What a beautiful song...so many unexpected changes- that work well. Discovered Kevin Ayers about a year ago after becoming a huge early Soft Machine fan. Great song writer, RIP
Wonderful. Saw him several times from 1972 in Edinburgh and latterly 2006ish in Sheffield backed by a devoted young Belgian backing band. By the way that is the Genius composer David Bedford in crutches following a mishap. BIG G....Glory,Glory to the Hibees
I saw these guys playing at the Astoria in 1975 supported by the loudest band i've ever heard...... fastbuck I think they were called. They made my ears bleed... orrible. Kevin was a one off. It was the last few shows with Andy Summers when he was a hippy. I'd seen him playing with Kevin Coyne and the Zoot Money big roll band too. The next time I saw him was in 1977 at Salisbury City Hall when he had turned into a short haired blond policeman secretly playing chords with added 9ths and 12ths.. that was never ever going to cut it with the real punks so they had to escape to America until clever chords! became acceptable again.... Ayers.... An eclectic bag of eccentric songs. I remember May I & Stranger in blue suede shoes were stand outs and some other songs mainly about bananas. A bit mad but a memorable talent & that is some mighty accordion playing..
I suddenly feel very sentimental and very English ( which I am) listening to this .Why did they have such thick hair in the 70' s ,was it all the chlorine the water board went bananas with pumping it into English drinking water? ..lol. I always thought Kevin Ayers looked bloody fantastic ,same with Nick Drake there was no mistaking where they where from before they even opened their mouths to sing.. That clarinet player is wearing a fruity little number isn't he..sort of Flash Gordon meets Hugh Hefner in one dressing gown ..the joys of LSD 🌞
My favorite drunk British pop singer w/ French overtones. Love seeing Lol Coxhill pay in a crimson bathrobe! Anyone notice there's pre Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield on bass? It's all just such a pleasure on every front.
bruce , kevin was properly celebrated by a lot of people and his wonderful daughter galen but absoultely agree a fantastic voice and person ignored for so too long every song gorgeous
....any other Kevin Ayers people out there who are also bead people, and notice the necklace of large elbow shape millifiore beads he's wearing?.........pretty cool....in addition to a great song......
WOW! That was great! I love the French version too. I just bought the CD re-masters of his early LPs. Kevin along with Peter Hammill are my fave singers, they both have such unique voices. Anyone else notice the resemblance between the young Kevin and the young Helen Mirren?!
Oh for sure ! Finest China tea cups full of psilocybin mushroom tea and fine English sultana & Moroccan hash scones ( my recipe :) with cream & jam to wash it down with ;) lol
@@sophiew1967 [22 April 2022] I hope that you weren't making fun of Ayers with the above comment. Truth be told, I think a psychedelic mad tea party with Kevin Ayers and all his grooviest musician friends would be really a lot of fun.
Fabulous all round. We all know and love Kev, and Lol, also Mike Oldfield is pretty cool on bass, but who, I say WHO!!??? is the bloke on the accordion??
Me too my friend ..a ' muse' to sit there and let me paint him/ her ..they would have to be able to make a great greed of tea & play guitar for mention mind ;) lol
[13 July 2021]Kevin Ayers: "🎶💕Il etait un homme fatale💕🎶..." I once read something in a magazine where someone called Kevin "a Home Counties Lou Reed", but to me, that doesn't come nearly close enough to describing what Ayers really was. If he was anything (besides his sui generis self) he was not the English equivalent of Lou Reed, but (if such a thing can be) the male equivalent of Nico (hence the line above, about him being "un homme fatale"; you know, as opposed to a femme fatale). R.I.P. P.S: The clip above, of Ayers performing "May I", must count as one of the most heart-melting visions ever captured on *THE OLD GREY WHISTLE-TEST* . He looked so good, just singing there, I can hardly believe it. I even think that, in this clip he (arguably)(vaguely) *resembles* Nico.
It might be Mick Fincher (who drummed on “Shooting At The Moon”), though he might have left before they shot this clip (and the photo of him on the SATM cover doesn’t look like this chap). If it *is* Mick… he has apparently vanished without trace, making Mike Oldfield the only-known surviving Whole World member.
Yup: it’s Mike… it would’ve been around the time this clip was shot (1971), that he started recording the demos for “Tubular Bells” (on Ayers’ tape-recorder)
What a beautiful song...so many unexpected changes- that work well. Discovered Kevin Ayers about a year ago after becoming a huge early Soft Machine fan. Great song writer, RIP
How beautiful...... this really is so mesmerising a sound ..... endless summer . .... from a true original one off . Sadly missed K.A. ❤
we'll miss you Kevin, your lovely smile, your charm, British as we liked it
keep the light on !
If you don't shine, you don't burn, lady!!
Damn straight up there with the best early soft machine unrivalled 😊
Very talented , great song 👏😊
Тоже нравится, привет из Сибири!
And the wonderful Lol Coxhill playing saxophone live for us all...
Lol's music is genius
Incredibly beautiful solo.
... und ich dachte, das finde ich nie wieder - wunderbar 😍
And the beautiful, unique Lol Coxhill on soprano sax
one of the best voices ever
aye
I really don’t know about the voice; big hair for sure
Wonderful. Saw him several times from 1972 in Edinburgh and latterly 2006ish in Sheffield backed by a devoted young Belgian backing band. By the way that is the Genius composer David Bedford in crutches following a mishap.
BIG G....Glory,Glory to the Hibees
The little laugh at the end is incredible
I wish he had looked at me in a French Cafe.
Farewell Kevin and thank you.
Love kevin
one of my favorites
great voice, music and amazing lyrics.
thanks for posting!
Mike Oldfield on bass!
kevin était tellement charmant
One of his best!
I saw these guys playing at the Astoria in 1975 supported by the loudest band i've ever heard...... fastbuck I think they were called. They made my ears bleed... orrible. Kevin was a one off. It was the last few shows with Andy Summers when he was a hippy. I'd seen him playing with Kevin Coyne and the Zoot Money big roll band too. The next time I saw him was in 1977 at Salisbury City Hall when he had turned into a short haired blond policeman secretly playing chords with added 9ths and 12ths.. that was never ever going to cut it with the real punks so they had to escape to America until clever chords! became acceptable again.... Ayers.... An eclectic bag of eccentric songs. I remember May I & Stranger in blue suede shoes were stand outs and some other songs mainly about bananas. A bit mad but a memorable talent & that is some mighty accordion playing..
Just what I didn't know I wanted.
It's easy to perveive the scenario around the cafe and imagine the girl we want to see.
Great song from Kevin Ayers.
I suddenly feel very sentimental and very English ( which I am) listening to this .Why did they have such thick hair in the 70' s ,was it all the chlorine the water board went bananas with pumping it into English drinking water? ..lol.
I always thought Kevin Ayers looked bloody fantastic ,same with Nick Drake there was no mistaking where they where from before they even opened their mouths to sing..
That clarinet player is wearing a fruity little number isn't he..sort of Flash Gordon meets Hugh Hefner in one dressing gown ..the joys of LSD 🌞
English indeed
A rare breed
The sax player is Lol Coxhill (1932-2012) - best-known as a free-improviser, and as interesting for his music as his sartorial choice in this clip 😎
Love this....so sad to hear of Kevin Ayers' passing. A true original.
My favorite drunk British pop singer w/ French overtones. Love seeing Lol Coxhill pay in a crimson bathrobe! Anyone notice there's pre Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield on bass? It's all just such a pleasure on every front.
I was lucky enough to pay a gig with Lol
Yup. Its Mike. Superb too 👌
The Whole World:
Kevin Ayers - guitar and vocals
David Bedford - accordion
Lol Coxhill - saxophone
Mike Oldfield - bass
Mick Fincher - drums
2.30...aaahhh a masterpiece ( all the song)!
Im a old soul living in the actual world
bruce , kevin was properly celebrated by a lot of people and his wonderful daughter galen but absoultely agree a fantastic voice and person ignored for so too long every song gorgeous
Beautiful. Thanks much! One of my fav Kevin's songs. I love the French version also. Thanks again.
so good
thank you Kevin
dazzling saxophone !
Thank you for uploading this. He was fantastic, a real one-off. "You're not happy, you're just stoned" :)
couldnt agree more ...love them both too and Jume 1st 1974 and Nadir's last chance my fav albums of all time
Beautiful
Cool guitar too, he's playing a Harmony; I think it's a Rocket. Such a great tune, like a jazzier version of The Velvet Underground.
Richer more generous
It's been a long time , fabulous
simply wonderful
Awesome!!
....any other Kevin Ayers people out there who are also bead people, and notice the necklace of large elbow shape millifiore beads he's wearing?.........pretty cool....in addition to a great song......
Shades of future Oldfield tracks on the bass.
WOW! That was great! I love the French version too. I just bought the CD re-masters of his early LPs.
Kevin along with Peter Hammill are my fave singers, they both have such unique voices.
Anyone else notice the resemblance between the young Kevin and the young Helen Mirren?!
You might also like vocalist Howerd Werth from 'Audience' (House on the Hill.)
He spoke fluent French,
yes!
He wrote this for Soft Machine in 1967. He was a chansonnier, can't stay in S.M.
They must have had interesting parties!
Oh for sure ! Finest China tea cups full of psilocybin mushroom tea and fine English sultana & Moroccan hash scones ( my recipe :) with cream & jam to wash it down with ;) lol
@@sophiew1967 [22 April 2022] I hope that you weren't making fun of Ayers with the above comment. Truth be told, I think a psychedelic mad tea party with Kevin Ayers and all his grooviest musician friends would be really a lot of fun.
Perfeito🥺
Fabulous all round. We all know and love Kev, and Lol, also Mike Oldfield is pretty cool on bass, but who, I say WHO!!??? is the bloke on the accordion??
David Bedford!
@@croiners4166 thanks!
Un crack pa
Longtemps après que les poètes ont disparu ...
wonderfull
R.i.p. Kevin
god only if i had someone to love to sit and stare at.
Me too my friend ..a ' muse' to sit there and let me paint him/ her ..they would have to be able to make a great greed of tea & play guitar for mention mind ;) lol
excuse the typos! Auto correct really seems to hate us British folks 😡..That is supposed to say ' make a great brew of tea '
its like the VU crossed with syd barrett with a touch ISB= dajavu all over again
lindo demais
2:30 that's me when I listen Kevin Ayers music.
Aguante artaud
@@brandon400 Aguante, maestro!
r.i.p.
[13 July 2021]Kevin Ayers: "🎶💕Il etait un homme fatale💕🎶..."
I once read something in a magazine where someone called Kevin "a Home Counties Lou Reed", but to me, that doesn't come nearly close enough to describing what Ayers really was. If he was anything (besides his sui generis self) he was not the English equivalent of Lou Reed, but (if such a thing can be) the male equivalent of Nico (hence the line above, about him being "un homme fatale"; you know, as opposed to a femme fatale). R.I.P.
P.S: The clip above, of Ayers performing "May I", must count as one of the most heart-melting visions ever captured on *THE OLD GREY WHISTLE-TEST* . He looked so good, just singing there, I can hardly believe it. I even think that, in this clip he (arguably)(vaguely) *resembles* Nico.
yes, you can sit with me forever....
Is that Mike Oldfield on bass?
Yes, it is :))
and also Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield
David Bedford on accordion.
Phil Collins on squeeze box. See you in the sky Kev.
Mike Oldfield playing Bass !
Yes he died in southern France I think, say if you cant burn you dont shine, this true??
@businessfreedom Yes, very simple and clear. Sure this was a real history.
Does anybody have the partiture for soprano sax? Thank you!
Julian Copes uncle
Lol Coxhill in a Star Trek costume..?
Lol Coxhill cruising
Hammill great, Ayers....bah...good.
Ta a lot , we'll Never forget your lovely Voice !++ Gin
Too bright to live
Who is playing drums on this ? I'm sure I recognise him from somewhere, but just can't place him.
It might be Mick Fincher (who drummed on “Shooting At The Moon”), though he might have left before they shot this clip (and the photo of him on the SATM cover doesn’t look like this chap). If it *is* Mick… he has apparently vanished without trace, making Mike Oldfield the only-known surviving Whole World member.
English music
I hear an organ, especially under Lol's sax solo. But I see no organist. ???
Accordion perhaps?
not very diverse.
Reminds of Syd Barrett..
.....looks like a ...v e r y ...y o u n g....... Mike Oldfield on bass........which was often the case in the early years.......
Yup: it’s Mike… it would’ve been around the time this clip was shot (1971), that he started recording the demos for “Tubular Bells” (on Ayers’ tape-recorder)
Is that Mike Oldfield on bass ?