The Soft Machine* – The Soft Machine

Soft Machine - The Soft Machine album cover

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Genre:	Rock
Style:	Experimental
Year:	1968

Tracklist

		Hope For Happiness	4:20
		Joy Of A Toy	2:49
		Hope For Happiness (Reprise)	1:37
		Why Am I So Short?	1:38
		So Boot If At All	7:22
		A Certain Kind	4:10
		Save Yourself	2:25
		Priscilla	1:05
		Lullabye Letter	4:37
		We Did It Again	3:46
		Plus Belle Qu'une Poubelle	1:01
		Why Are We Sleeping?	5:31
		Box 25/4 Lid	0:47

Credits (11)

Kevin Ayers
Bass Guitar [Uncredited]
Byron Goto
Design [Cover Design]
Eli Allman
Design [Cover Design]
Henry Epstein
Design [Cover Design]
Robert Wyatt
Drums
Kevin Ayres*
Lead Guitar

Notes

Sessions for the album were recorded in April of 1968 at Gary Kellgren.

Versions

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59 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo, Uncensored, Die-Cut Gatefold	ABC Records – LP-4500	US	1968	US — 1968
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Monarch, Gatefold Die-cut, Uncensored	Probe – LP-4500-S	US	1968	US — 1968	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Gatefold	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo, Flipback Cover	Barclay – 0920 082		1968	— 1968	Recently Edited
Image hidden	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Gatefold die-cut, uncensored	Command – LP 4500	Canada	1968	Canada — 1968
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Unipak	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Gatefold Die-cut, Uncensored	Probe – LP 4500	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Gatefold Censored	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold Die-cut, Censored	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	Soft Machine 8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo	Probe – 803-4500	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Uncensored, Die-Cut Gatefold, True Sound	ABC Records – LP-4500	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Blank Back Cover	Probe – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold	Command – LP 4500 X	US	1968	US — 1968	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album	Barclay – 0920 082		1969	— 1969	New Submission
Image hidden	The Soft Machine LP, Album	Probe – SR-303	Japan	1969	Japan — 1969	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Promo, Gatefold	Probe – SR-303	Japan	1969	Japan — 1969	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Stereo, Censored	Probe – 3C 154-50185	Italy	1973	Italy — 1973	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album	Probe – IPP-80899	Japan	1973	Japan — 1973	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Promo	Probe – IPP-80899	Japan	1973	Japan — 1973	New Submission
	The Soft Machine 1 Cassette, Album	Probe – 3C 244 50185	Italy	1973	Italy — 1973	New Submission
	We Did It Again LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	ABC Records – 27 135 ET	UK & Europe	1976	UK & Europe — 1976	New Submission
	The Soft Machine Vol.1 LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	ABC Records – RB 73	Italy	1976	Italy — 1976
	The Soft Machine Vol. 1 LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo	MCA Coral – ORL 8662	Italy	1983	Italy — 1983	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered	Big Beat Records – WIKA 57	Europe	1987	Europe — 1987	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine Cassette, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Dolby	Big Beat Records – WIKC 57	UK	1987	UK — 1987	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing	Big Beat Records – WIKA 57	Europe	1987	Europe — 1987	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Long-Box	One Way Records (6) – MCAD-22064	US	1990	US — 1990	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Reissue	MSI (2) – MSIF-2172	Japan	1994	Japan — 1994	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve	Probe – UICY-9687	Japan	2006	Japan — 2006	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Gatefold	Tapestry Records – TPT 226	Liechtenstein	2007	Liechtenstein — 2007	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered	Universal Music Special Markets – B0008535-02	US	2007	US — 2007	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Reissue, 200 Gram	Universal Music – UIJY-9012	Japan	2007	Japan — 2007	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CDr, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release	2000 Fruit Gum – none	Russia	2007	Russia — 2007	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, Gatefold	Tapestry Records – TPT 226	Liechtenstein	2007	Liechtenstein — 2007	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Gatefold, 180 g.	Tapestry Records – TPT 226	Liechtenstein	2007	Liechtenstein — 2007	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, SHM-CD	Universal Music – UICY-90780	Japan	2008	Japan — 2008	New Submission
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, EDC	Universal UMC – 532 050-5	UK	2009	UK — 2009	Recently Edited
	The Soft Machine CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Unofficial Release, EDC	Universal UMC (2) – 532 050-5	Russia	2009	Russia — 2009	New Submission
	The Soft Machine LP, Album, Reissue, WG Cut, Gatefold	Probe – LP 5341	US	2010	US — 2010	New Submission

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Reviews

pshico87 Dec 21, 2024
referencing The Soft Machine (LP, Album, Reissue, 200 Gram) UIJY-9012

Some information about sourcing ? . . . . .
RemyNi3 Mar 11, 2024
referencing The Soft Machine (LP, Album, Gatefold) LP 4500 X

Are these discs identical to the uncensored ones, or is it an entirely different pressing?
pshico87 Jan 6, 2024
referencing The Soft Machine (LP, Album, Stereo, Flipback Cover) 920 082

This French release sounds just fantastic !
Loud, Clear and deep.
DPSydBerry2 Nov 19, 2023
referencing The Soft Machine (CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve) UICY-9687

Disc Union in Japan added an additional paper sleeve copy of the original Japanese record sleeve (c/w its own obi) to this issue.
tomwebb101 Jun 2, 2023
referencing The Soft Machine (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, EDC) 532 050-5

I cant disagree with the below reviewer enough. This remaster is nicely done... it sounds huge, with warmth and depth. It doesnt matter if its this 2009 CD or the Japanese 2013 SHM or 2022 reissues it sounds brilliant to me. No complaints at all for a tenner
recrecshop Nov 22, 2022
referencing The Soft Machine (LP, Album, Stereo, Uncensored, Die-Cut Gatefold) LP 4500

...was there ever a better "fusion album"? my advice: try listen only to the
drums of robert wyatt: astonishing! next listen to his wonderful voice, you
can almost consider "volume one" as his first solo album. just take the
heartwarming ballad "a certain kind". then we have this great,
hendrix-alike electric organ by mike ratledge. the stoical kevin ayers on
bass, with his grandiose & ongoing dada-song "we did it again". uplifting,
thunderously powerful..!
Mr-Record-Man Nov 7, 2022
referencing Soft Machine (8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo) 803-4500

I have an Ampex version of this 8-track. Not sure if it’s earlier or later than the GRT version.
WastedMoney Aug 14, 2022
referencing The Soft Machine (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, EDC) 532 050-5

As much as i love early Soft Machine ,this so called remaster isnt a remaster at all, its a huge downgrade, for volume one and two, stay clear of these remasters andsearch out : The Soft Machine Collection aka Architects of Space Time aka Volume One and Two, It will be a whole new experience for you if you are a fan !
drackey Apr 30, 2022
referencing The Soft Machine (LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Orange [Translucent Orange], Gatefold) LP 5341

For those wondering, this copy does not have the die cut gear, but the inside does come with the original artwork on a small poster.
spiderfriend Jan 27, 2022
referencing The Soft Machine (CD, Album, Reissue) MCAD-22064

Again kudos to MCA CD releases from the early days. A simple disclaimer regarding the tape hiss and potential anomalies inherent in the earlier recording processes and transfer away. Brilliant, honest and respectful. Needless to say this is a fantastic transfer, but the music really is trapped by it's own pseudo intellectualism.