{"product_id":"kevin-ayers-joy-of-a-toy","title":"Kevin Ayers - Joy Of A Toy","description":"As the Soft Machine's first bassist and original principal songwriter, Kevin Ayers was an overlooked force behind the group's groundbreaking recordings in 1967 and 1968. Joy Of A Toy is his debut solo album, its whimsical and unique vision is a clear indication of how Soft Machine might have progressed under Ayers' tenure. On the LP he is accompanied by his Soft Machine colleagues Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Hugh Hopper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter a Soft Machine tour of the USA with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Ayers had decided to retire from the music business. Hendrix however, presented Ayers with an acoustic Gibson J-200 guitar on the promise that he continue his songwriting. Ayers repaired to a small London flat where he composed and arranged Joy Of A Toy features many of Ayers' most enduring songs from \"The Lady Rachel\" to \"Girl on a Swing\".\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was on this album that Ayers developed his sonorous vocal delivery, an avant-garde song construction and an affection for bizarre instrumentation that would have a deep influence far into the 1970s and indeed the present day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e180 gram audiophile vinyl\u003cbr\u003eGatefold sleeve","brand":"South Records Ltd","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":64322868543865,"sku":null,"price":18.19,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0973\/1463\/6153\/files\/kevin-ayers-joy-of-a-toy-south-records-ltd_a961fe76-e955-4617-8acb-82f811160089.jpg?v=1787903687","url":"https:\/\/vinyl-relic.com\/products\/kevin-ayers-joy-of-a-toy","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}