Buying the albums sampled on “Picnic”.
Today we should be able to finish off on the 2003 Deluxe CD reissue of this splendid record.
The penultimate track is Track 15, this being the single version of “The Lady Rachel”, lasting just 4.51 minutes, compared with the 5.18 minutes of the LP version. This is different from the other two versions on the CD, the vocals seeming to have been rerecorded for the 45. The instrumental middle 8 is reduced to a few bars, which accounts for the shorter length. Another most worthy alternate take.
The CD finishes on an ecstatic high, Track 16, which is the single version of what was originally called “Religious Experience”, but here is known simply as “Singing a Song in the Morning”. This is pure unalderated joy, and even has some female backing vocals. It is very different from the other two versions, and should have been a smash hit.
I do not propose to leave Kevin Ayers just yet; indeed, I want to post a lot more about him before we get onto the exciting adventures which surrounded the acquisition of the last two “Picnic” albums.
Next time, therefore, I hope to start a brief series on “Shooting at the Moon”.
