Bananamour

Bananamour
Studio album by Kevin Ayers
Released	May 1973
Recorded	Sep-Oct 1972; Abbey Road Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	35:48
Label	Harvest (UK) Sire (USA)
Producer	Kevin Ayers & Andrew King
Kevin Ayers chronology
Whatevershebringswesing (1971) Bananamour (1973) The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories (1974)

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Allmusic

Bananamour is the fourth studio album by Kevin Ayers and it featured some of his most accessible recordings, including "Shouting in a Bucket Blues" and his whimsical tribute to Syd Barrett, "Oh! Wot A Dream". After Whatevershebringswesing, Ayers assembled a new band anchored by drummer Eddie Sparrow and bassist Archie Legget and employed a more direct lyricism. The centrepiece of the album is 'Decadence', his withering portrait of Nico: "Watch her out there on display / Dancing in her sleepy way / While all her visions start to play / On the icicles of our decay / And all along the desert shore / She wanders further evermore / The only thing that's left to try / She says to live i have to die." The album marked the end of Ayers' first Harvest Records series.

Track listing

Side 1

1. "Let It Get You Down (For Rachel)"
2. "Shouting in a Bucket Blues" (Ayers)
3. "When Your Parents Go to Sleep" (Ayers)
4. "Interview" (Ayers)
5. "Internotional Anthem" (Ayers)

Side 2

1. "Decadence" (Ayers)
2. "Oh! Wot A Dream" (Ayers)
3. "Hymn" (Ayers)
4. "Beware of the Dog" (Ayers)

Track listing (2003 CD reissue)

1. "Don't Let It Get You Down" (4:04)
2. "Shouting In A Bucket Blues" (3:45)
3. "When Your Parents Go To Sleep" (5:47)
4. "Interview" (4:43)
5. "Internotional Anthem" (0:43)
6. "Decadence" (8:05)
7. "Oh! Wot A Dream" (2:48)
8. "Hymn" (4:35)
9. "Beware Of The Dog" (1:27)
10. "Connie On A Rubber Band" (2:56)
11. "Decadence (Early Mix)" (6:57)
12. "Take Me To Tahiti" (3:37)
13. "Caribbean Moon" (3:02)

Personnel

• Kevin Ayers / Guitar, Vocals
• Archie Legget / Bass, harmony vocals, lead vocal on track 3
• Eddie Sparrow / Drums
• Steve Hillage / Lead Guitar on track 2
• Mike Ratledge / Organ on track 4
• Robert Wyatt / Harmony Vocal on track 8
• David Bedford / Orchestral Arrangement on track 9
• Howie Casey / Tenor Saxophone
• Dave Caswell / Trumpet
• Tristan Fry / Cymbal
• Lyle Jenkins / Baritone Saxophone
• Ronnie Price / Piano
• Barry St. John /Vocals
• Liza Strike / Vocals
• Doris Troy /Vocals

References

• Original LP sleevenotes