Four great Canterbury debut albums

moshkito wrote: Hi, I'm not wanting to vote, since I love all of them, and the scene that brought them up! However, if we check the 13 or 14 people that voted (posted, but how did it get to 18 votes so far?), I'm willing to bet that they all have heard at least 20+ hours of Caravan, maybe 1 hour of SM, half hour of Kevin Ayers and if we're lucky, about 15 minutes of the original Gong. I would say, then, that the poll is not really that fair at all, and makes the other three look rather ... poor ... in comparison to Caravan! I do happen to have 16 Caravan albums, but I also have 7 SM, 9 Kevin Ayers (stuck with him from the start!!!!) and everything GONG you can imagine including solos. So for me, even though Caravan gets a clap or two, they are not the defining group for Canterbury ... THE SCENE and its ARTISTS (including musicians) ARE! But we, at PA ... don't believe in the scene! It was just a bunch of idiots getting stoned ... so that makes the music .... right ... NEXT!

^

All are very good works. But, this time I'm with the minority, especially in this case, since nobody chose "Magick Brother". I always loved it. So, "Magick Brother" must be.

Softs 

Caravan is THE most mainstream and well-known of Canterbury Scene/Sound choices. It would do well even if people didn't know or like the album up against the others (which many will not know at all).   I like Joy of a Toy muchly, but voted for Magick Brother. Soft Machine's first could also get my vote. I like Caravan's debut, but Caravan is actually one of my less-liked bands in Canterbury Scene (and I love lots of Canterbury Scene music). I've said before that Caravan is THE Canterbury Scene band for those not really into the Canterbury scene/ sound.

Soft Machine's eponymous album is very strong indeed; I haven't heard Joy Of A Toy but I can't imagine it being better. Gong's and Caravan's debut albums don't really stand out to me at all.

I voted caravan....stand out outfit from that genre...

Joy of a Toy is a sweet album from Kevin. For me, it’s like the transitional album between the Psych leaning Soft Machine debut, and the more Jazz-Psych of SM Volume 2. A very twee and good natured album, with some twists. Typical Ayers

Edited by Tom Ozric - July 15 2020 at 03:16

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: Joy of a Toy is a sweet album from Kevin. For me, it’s like the transitional album between the Psych leaning Soft Machine debut, and the more Jazz-Psych of SM Volume 2. A very twee and good natured album, with some twists. Typical Ayers   I might be tempted to go out and buy a Kevin Ayers 5-CD box set for £10, just as soon as the record stores reopen again.

That sounds like a great plan !!   I was quite shocked to learn he developed a smack addiction. Not even the humble Canterbury dudes were immune......

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: Joy of a Toy is a sweet album from Kevin. For me, it’s like the transitional album between the Psych leaning Soft Machine debut, and the more Jazz-Psych of SM Volume 2. A very twee and good natured album, with some twists. Typical Ayers   I might be tempted to go out and buy a Kevin Ayers 5-CD box set for £10, just as soon as the record stores reopen again. That sounds like a great plan !!   I was quite shocked to learn he developed a smack addiction. Not even the humble Canterbury dudes were immune......   Kevin Ayers died at the age of 68 in 2013, so he didn't do too bad compared to the unfortunate members of "the 27 club."

Ayers 6 first albums are really great, hope that box has most from there! Yes, Ayers lived quite old, but I believe he´s dope using affected into quality of his later albums. His last "The Unfairground" is really good anyway.