Album reissues and tour dates announced

• Joy Of A Toy: 582 762

  Bonus tracks: Religious Experience (Syd Barrett Session) Lady Rachael (USA Remix) Soon Soon Soon Religious Experience (Take 103) Lady Rachael (Single Edit) Singing A Song In The Morning
  
  

• Shooting At The Moon : 582 7772

  Bonus Tracks: Puis Je? Butterfly Dance,Jolie Madame, Hat (take 4)
  
  

• Whatevershebringswesing: 582 7782

  Bonus tracks: Stars, Don’t Sing No More Sad Songs, Fake Mexican Tourist Blues, Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes (Early Mix)
  
  

• Bananamour: 582 7802

  Bonus tracks: Decadence (Early Mix), Take Me to Tahiti, Caribbean Moon
  
  

EMI Catalogue Marketing are pleased to announce the release of four re-issued albums by Kevin Ayers on 2nd June 2003.

An English eccentric who signed to the celebrated Harvest label, Kevin is still widely regarded as one of the most talented British musicians to emerge in the late sixties. With albums such as Joy of A Toy, Shooting At The Moon, Whatevershebringswesing and Bananamour, Kevin enjoys a huge cult following due to his innovative approach to songwriting.

It would be easy to label Ayers' music as primarily prog-rock but his laid back sounds and rich low vocals broaden his appeal much further, and would not sound out of place in the now popular lounge genre. His musical CV includes the setting up of Soft Machine and working with noted progressive musicians Mike Oldfield, Lol Coxhill and Steve Hillage. In 1969 Ayers decided to go solo after an intensive US tour and released his debut solo album, Joy of A Toy.

Shooting At The Moon was more experimental and actually features guest musicians Mike Oldfield, Lol Coxhill and David Bedford. The Oyster and the Flying Fish features a vocal duet with Nico. The bonus tracks featured here include Hat, originally deemed too chaotic to use, but its magnificent mayhem and humour are evident. We have also included Puis Je?, a French version of May I?

Oldfield and Bedford also contributed to Ayers third solo album Whatevershebringswesing, an intriguing album of songs about loneliness and includes highlights such as Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes, an amusing bar room tale released as a single in 1971 and Don't Sing Me No More Sad which was taken from a later recording session at Abbey Road.

Bananamour, Ayers' fourth album was a wine-fuelled journey into eccentricity and features big success Caribbean Moon, as well as Oh Wot a Dream which was inspired by Syd Barrett. Bonus tracks on Bananamour include the Velvet Underground inspired Decadence, an early mix of the synthesizer-led song, dug out from the Abbey Road vaults for this album. This remaster will also feature a reprinted version of the original 16 page booklet with photographs and an interview with Ayers covering each of the tracks. Another much sought after item.