Joy of a Toy
Encyclopedia
Joy of a Toy is the debut solo album of Kevin Ayers
, a founding member of Soft Machine
. Its whimsical and unique vision is a clear indication of how Soft Machine might have progressed under Ayers' tenure. He is accompanied on the LP by his Soft Machine colleagues Robert Wyatt
, Mike Ratledge
and Hugh Hopper
.
After a Soft Machine tour of the USA 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 promise 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 Harvest
label where it was recorded by Peter Jenner
for the then exorbitant sum of £4000.
Joy Of A Toy features many of Ayers' most enduring songs from 'The Lady Rachel' to 'Girl On A Swing', the latter still, regularly covered by artists to this day like Candie Payne
and The Ladybug Transistor
. It was on Joy Of A Toy that Ayers developed his sonorous vocal delivery, an avant-garde song construction and an affection for bizarre instrumentation that would have a deep influence far into the 1970s and indeed the present day.
Side 1
Side 2
Bonus material on 2003 reissue:
plus on "Religious Experience" / "Singing A Song In The Morning" :
Shortly after Barrett's death, Ayers told Mojo magazine that when Barrett arrived at the studio: "....he was out-of-it....wasn't able to tune his guitar or find the chords. We put a couple of tracks down but he just didn't want to do it any more." This casts some doubt as to whether any takes of "Religious Experience"/"Singing a song in the Morning" feature Barrett in spite of the CD's claims. However, a third guitar is present on this track, most noticeably starting around 2:50.
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
, a founding member of Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
. Its whimsical and unique vision is a clear indication of how Soft Machine might have progressed under Ayers' tenure. He is accompanied on the LP by his Soft Machine colleagues Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
, Mike Ratledge
Mike Ratledge
Michael Roland "Mike" Ratledge is a British musician. Ratledge was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.-Biography and career:...
and Hugh Hopper
Hugh Hopper
Hugh Colin Hopper was a progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and various other related bands.-Early career:...
.
After a Soft Machine tour of the USA with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Ayers had decided to retire from the music business. Hendrix however, presented Ayers with an acoustic Gibson J-200
Gibson J-200
Gibson J-200 is an acoustic guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Gibson entered into production of this model in 1938 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 was made at the Gibson Factory in...
guitar on the promise 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 Harvest
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
label where it was recorded by Peter Jenner
Peter Jenner
Peter Jenner is a British music manager and a record producer. Jenner, Andrew King and the original four members of Pink Floyd were partners in Blackhill Enterprises.- Early career :...
for the then exorbitant sum of £4000.
Joy Of A Toy features many of Ayers' most enduring songs from 'The Lady Rachel' to 'Girl On A Swing', the latter still, regularly covered by artists to this day like Candie Payne
Candie Payne
Candice "Candie" Payne is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool. 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...
and The Ladybug Transistor
The Ladybug Transistor
The Ladybug Transistor is a Brooklyn-based indie pop group associated with The Elephant Six Collective.Started in 1995 by Gary Olson, Edward Powers and Javier Villegas, the band quickly released Marlborough Farms on Park N' Ride records, adding and subtracting a couple members and going on an...
. It was on Joy Of A Toy that Ayers developed his sonorous vocal delivery, an avant-garde song construction and an affection for bizarre instrumentation that would have a deep influence far into the 1970s and indeed the present day.
Track listing
All tracks are credited to AyersSide 1
- Joy of a Toy ContinuedJoy of a Toy (song)"Joy of a Toy" was the first USA single released by the Psychedelic rock group Soft Machine. It was issued to promote the band’s debut album The Soft Machine. The single features edited versions of both songs, in addition to featuring the only known mono-mixes from their debut...
- 2:54 - Town Feeling - 4:54
- The Clarietta Rag - 3:20
- Girl on a Swing - 2:49
- Song for Insane Times - 4:00
Side 2
- Stop This Train (Again Doing It) - 6:05
- Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her) - 2:53
- The Lady Rachel - 5:17
- Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong - 5:35
- All This Crazy Gift of Time - 3:57
Bonus material on 2003 reissue:
- Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning) Featuring Syd BarrettSyd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
[take 9] - 4:46 - The Lady Rachael - Extended First Mix - 6:42
- Soon Soon Soon [bonus track] - 3:23
- Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning) [take 103] - 2:50
- The Lady Rachael Single Version [bonus track] - 4:51
- Singing a Song in the MorningSinging a Song in the Morning"Singing A Song In The Morning" was the first Kevin Ayers single, released three months after his debut solo LP Joy of a Toy. It did not feature on the album....
- Single Version [bonus track] - 2:52
Personnel
- Kevin AyersKevin AyersKevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
/ Guitars, Bass and Vocals - Robert WyattRobert WyattRobert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
/ Drums - David BedfordDavid BedfordDavid Vickerman Bedford , was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music....
/ Piano, Mellotron, Arranger - Mike RatledgeMike RatledgeMichael Roland "Mike" Ratledge is a British musician. Ratledge was part of the Canterbury scene and a long-time member of Soft Machine.-Biography and career:...
/ Organ - Hugh HopperHugh HopperHugh Colin Hopper was a progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and various other related bands.-Early career:...
/ Bass (1 & 5) - Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
/ Cello - Rob Tait / Drums (6 & 9)
- Paul Minns / Oboe
plus on "Religious Experience" / "Singing A Song In The Morning" :
- Syd BarrettSyd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
/ Guitar (1b) - Richard SinclairRichard SinclairRichard S. Sinclair is a progressive rock bassist, guitarist and vocalist who has been a member of several bands of the Canterbury scene.-Biography:...
/ Bass - Richard CoughlanRichard CoughlanRichard Coughlan is an English musician, best known as the drummer and percussionist of the Canterbury scene progressive rock band Caravan. He was one of the founding members of Caravan in 1968 and has remained with the band for its over 35-year existence...
/ Drums - David Sinclair / Organ
- The LadybirdsThe LadybirdsThe Ladybirds are a British female vocal harmony trio, most famous for their appearances in The Benny Hill Show. They participated in over 60 episodes between 1968 and 1991. In addition, they were long-standing backing singers to many established artists, and perennial television ...
/ Backing vocals
Shortly after Barrett's death, Ayers told Mojo magazine that when Barrett arrived at the studio: "....he was out-of-it....wasn't able to tune his guitar or find the chords. We put a couple of tracks down but he just didn't want to do it any more." This casts some doubt as to whether any takes of "Religious Experience"/"Singing a song in the Morning" feature Barrett in spite of the CD's claims. However, a third guitar is present on this track, most noticeably starting around 2:50.
External links
- Joy of a Toy - Best Albums of All Time by Peter Paphides http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4172687.ece