Joy Of A Toy Continued/Town Feeling/The Clarietta Rag/Girl On A Swing/Song For Insane Times/Stop This Train/Eleanor’s Cake/Lady Rachel/Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong/All This Crazy Gift Of Time
Joy Of A Toy was the debut album from guitarist Kevin Ayers after leaving Soft Machine. It is more whimsical than the more experimental work he did as part of a group.
“Joy of a Toy is Kevin Ayers' masterpiece, a delightfully odd and whimsical album from a genuine English eccentric. It is also an album of rare beauty, full of unexpected twists and turns.”
“Ayers is also one of those who largely ploughs his own furrow while betraying occasional glimpses of outside influence. Routinely described as eccentric, his debut album is aptly named, as joy is the feeling that predominates, despite several mood changes.”
“For those not familiar with Ayers this is a great starting point with fun, quirky, different songs contained within familiar melodies.”
“Kevin's first solo album takes his whimsical, wine-sodden style of psychedelia as first seen on the Softs' debut album and brings it centre stage, in songs ranging from carefree and childlike to menacing-yet-silly to romantic. Perhaps not as musically complex as the direction Soft Machine were heading in, but it's got a broader and deeper emotional range, so perhaps a parting of the ways was the right call for both parties. Not essential must-listen stuff, but enchanting enough in its own way and a good start to Kevin's solo career.”
“My favourite album by Kevin Ayers: great songwriting, huge playing (especially keyboards and bass) and a psychedelic vein that makes these songs extremely adventurous and unpredictable, but most of all joyful and enjoyable.”
“Ayers debut is drenched in psych tendencies, yet he didn’t mind including the pop or rock motifs, which are all but trivial, but would probably not have pleased his expartners in crime. Even so some songs do carry a heavy Soft Machine jazzy signature. It remains his best LP, marrying evocative indolence with progressive instrumentation to great effect.”
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