Tag Archives: Soft machine

Soft Machine: Land Of Cockayne

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In March 1981, “EMI” label released “Land of Cockayne”, the tenth Soft Machine studio album. It was recorded June – July 1980, at “Pye Studios” and “Riverside Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Thorne.

Personnel:

  • Karl Jenkins – piano, Minimoog, Yamaha CS-80, Synclavier, arrangements, conductor
  • Allan Holdsworth – lead guitar
  • Alan Parker – rhythm guitar
  • John Taylor – electric piano
  • Jack Bruce – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Ray Warleigh – alto saxophone, bass flute
  • Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
  • Stu Calver – vocals, backing vocals
  • John Perry – vocals, backing vocals
  • Tony Rivers – vocals, backing vocals
  • Bill Harman – orchestra leader
  • Roy Ellsworth – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Karl Jenkins.

  1. Over ‘n’ Above
  2. Lotus Groves
  3. Isle of the Blessed
  4. Panoramania
  5. Behind the Crystal Curtain
  6. Palace of Glass
  7. Hot-Biscuit Slim
  8. (Black) Velvet Mountain
  9. Sly Monkey
  10. A Lot of What You Fancy…

Mike Ratledge

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On February 5, 2025, Michael Roland Ratledge died aged 81. He was musician (keyboards, flute), member of the Daevid Allen Trio, but was best known as founding member of Soft Machine. Regarded as one of the most influential members of the Canterbury scene, he recorded with Daevid Allen Trio, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, Syd Barrett, David Bedford, Wilde Flowers, Planet Earth, Rubber, Rollercoaster, Karl Jenkins.

John Marshall

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On September 16, 2023, John Stanley Marshall died aged 82. He was musician (drums, percussion), member of Soft Machine, but was best known as founding member of Nucleus. He recorded and performed with various musician and bands including Arthur Brown, Allan Holdsworth, J.J. Jackson, Barney Kessel, Alexis Korner, Eberhard Weber, Arild Andersen, John Abercrombie, Charlie Mariano, John Surman, Graham Collier, Michael Gibbs, Keith Tippett, Centipede, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin, Dick Morrissey, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, Vassilis Tsabropoulos, Michael Garrick, Neil Ardley, Mike Westbrook, Georgie Game, Indo-Jazz Fusions, Bill Fay, Mike d’Abo, Chris Spedding, Top Topham, Chitinous Ensemble, Linda Hoyle, Spontaneous Music Orchestra, Volker Kriege, John Williams, Pork Pie, Jasper van’t Hof, Alan Skidmore, Gil Evans, Uli Beckerhoff, Towering Inferno, Wolfgang Mirbach, Theo Travis and Rot Powell.

Soft Machine: Fifth

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In July 1972, “CBS” label released “Fifth”, the fifth Soft Machine studio album. It was recorded November – December 1971, January – February 1972, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Elton Dean, Mike Ratledge, Hugh Hopper, Roy Babbington, Phil Howard and John Marshall.

Personnel:

  • Elton Dean – alto saxophone, saxello, Fender Rhodes electric piano
  • Mike Ratledge – Fender Rhodes electric piano, Lowrey organ
  • Hugh Hopper – bass guitar
  • Phil Howard – drums
  • John Marshall – drums
  • Roy Babbington – double bass

Track listing:

  1. All White – Mike Ratledge
  2. Drop – Mike Ratledge
  3. M C – Hugh Hopper
  4. As If – Mike Ratledge
  5. L B O – John Marshall
  6. Pigling Bland – Mike Ratledge
  7. Bone – Elton Dean

Soft Machine: Bundles

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On March 22, 1975, “Harvest” label released “Bundles”, the eighth Soft Machine  album. It was recorded in July 1974 at “CBS Whitfield St Studios” in London, and was produced by Roy Babbington, Allan Holdsworth, Karl Jenkins, John Marshall and Mike Ratledge.

Personnel:

  • Allan Holdsworth– acoustic, 12-string and electric guitars
  • Roy Babbington– bass guitar
  • Karl Jenkins– oboe, piano, electric piano, soprano saxophone
  • John Marshall– drums, percussion
  • Mike Ratledge– Lowrey Holiday Deluxe organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, AKS synthesizer
  • Ray Warleigh– alto and bass flute

Track listing

All tracks by Karl Jenkins except where noted.

  1. Hazard Profile Part One
  2. Hazard Profile Part Two (Toccatina)
  3. Hazard Profile Part Three
  4. Hazard Profile Part Four
  5. Hazard Profile Part Five
  6. Gone Sailing – Allan Holdsworth
  7. Bundles
  8. Land of the Bag Snake – Allan Holdsworth
  9. The Man Who Waved at Trains – Mike Ratledge
  10. Peff – Mike Ratledge
  11. Four Gongs Two Drums – John Marshall
  12. The Floating World

Tom Wilson Jr.

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On September 6, 1978, Thomas Blanchard “Tom” Wilson Jr. died aged 47. He was producer best known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Mothers of Invention, The Fraternity of Man, Simon and Garfunkel, the Velvet Underground, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, Nico, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Blues Project, the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem and Soft Machine.

Soft Machine: Softs

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In June 1976, “Harvest” label released “Softs”, the ninth Soft Machine studio album. It was recorded January – March 1976, at at “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Roy Babbington, John Etheridge, John Marshall, Alan Wakeman and Karl Jenkins.

Personnel:

  • John Etheridge– acoustic and electric guitars
  • Alan Wakeman– soprano and tenor saxophones
  • Karl Jenkins– piano, electric piano, pianette, string and Mini-Moog synthesizers, orchestrations
  • Mike Ratledge– synthesizer
  • Roy Babbington– bass guitar
  • John Marshall– drums, percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Karl Jenkins except where noted.

  1. Aubade
  2. The Tale ofTaliesin
  3. Ban-BanCaliban
  4. Song ofAeolus
  5. Out of Season
  6. Second Bundle
  7. Kayoo – John Marshall
  8. The Camden Tandem – John Etheridge, John Marshall
  9. Nexus
  10. One Over the Eight – Karl Jenkins, John Marshall, John Etheridge,Alan Wakeman, Roy Babbington
  11. Etika – John Etheridge

Allan Holdsworth

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On April 16, 2017, Allan Holdsworth died aged 70. He was guitarist and composer, known as big innovator in development of the guitar playing. He was one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th Century, cited as influence by many famous guitarists such as  Tom Morello, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Shawn Lane, Richie Kotzen, John Petrucci, Alex Lifeson and Kurt Rosenwinkel. In his four decades long career he released twelve albums as solo artists, and has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands including Igginbottom, Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime,  Pierre Moerlen’s Gong,  Jean-Luc Ponty, Bruford, U.K., Stanley Clarke, Chad Wackerman, Level 42 and K². According to “Guitar World” magazine he is “as influential as Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen”.

Soft Machine: Third

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Soft_Machine_Third

On June 6, 1970, “CBS” label released “Third”, the third Soft Machine studio album. It was recorded April – May 1970 at “IBC” in London, “Facelift” was recorded live in Croydon and Birmingham, January 1970, and was produced by Mike Ratledge, Hugh Hopper, Robert Wyatt and Elton Dean.

Personnel:

  • Mike Ratledge – Hohner Pianet, Lowrey organ, piano
  • Hugh Hopper– bass guitar
  • Robert Wyatt – vocals, drums, Hammond organ, Mellotron, Hohner Pianet, piano, bass
  • Elton Dean– alto saxophone, saxello
  • Lyn Dobson– soprano saxophone, flute
  • Nick Evans– trombone
  • Jimmy Hastings– flute, bass clarinet
  • Rab Spall– violin

Track listing:

  1. Facelift – Hugh Hopper
  2. Slightly All the Time – Mike Ratledge
  • Noisette – Hugh Hopper
  • Backwards – Mike Ratledge
  • Noisette Reprise Hugh Hopper
  1. Moon in June – Robert Wyatt
  2. Out-Bloody-Rageous – Mike Ratledge

Soft Machine: Fourth

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Soft_Machine - fourth

On February 28, 1971, “CBS” released “Fourth”, the fourth Soft Machine” studio album. It was recorded October – November 1970, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Elton Dean and Roy Babbington.

Personnel:

Personnel:

  • Mike Ratledge – Lowrey organ, Hohner piano, acoustic piano
  • Elton Dean – alto saxophone, saxello
  • Roy Babbington – double bass
  • Hugh Hopper – bass guitar
  • Robert Wyatt – drums
  • Mark Charig – cornet
  • Nick Evans – trombone
  • Jimmy Hastings – alto flute, bass clarinet
  • Alan Skidmore – tenor saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Teeth – Mike Ratledge
  2. Kings and Queens – Hugh Hopper
  3. Fletcher’s Blemish – Elton Dean
  4. Virtually Part 1 – Hugh Hopper
  5. Virtually Part 2 – Hugh Hopper
  6. Virtually Part 3 – Hugh Hopper
  7. Virtually Part 4 – Hugh Hopper