From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sweet Deceiver
Sweet Deceiver
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Allmusic [1]
Sweet Deceiver tents which were some of his more poignant recordings.
It was little wonder therefore, that critics like the NME’s
Nick Kent (a long-time supporter), dismayed by Ayers’
new image, wrote virulent attacks on the LP. Ayers has
subsequently stated in interviews that he was “deeply
upset” by Kent’s reaction to the album, although he failed
to notice how delicately the scales of credibility were bal-
anced within the 70s avant garde music scene. Kent com-
mented (NME, Dec 7, 1974) that when he first heard the
song “Sweet Deceiver” at a Glasgow Apollo concert, “it
rhymed ‘rain’ with ‘pain’ to questionable effect.”
Sweet Deceiver is one of Ayers’ more rock-oriented
productions, with the first side featuring the progressive
material, while the second was more mainstream.
Guitarist, Ollie Halsall was now a key foil for Ayers and
his playing on opening the track “Observations” is a clear
Studio album by Kevin Ayers demonstration of his dexterity. Elton John also joined the
Released March 1975 sessions, contributing some outstanding piano work to
“Circular Letter” and “Toujours Le Voyage”.
Recorded 1975; The Manor Studio, Shipton-on-Cherwell, However, it is Ayers himself who offers the most ac-
England
curate critique of the situation in “Guru Banana” where
Genre Rock he pointedly satirises his own pop promotion; "Who’s the
one with the grin on his face / Says he’s gonna save the
Length 34:53
human race / He laughs a lot as he climbs to fame / Now
Label Island what’s his name? / Guru Banana! / That’s me and I’ll
Producer Kevin Ayers & Ollie Halsall
show you the light / I’ve got the answers and they’re all
right / ’cause I’m divine and you can be the same / Now
Kevin Ayers chronology what’s my name? / Guru Banana!"
Lady June’s Sweet Yes We Have No Mañanas (So
Linguistic Deceiver Get Your Mañanas Today) Track listing
Leprosy (1975) (1976)
(1975) Side 1
1. Observations (Ayers)
2. Guru Banana (Ayers)
Sweet Deceiver is the sixth studio album by Kevin Ayers
3. City Waltz (Ayers)
and his last for Island Records. By 1975, Kevin Ayers had
4. Toujours La Voyage (Ayers)
joined the roster of Elton John’s manager and partner
Side 2
John Reid, who put considerable energy into turning him
1. Sweet Deceiver (Ayers)
into a mainstream artist, booking him appearances on
2. Diminished But Not Finished (Ayers)
early morning children’s TV shows. Reid’s concept was
3. Circular Letter (Ayers)
to market Ayers as a pretty boy rock star and the cover
4. Once Upon An Ocean (Ayers)
painting he commissioned for Sweet Deceiver demon-
5. Farewell Again (Another Dawn) (Ayers)
strates this to shocking effect.
2009 reissue
Ayers, however, was still a maverick musician and the
10. Didn’t Feel Lonely ’til I Thought of You
packaging of the LP was alarmingly at odds with its con-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sweet Deceiver
11. Observations • Elton John / Piano (2,4,7)
• Jacob Magnusson / Organ, accordion, piano,
12. Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes Clavinet, vocals on track 1
• Bias Boshell / Piano (5)
13. Interview
• Chili Charles / Drums (8)
14. Farewell Again • Muscle Shoals Horns / Brass (8)
• The Manor choir / Vocals (3, 8)
• Tracks 10 to 14 are live recordings taped at The BBC’s • Tony Wright / Cover art
Paris Theatre in London on 27 March 1975
References & Sources
Personnel [1] Allmusic review
• Kevin Ayers / Vocals, fuzz bass, electric and acoustic • Ayers and Graces by Nick Kent (NME Dec 7, 1974)
12 string guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, • Despair and Temperence in Maida Vale by Mike Flood
mandolin Page (Sounds Jan 25, 1975)
• Freddie Smith / Drums • Cousin Kevin by Hervé Picart (Extra [FR] Apr, 1975)
• Ollie Halsall / Lead, acoustic and bass guitar, • Album Review by Paul Alessandrini (Rock & Folk [FR]
mandolin, honk piano, vibes, backing vocals on track Apr, 1975)
8 • Soft Centered by Pierre Perrone (The Independent Sep
• John Altman / Clarinet (Track 2) 10, 2007)
• Fuzzy Samuels / Bass Guitar (8) • Original LP sleevenotes
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Categories:
• 1975 albums
• Kevin Ayers albums
• Island Records albums
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