Ayers on a G string |
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Kevin Ayers |
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2-6 - Palau Gran, Barcelona, Spain 1982 7-9 - TVE Spain 1987 10 - Shaw Theatre, London April 1992
Kevin, Ollie & Claudia Puyo Read Marvin's recollections of Ayers and Halsall at http://www.starvin.be
© Pere Colom
Uncut magazine "Ollie Halsall is one of the most under-rated guitarist in the world - he played the shit out of people like Clapton and Jeff Beck. He was really adaptable and could go from the gentlest song. really listen to the song, not just like a guitar player, but sensitive to a piec of music. But he could also be as had a rocker as anyone. My favourite Ollie quote is: "There are only two people I'd play free for: that's you and Randy Newman." It was an enduring collaboration: It was love at first solo. At the time, I had a nice big house in Mallorca, and he and his girlfriend [Zanna Gregmar] moved in - and we did a lot of work in and around Spain. We'd started collaborating and writing songs. It was like the musical equivalent of having a partner. I don't want to give everything away, really, but he started working with Spanish bands, as I didn't have enough going on, and they were paying him loads. And he hated it, and he fell into bad ways . . . and died of it. It was a massive loss of a friend and a great talent." Kevin Ayers
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The Confessions of Doctor Dream 1973
Didn't feel Lonely June 1 1974 Rainbow Theatre, London
May I
With John Cale, Nico & Brian Eno. Until 1998, the only official live Ayers/Halsall release - and then only two tracks, the solo on the former prompting Terry Theise's respected appraisal nearly 3 years later (Guitar, January 1977). Andy Summers plays lead guitar on this version of Everybody's Sometime. The BBC Sessions 1970-1976
Another Whimsical Song Previously issued as First Show in the Appearance Business, 1988 Sweet Deceiver 1975
Observations
[Tracks in brackets include OH only on bass, acoustic, vibes or vocals] Elton John piano on Guru Banana & Tojours la Voyage Yes We Have No Mananas 1976 Star
Mr Cool features Ollie's only known use of wah pedal! I have long regarded these two albums (Sweet Deceiver & Yes We Have No Mananas) as amongst Kevin's finest achievements. Apart from some superb guitar, Ollie also provides most of the Deceiver bass parts. Too Old to Die Young 1998
Didn't Feel Lonely BBC radio sessions 1975 with Zoot Money keyboards. Rainbow Takeaway 1978
Blaming It All On Love
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That's What You Get, Babe 1980
That's What You Get [Tracks in brackets include OH only on bass or vocals] [Percussion (film soundtrack) 1983] [Howling Man] Diamond Jack & the Queen of Pain 1984
Madame Butterfly 1983] [Howling Man] Deià Vu 1984
Champagne and Valium] OH plays guitar on only My Speeding Heart but appears to play bass on everything else As Close As You Think 1986
The riff on Too Old to Die Young (in fact another version of Champagne & Valium) was later ressurected on Another Rolling Stone from Falling Up. Ollie-freaks should take especial note of this remarkable album. The credit 'Kevin Ayers featuring Ollie Halsall' could almost be reversed - such is the balance of the collaboration. Indeed, Never My Baby is, to all intents and purposes, a Halsall solo performance Falling Up 1988
Saturday Night Marcel features quite possibly the most elusive solo of Ollie's entire career, even remarking on it himself in a 1988 interview. Quite how he achieved the final note will remain a mystery Still Life With Guitar 1992 Ghost Train It's getting very near the end and if Ollie's composition Ghost Train isn't now one of the most poignant pieces of music you've ever heard I'd like to know what is. What a shame the live 'Another Year Goes By' chorus came too late for the album version. Ollie plays just acoustic on Ghost Train and Don't Blame Them and vibes on I Don't Depend on You.
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Ayers on a G string |
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