We need a proper write up here, but meanwhile take a look at this.
June 1st, 1974
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In 1974 Island Records had the bright idea of creating a sampler album of some of their more esoteric artists, and decided that it should be recorded live. They thus gathered together John Cale, Brian Eno, Nico, and their man of the moment Kevin Ayers, whose Doctor Dream they had just released, and arranged a gig at the Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park in North London.
Guess when it was recorded? It was rush released just three weeks later, and for budget reasons pared down to a single album, rather than the double that the event warranted.
The front cover of the album reveals a strained look between Cale and Ayers, apparently due to Cale having found out that Kevin had spent the previous night with Cale’s wife, well it was the 70’s after all!
As for the music, the first half seeks to represent the sets of Cale, Eno and Nico, while Ayers gets side 2 to himself.
As this is a Kevin Ayers review, we’ll ignore side 1 and focus on Ayers’side. What we have is a kind of mini greatest hits, including excellent readings of May I, and Shouting In A Bucket Blues, while the Doctor Dream album is represented by Two Goes Into Four, and Everybody’s Some Time Blues, which features Mike Oldfield. The performances are excellent. What a great show this must have been, but after five tracks it’s all over.
This album was a wasted opportunity. Better to have given the entire album over to Kevin, than half an album which leaves the listener wanting more. Island tried to market this as a “superstars” album when in reality all the performers were cult acts, so sales were minimal. Still half an album was better than nothing and it would be 25 years before a live album was released by Kevin.