Rainbow Takeaway is the eighth studio album by Kevin Ayers. The core band is essentially the same as its predecessor, Yes We Have No Mañanas (So Get Your Mañanas Today). Rainbow Takeaway marks the close of the 1970s Ayers progressive sound, with Billy Livsey’s synthesizer flourishes on "A View from the Mountain" providing a final coda to that era. Soul and Country elements are also present on Rainbow Takeaway coupled with the reggae rhythms on the standout track "Beware of the Dog II". The eccentric Ayers mélange is in full effect on the chaotic closer "Hat Song". Ayers retired to Deià, Spain shortly after the album’s release.

Rainbow Takeaway
Studio album by Kevin Ayers
Released	April 1978
Recorded	1978
Studio	Workshop Studio, UK
Genre	Rock
Length	36:08
Label	Harvest
Producer	Kevin Ayers, Anthony Moore
Kevin Ayers chronology
Yes We Have No Mañanas (So Get Your Mañanas Today) (1976) Rainbow Takeaway (1978) That's What You Get Babe (1980)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Kevin Ayers[2]

1. "Blaming It All on Love" – 3:00
2. "Ballad of a Salesman Who Sold Himself" – 4:30
3. "A View from the Mountain" – 6:15
4. "Rainbow Takeaway" – 3:50
5. "Waltz for You" – 5:22
6. "Beware of the Dog II" – 5:59
7. "Strange Song" – 2:41
8. "Goodnight Goodnight" – 3:06
9. "Hat Song" – 1:17

Personnel

Musicians

• Kevin Ayers – guitar, vocals
• Ollie Halsall – guitar
• Billy Livsey – keyboards
• Rob Townsend – drums
• Charles McCracken – bass, guitar
• Anthony Moore – keyboards
• Graham Preskett [fr] – violin
• Barry DeSouza – drums

Technical

• Anthony Moore – producer
• Kevin Ayers – producer
• Brian Palmer – art direction
• Sharon Coventry – artwork
• Peter Vernon – photography

References