The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories

The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories is the fifth studio album by Kevin Ayers. Ayers moved to Island Records for this release which employed a vast array of session musicians. The album also marked the arrival of Patto guitarist Ollie Halsall, who would become a constant musical partner for Ayers. The album was critically acclaimed on release with the NME's Nick Kent describing it as "Ayers' most formidable recorded work to date". The album features many of Ayers' most accessible songs and arrangements.

[edit] Track listing

Day By Day (Ayers)
See You Later (Ayers)
Didn't Feel Lonely Till I Thought Of You (Ayers)
Everybody's Sometime And Some People's All The Time Blues (Ayers)
It Begins With A Blessing / Once I Awakened / But It Ends With A Curse (Ayers)
Ballbearing Blues (Ayers)
The Confessions Of Doctor Dream (a) Irreversible Neural Damage (b) Invitation (c) The One Chance Dance (d)Doctor Dream Theme (Ayers)
Two Goes Into Four (Ayers)

[edit] Personnel

Kevin Ayers / Guitar, Vocals
Mark Warner / Guitar
Cal Batchelor / Guitar
Rupert Hine / Keyboards, Producer
Mike Moran / Piano
Steve Nye / Organ
John Perry / Bass
John Gustafson / Bass
Michael Giles / Drums
Mike Oldfield / Guitar
Nico / Vocals
Geoff Richardson / Viola
Mike Ratledge / Organ
Ray Cooper / Percussion
Lol Coxhill / Alto Saxophone
Henry Crallan / Piano
Ollie Halsall / Guitar
Rosetta Hightower /Vocals
Hulloo Choir / Vocals
Trevor Jones / Bass
Sean Milligan / Vocals
Sam Mitchell / Guitar
Doris Troy / Vocals
Joanne Williams / Vocals
The G'Deevy Ensemble / Percussion

[edit] References & Sources

Let's Drink some Wine and Have a Good Time by Kenneth Ansell (ZigZag 46, 1974)
Album Review by Nick Kent (NME May 18, 1974)
Business As Usual by Steve Peacock (Sounds May 25, 1974)
Ayers and Graces by Nick Kent (NME Dec 7, 1974)
Original LP sleevenotes