{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = The Unfairground | type = Album | artist = Kevin Ayers | cover = Unfairground.jpg | alt = | released = September 2007 | recorded = 2006–2007 | venue = | studio = * Wavelab, Tucson, Arizona * Marlborough Farms, New York City * Eastcote, London * Gallery, London * YipJump, Glasgow | genre = Rock | length = 34:02 | label = LO-MAX | producer = * Timothy Shepard * Peter Henderson * Gary Olson | prev_title = Still Life with Guitar | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = | next_year = }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1207368|first=Thom|last=Jurek}}</ref> | rev2 = BBC | rev2Score = very favourable<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fj54/ |title=Review of Kevin Ayers – The Unfairground |first=Charles |last=De Ledesma |date=2007-09-14 |publisher=BBC |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Mojo'' | rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm |title=MOJO review September 2007 |first=Danny |last=Clifford |date=September 2007 |work=users.globalnet.co.uk |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Q'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Q%20review%20sept%2007.htm |title=Q review September 2007 |first=Peter |last=Kane |work=users.globalnet.co.uk |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Stylus'' | rev5Score = A−<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kevin-ayers/the-unfairground.htm |title=Kevin Ayers – The Unfairground – Review |first=Mike |last=Atkinson |date=2007-10-26 |work=Stylus Magazine |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> | rev7 = ''The Times'' | rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20110517053235/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article2446812.ece The Times review]</ref> | rev8 = ''Uncut'' | rev8Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.uncut.co.uk/kevin-ayers/kevin-ayers-the-unfairground-review |title=Kevin Ayers – The Unfairground – |first=Andy |last=Gill |work=Uncut |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> | noprose = yes }}
'''''The Unfairground''''' is a 2007 album by Kevin Ayers, recorded with members of Ladybug Transistor, Teenage Fanclub, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Roxy Music.<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44340-kevin-ayers-returns-with-help-from-roxy-ladybug-architecture Pitchfork July 31 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011025251/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44340-kevin-ayers-returns-with-help-from-roxy-ladybug-architecture |date=2007-10-11}}</ref> It was his sixteenth studio LP and his first new set of recordings in fifteen years, as well as the last album released before his death in 2013. It was recorded in New York City; Tucson, Arizona; London; and Glasgow.<ref>Album liner notes</ref> It debuted at No. 14 in the UK Indie Album chart.
''The Unfairground'' deals with themes of love, loss and the passing of time, and it has received strong critical endorsements for its author's ruminations on his tumultuous life.<ref>[http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm Mojo September 2007]</ref> Ayers stated in a 2007 ''Sunday Times'' interview that it is "very much a reflective album: lost love, lost feelings, lost sensibilities. I had to include some of my blood, sweat and tears – if you are going to be honest, it can't be avoided."<ref>''The Times'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907144138/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2350710.ece The unsung hero of psychedelia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Kevin Ayers | title1 = Only Heaven Knows | length1 = 2:47 | title2 = Cold Shoulder | length2 = 3:09 | title3 = Walk on Water | length3 = 3:14 | title4 = Friends and Strangers | length4 = 3:36 | title5 = Shine a Light | length5 = 3:47 | title6 = Wide Awake | length6 = 2:54 | title7 = Baby Come Home | length7 = 2:36 | title8 = Brainstorm | length8 = 4:31 | title9 = Unfairground | length9 = 3:51 | title10 = Run, Run, Run | length10 = 3:37 }}
==Personnel== ===Musicians=== * Kevin Ayers – guitar, vocals * Gary Olson – trumpet, producer * San Fadyl – drums * Jeff Baron – guitar * Norman Blake – guitar, backing vocals * Francis MacDonald – drums * Julian Koster – singing saw * Candie Payne – backing vocals * Euros Childs – backing vocals * Bill Wells – bass * Joe McGinty – keyboards * Phil Manzanera – guitar * Robbie McIntosh – guitar * Hugh Hopper – bass * Daisy Martey – backing vocals * Tucson Philharmonia – strings * Bridget St. John – vocals * Dave McGowan – pedal steel * Heather McIntosh – bass, cello * Kellie Sutherland – brass * Tara Shackell – brass * Isobel Knowles – brass * Gus Franklin – brass * Graham Henderson – accordion * Peter Nicholson – cello * Francis Reader – backing vocals * The Wyattron
===Technical=== * Peter Henderson – producer * Timothy Shepard – producer, artwork, executive producer * Bernard MacMahon – executive producer
== References == {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *"Kevin Ayers Returns With Help From Roxy, Ladybug, Architecture" by Paul Thompson and Amy Phillips (''Pitchfork'', 31 July 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011025251/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44340-kevin-ayers-returns-with-help-from-roxy-ladybug-architecture link] *"Indie Stars Guest On Rock Legend's First Album In 15 Years" (''NME'', 10 August 2007) [https://www.nme.com/news/kevin-ayers/30254 link] *"The Father of the Underground" by Garth Cartwright (''The Daily Telegraph'', 30 August 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070831101409/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/08/30/bmayers130.xml link] *"The Unsung Hero of Psychedelia" by Lisa Verrico (''The Sunday Times'', 2 September 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907144138/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2350710.ece link] *"Soft Centered" by Pierre Perrone (''The Independent'', 11 September 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20071102214827/http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/features/article2945345.ece link] *Album review by Andy Gill (''Uncut'', September 2007) [http://uncut.co.uk/music/kevin_ayers/reviews/10224 link] *Album review by Mike Barnes (''Mojo'', September 2007) [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~marwak/archive/Mojo%20review%20sept%2007.htm link] *"Kevin Ayers" by Mike Atkinson (''Stylus'', 23 October 2007) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/interview/kevin-ayers.htm link] *"Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt" by Simon Reynolds (Reynoldsretro, 14 December 2007) [https://reynoldsretro.blogspot.com/2007/12/kevin-ayers-and-robert-wyatt-grauniad.html link]
{{Kevin Ayers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Unfairground, The}} Category:2007 albums Category:Kevin Ayers albums Category:Albums produced by Kevin Ayers Category:LO-MAX Records albums