Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain (Kevin Ayers Album) (A Jet-Propelled Soft Machine)

Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain is the fifth solo album by the English musician Kevin Ayers. It was produced by Anthony Moore and released in 15 April 1989 by the Rough Trade Records.

Although a successful tour, Soft Machine, they had problems with the current record label, RCA Records, which insisted to the group record another album. With problems enough, Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers decided to break up for a while to refresh the mind. Wyatt signed a contract with the independent label Rough Trade Records, and indicated to Ayers, who accepted the invitation.

Kevin started to record the album at the Trak Studios in Madrid, Spain before he moved to the Townhouse Studios in England. He was accompanied by Ollie Halsall, Lady June and other local musicians.

Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain was received as an album by a reborn Kevin Ayers. It wasn't his peak but reached number 17 in UK Album Charts and number 153 in Billboard 200, and received mixed reviews.

Personnel

 * Kevin Ayers - lead guitar, lead vocals, percussion
 * Ollie Halsall - guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, lead vocals [3]
 * Lady June - lead vocals [3]
 * Luis Dulzaides - congas
 * El Reverendo - hammond organ
 * Pablo Salinas - piano
 * Charles J. Beale, Chuck C' Note Brown, Patt Patterson, Andrea Bronston, Mary Jameson - backing vocals
 * Anthony Moore - producer