What a great find, hadn't heard it before. Being curious, I looked around and found this:
This was mixed from the original 8 track tapes in 2003 for inclusion on the superb reissue of Kevin Ayer’s 1969 “Joy Of A Toy”. The unissued masters had long vanished. It’s existence known but essentially unheard. I believe this is the only session Syd Barrett played on outside of Pink Floyd and his solo recordings. Syd was outside Pink Floyd at the time of this session.
From the cd liner:An Avid enthusiast of Syd Barrett, the wayward ex-Pink Floyd genius. Ayer’s felt Syd’s contribution could enhance his latest composition. On the way to Abbey Road studios, Kevin called into Barrett’s flat and requested his presence on the session. And so it was on November 9th 1969 Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett worked on the first version of “Religious Experience”. Present earlier in the day were Richard Coughlan and Richard Sinclair from Canterbury band Caravan. After some consideration it was felt that Syd Barrett’s psychedelic guitar contribution was too uncommercial, the track overlong and the decision was made to re-record “Religious Experience”.
They didn’t exactly do that. Instead the rhythm tracks were bounced to another 8 track (pretty much everything but Syd). Kevin did a new vocal, paraphrased some of Syd’s guitar, added The Ladybirds on vocals, etc. Kevin knew Syd as his former band, The Soft Machine shared a bill with Pink Floyd , and probably a dozen other bands, at an marathon outdoor festival on Ibiza in the summer of 1967.
I just checked out the post and need to include the finished version. Released on a 7″ single as “Singing A Song In The Morning” with “Eleanor’s Cake”(Which Ate Her) from “Joy Of A Toy” on April 19, 1970. They always say Syd had been excised from the final, but that guy on electric guitar sure plays like him. If it’s Kevin, he nailed it.
Oooo Ibiza - do you know they went to Fortmentara which is an island just off Ibiza and I went there too! It's one of the most beautiful places on earth - the water is pristine - the sands are white - and the hippies from the 60s, well some remain - so you pass houses with beautiful motifs and colourful art as a residue from the psychedelia of the time.
That's really fascinating - I know that David Gilmour really tried to help Syd with the production of his solo albums.
This is a fantastic solo song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cIgt5CUZMI
Can you imagine how great that concert there would have been? It does seem to be a favorite of many artists. James Taylor was influenced there for "Carolina In My Mind". Here's the relevant part of my post on it:
The song references Taylor's years growing up in North Carolina. He started writing the song at producer Peter Asher's London flat on Marylebone High Street, resumed work on it while on holiday on the Mediterranean island of Formentera, and then completed it while stranded on the nearby island of Ibiza with Karin, a Swedish girl he had just met.
https://musicfor.us/2018/08/08/james-taylor-carolina-in-my-mind-1968/
How very interesting! It must be on a leyline because it has an energy about the place and of course, Mike Oldfield of Tubular Bells fame has a house there. Gosh I haven't listened that in many years!
On ibiza I mean -
(post is archived)