The Soft Machine (Soft Machine album)
The Soft Machine (also titled Volume One as a reissue) is the debut album by the British psychedelic rock band Soft Machine, released in 1968. It is the group's only album to feature Kevin Ayers as a member.
| The Soft Machine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1968 | |||
| Recorded | April 1968 at Record Plant Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:30 | |||
| Label | USA: ABC Probe CPLP 4500 France: Barclay | |||
| Producer | Chas Chandler, Tom Wilson | |||
| The Soft Machine chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Soft Machine | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Overview
Founded in 1966, Soft Machine (one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene) recorded and released this studio album during their 1968 tour of the USA. It was produced by Chas Chandler and Tom Wilson.
The work on this album was one of the essential roots in progressive rock and jazz-fusion.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hope for Happiness" | 4:21 | |
| 2. | "Joy of a Toy" |
| 2:49 |
| 3. | "Hope for Happiness (Reprise)" |
| 1:38 |
| 4. | "Why Am I So Short?" |
| 1:39 |
| 5. | "So Boot If At All" |
| 7:25 |
| 6. | "A Certain Kind" | H. Hopper | 4:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Save Yourself" | Wyatt | 2:26 |
| 8. | "Priscilla" |
| 1:03 |
| 9. | "Lullabye Letter" | Ayers | 4:32 |
| 10. | "We Did It Again" | Ayers | 3:46 |
| 11. | "Plus Belle qu'une Poubelle" | Ayers | 1:03 |
| 12. | "Why Are We Sleeping?" |
| 5:30 |
| 13. | "Box 25/4 Lid" |
| 0:49 |
The 2009 Remastered Edition includes "Love Makes Sweet Music" and "Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin'" (bonus tracks), which were-respectively-Side A and Side B of their first single, issued in 1967.
Personnel
- Soft Machine[3]
- Mike Ratledge – organ
- Kevin Ayers – lead guitar, bass,[4] lead vocals (on 10),[5] spoken word (on 12)[5]
- Robert Wyatt – drums, lead vocals
- Additional personnel
- Hugh Hopper – fuzz bass (on 13)[6]
- The Cake – backing vocals (on 12)[7]
Charts
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top LPs[8] | 160 |
| Canada RPM Top Albums[9] | 49 |
References
- Lynch, Dave. "Soft Machine | Biography & History |". AllMusic.
- Bush, John. "The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine (1968) album review, credits & releases | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- The Soft Machine (liner notes). Soft Machine. Probe Records. 1968. CPLP 4500.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Robert Wyatt - Soft Machine". www.disco-robertwyatt.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Soft Machine-Works". www.calyx-canterbury.fr. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Perfect Sound Forever: Hugh Hopper". www.furious.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- Soft Machine charts. AllMusic.
- "RPM Top 50 Albums - February 3, 1969" (PDF).
External links
- The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine (1968) album review by John Bush, credits & releases at AllMusic
- The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine (1968) album releases & credits at Discogs
- The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine (1968) album to be listened on Spotify
- The Soft Machine - The Soft Machine (1968) album to be listened on YouTube
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