candie" Payne (born 19 December 1981) is an English singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, '' I Wish I Could Have Loved You More'', on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band the Stands, and Sean Payne, the drummer of the Zutons. Early life Payne was born in Liverpool in 1981. Aged four, her family relocated to New York City before moving back when Payne was 10. Initially shunning music, Payne pursued a career in visual art, attending art college and working in a vintage clothing shop in Liverpool town centre. However, Payne became disenchanted with her studies and, after performing with a friend's band, exchanged her interest for music. Career Candie Payne originally began performing with Liverpool band Tramp Attack and Edgar Jones & the Joneses in the early 2000s. She was then introduced to Simon Dine of Noonday Underground with whom she began composing songs. In 2006, Payne release two singles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gibson J-200
The Gibson J-200 (formerly the Gibson SJ-200 or Super Jumbo 200), is an acoustic guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation. History Gibson entered into production of this model in 1937 as its top-of-the-line flat top guitar, initially called the Super Jumbo, changing the name in 1939 to the Super Jumbo 200. It replaced the Gibson Advanced Jumbo. It was made at the Gibson Factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and .... The SJ-200 was named for its super-large 16 7/8" flat top body, with a double-braced red spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and sunburst finish. In 1947 the materials used for the guitar changed to maple back and sides. Gibson changed the name to the J-200 in 1955. Due to the weak post-depression economy and warti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music." Born in Seattle, Washington, Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. In 1961, he enlisted in the US Army, but was discharged the following year. Soon afterward, he moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, Clarksville then Nashville, Tennessee, and began playing gigs on the chitlin' circuit, earning a place in the Isley Brothers' backing band and later with Little Richard, with whom he continued to work through mid-1965. He then played with Curtis Knight, Curtis Knight and the Squires before moving t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vinegar Joe (band)
Vinegar Joe were an English Blues rock band, formed in 1971 in London. They released three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer. History Vinegar Joe evolved out of Dada, a 12-piece Stax-influenced, jazz/ blues rock fusion band. Dada released one eponymous album in 1970, with a line up including vocalist Elkie Brooks and guitarist Pete Gage. Singer Robert Palmer, formerly with The Alan Bown Set joined Dada after the album had been recorded. Dada were signed by Ahmet Ertegun for Atlantic Records. After their US tour, Ahmet sub-licensed them to Chris Blackwell of Island Records for the UK and rest of the world, with instructions to reduce the line up to form Vinegar Joe in 1971, adding keyboard player Dave Thompson, but the band was still without a drummer. Phil Collins had unsuccessfully applied for the job. Conrad Isidore and Rob Tait drummed on the first album. Tim Hinkley added ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pete Brown
Peter Ronald Brown (born 25 December 1940) is an English performance poet, lyricist, and singer best known for his collaborations with Cream and Jack Bruce.Colin Larkin, ''Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music'', (Muze UK Ltd, 1997), , p. 80 Brown formed the bands Pete Brown & His Battered Ornaments and Pete Brown & Piblokto! and worked with Graham Bond and Phil Ryan. Brown also writes film scripts and formed a film production company. Early life Brown was born in Ashtead, Surrey, England. Before his involvement with music, he was a poet, having his first poem published in the U.S. magazine ''Evergreen Review'' when he was 14 years old. He then became part of the poetry scene in Liverpool during the 1960s, and in 1964 was the first poet to perform at Morden Tower in Newcastle. He did poetry and music events, including a tour with guitarist Davey Graham. Brown formed The First Real Poetry Band with John McLaughlin (guitar), Binky McKenzie (bass), Laurie Allan (drums) and Pete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Third Ear Band
Third Ear Band were a British musical group formed in London during the mid-1960s. Their line-up initially consisted of violin, cello, oboe and percussion. Most of their performances were instrumental and partly improvised. Their records for the Harvest label, ''Alchemy'' and ''Third Ear Band'', achieved some popularity, after which they found some success creating soundtrack music for films. History Dave Tomlin, who had initiated free-form jazz sessions at the London Free School, began similar sessions at the UFO Club by assembling members of the audience, usually at 4am, into a free-form group playing for the, by then, exhausted dancers. The drummer, Glen Sweeney, was sometimes so carried away he had to be told that the rest of the group had finished. They became known as 'The Giant Sun Trolley'. Members came from The Giant Sun Trolley and The People Band to create an improvised music drawing on Eastern raga forms, European folk, experimental and medieval influences. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
