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Kevin Ayers - The Best Of Kevin Ayers CD (album) cover

THE BEST OF KEVIN AYERS

Kevin Ayers

 

Canterbury Scene

3.17 | 9 ratings

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febus
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
3 stars IS IT REALLY A BEST OF?

A best-of album from any musician will never get a 5 star rating as there is always a different ideal best-of to any fan! Why this particular great song was not included and that no-big-deal tune is in??It happens all the time, to you and to me!!There is nothing different with this KEVIN AYERS best-of.

I guess the idea of HARVEST records was to showcase all the differents sides of K. AYERS creativity!! So , we get proggy AYERS, tropical AYERS, minstrel AYERS and of course the whimsical AYERS, even scary AYERS. There are 19 tracks giving you a good idea about the artist overall. But the problem, it can also give you the wrong idea! Can someone explain to me why maybe the worst song in the history of rock music is featured on this best-of? Yes, the delirious HAT SONG from RAINBOW TAKEWAY is included with this set. Some might find this track funny, but sadly it is drowning the rest of the album.

Also, albums like JOY OF A TOY or WHATEVERSHEBRINGSWESING are a pleasure to listen to because of a certain athmosphere that unites all those songs, mainly due because of the DAVID BEDFORD great arrangements and KEVIN AYERS writing capabilities at their peaks. Some of their highlights are included like the lush GIRL ON A SWING or the grandiose THERE IS A LOVING/AMONG US with KEVIN at his most prog. Of course THE KA song the splendid THE LADY RACHEL is here as well and is the perfect example of KEVIN at his best.Sadly, they are surrounded by other inconsequential tunes that have no place on best-of!

We mention THE HAT SONG earlier, but SINGING A SONG IN THE MORNING, CARRIBEAN MOON or other BUTTERFLY DANCE also don't mix at all with the goodies as they show us the careless AYERS side when he is just here to have fun with his carribean rythms. Second rate songs like BALLAD OF SALESMAN or SWEET DECEIVER should have been replaced by some of the great ''classics'' like MAY I or TOWN FEELING, way better tracks!THE ' YES WE HAVE NO MANANAS ' album doesn't have any song represented here and BLUE is the obvious left-out!! for THE HAT SONG??? come on!

Overall, a pleasant album which gives you an idea of the persona with the good, the bad and the ugly...HAT SONG!more of a retrospective than a best-of!!Stick to the original albums!

3 STARS.

febus | 3/5 |

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