Bananamour

Bananamour
Studio album by Kevin Ayers
Released	May 1973
Recorded	September-October 1972
Studio	Abbey Road Studios, London
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)
Singles from Bananamour
"Oh! Wot A Dream" Released: November 10, 1972

Professional ratings

Review scores
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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 song was later covered by the Australian psychedelic rock band The Church on their 1999 album A Box of Birds.

The album marked the end of Ayers' first Harvest Records series.

Track listing

All songs written by Kevin Ayers

Side one

1. "Don't Let It Get You Down (For Rachel)" – 3:58
2. "Shouting in a Bucket Blues" – 3:44
3. "When Your Parents Go to Sleep" – 5:46
4. "Interview" – 4:44
5. "Internotional Anthem" – :40

Side two

1. "Decadence" – 8:02
2. "Oh! Wot A Dream" – 2:48
3. "Hymn" – 4:34
4. "Beware of the Dog" – 1:20

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

Musicians

• Kevin Ayers – guitar, vocals
• Archie Legget – bass, harmony vocals, lead vocal (track 3)
• Eddie Sparrow – drums

Additional musicians

• Steve Hillage – lead guitar (track 2)
• Mike Ratledge – organ (track 4)
• Robert Wyatt – harmony vocal (track 8)
• David Bedford – orchestral arrangement (track 9)
• Howie Casey – tenor saxophone
• Dave Caswell – trumpet
• Tristan Fry – cymbal
• Lyle Jenkins – baritone saxophone
• Ronnie Price – piano
• Barry St. John, Liza Strike, Doris Troy – backing vocals

Technical

• Kevin Ayers – producer
• Andrew King – producer
• John Kurlander – engineer
• Bob Lawrie – cover art
• Richard Imrie – photography

References

• Original LP sleevenotes