Putting the weekend in a good mood with a radio concert by Kevin Ayers and the Whole World – recorded on July 30, 1970.
First off, if you’re a fan of Kevin Ayers and haven’t discovered it yet, there is a website lovingly dedicated to all things Kevin Ayers which should be high on your priority list for regular visits, since the list of contributors reads like a who’s who of The Canterbury Sound (and its offshoots) – vital and very useful information from the folks who know. So go there: Kevin Ayers.org
Even if you have no idea who Kevin Ayers is – it’s essential you get turned on to who was one of the guiding lights and inspirations of an entire Musical Movement. To this day, I remember being overwhelmed when The Soft Machine opened for Jimi Hendrix during his U.S. tour in 1968. Hendrix, I knew what to expect – Soft Machine was new to me and I had no idea what to expect. What I was turned on to became a lifelong love of Progrock, which Soft Machine (with Kevin Ayers as founding member) provided an introduction to. When Kevin left, going on a solo journey it became additional milestones to become absorbed in. By the time the early 70s rolled around, a genre was flourishing, it was world wide and it became a community where ideas and interpretations were exchanged and built upon. It’s been building, shaping and guiding ever since.
Back to 1970 and the era of Kevin Ayers and The Whole World. This was a gathering of musicians whom Kevin had collaborated with frequently, including Robert Wyatt, the other founding member of Soft Machine – in each of their cases, they went on to bring the message to a wider audience.
The recording of this concert has been available in various forms – it gives an impression of just how much creativity was packed into one studio and it’s another historic document of a musician who inspired countless others to reach and experiment – we’re all better off for it.
At the risk of preaching to the choir (who I assume have bypassed this missive and gone straight to the sharps and flats themselves), I would seriously urge you to give this one a listen – just sit with it for a bit. I try my best to offer music that makes a difference – music that actually means something, regardless of genre or age. You owe it to yourself – especially now, when being kind to yourself is an imperative.
I’ll shut up now – go exploring.
