Still Life with Guitar
Encyclopedia
Still Life with Guitar is the fifteenth studio album by Kevin Ayers
. It found him consolidating on his 1988 return-to-form Falling Up
with a collection of largely acoustic songs that many critics regarded as being equal to material penned at the perceived heights of his career in the mid-1970s. Ayers produced the album, with his then manager Dave Vatch in England and was accompanied by an impressive cast of musicians, including Mike Oldfield
, Ollie Halsall
, Danny Thompson
, BJ Cole, Mark E. Nevin and other members of Fairground Attraction
.
A 2007 reissue of the album on Market Square featured an unreleased song 'Work In Progress' that is perhaps the most revealing performance from the period. Recorded on a Sony Walkman by Vatch during a cab ride in Palma
, Majorca, Ayers sounds simultaneously detached, witty and poignant as he comments on the crowds around him. Still Life with Guitar was the final recording to feature Ayers close companinon and guitarist Ollie Halsall, who died shortly after its release. Ayers would not record another album of new material for fifteen years.
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
. It found him consolidating on his 1988 return-to-form Falling Up
Falling Up (Kevin Ayers album)
Falling Up is the thirteenth studio album by Kevin Ayers.The song "Flying Start" was first released on the Mike Oldfield album Islands in September 1987.-Track listing:# "Saturday Night"...
with a collection of largely acoustic songs that many critics regarded as being equal to material penned at the perceived heights of his career in the mid-1970s. Ayers produced the album, with his then manager Dave Vatch in England and was accompanied by an impressive cast of musicians, including Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, Ollie Halsall
Ollie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
, Danny Thompson
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
, BJ Cole, Mark E. Nevin and other members of Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction
Fairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
.
A 2007 reissue of the album on Market Square featured an unreleased song 'Work In Progress' that is perhaps the most revealing performance from the period. Recorded on a Sony Walkman by Vatch during a cab ride in Palma
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, Majorca, Ayers sounds simultaneously detached, witty and poignant as he comments on the crowds around him. Still Life with Guitar was the final recording to feature Ayers close companinon and guitarist Ollie Halsall, who died shortly after its release. Ayers would not record another album of new material for fifteen years.
Track listing
- "Feeling This Way" (Ayers)
- "Something in Between" (Ayers/Mark Nevin)
- "Thank You Very MuchThank You Very Much"Thank You Very Much" is a Kevin Ayers single release taken from his 1992 album, Still Life with Guitar. After the release of the album Ayers became a recluse and withdrew from the music scene for fifteen years.-Track listing:7"...
" (Ayers) - "There Goes JohnnyThank You Very Much"Thank You Very Much" is a Kevin Ayers single release taken from his 1992 album, Still Life with Guitar. After the release of the album Ayers became a recluse and withdrew from the music scene for fifteen years.-Track listing:7"...
" (Ayers) - "Ghost Train" (Ayers/Peter Halsall)
- "I Don't Depend on You" (Ayers)
- "When Your Parents Go to Sleep" (Ayers)
- "M16" (Ayers)
- "Don't Blame ThemThank You Very Much"Thank You Very Much" is a Kevin Ayers single release taken from his 1992 album, Still Life with Guitar. After the release of the album Ayers became a recluse and withdrew from the music scene for fifteen years.-Track listing:7"...
" (Ayers) - "Irene Goodnight" (Trad. arr.Ayers)
Personnel
- Kevin AyersKevin AyersKevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
/ Guitar, Vocals - Kevin Armstrong / Guitar
- Stuart Bruce / Keyboards
- Simon Clarke / Keyboards
- B.J. Cole / Guitar (Steel)
- Ben Darlow / Vocals
- Roy Dodds / Drums
- Simon Edwards / Bass
- Ollie HalsallOllie HalsallPeter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
/ Guitar, Keyboards - Gavin HarrisonGavin HarrisonGavin Harrison is a British drummer and percussionist. He is best known for playing with the British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree which he joined in 2002. As of 2008, he also plays with the band King Crimson....
/ Drums - Graham HendersonGraham HendersonGraham Henderson is a Canadian lawyer and the president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, a lobby group for a number of major record labels in Canada....
/ Keyboards - Richard Lee / Bass
- Steve Monti / Drums
- Anthony MooreAnthony MooreAnthony Moore is a British experimental music composer, performer and producer. He was a founding member of the band Slapp Happy, worked with Henry Cow and has made a number of solo albums, including Flying Doesn't Help and World Service .As a lyricist, Moore has collaborated with Pink Floyd on...
/ Keyboards - Mark E. Nevin / Guitar
- Mike OldfieldMike OldfieldMichael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
/ Guitar - Danny ThompsonDanny ThompsonDaniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
/ Bass