BBC Radio: 1967-1971

Soft Machine | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Hux Records
• ASIN: B00008IUWR
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,900 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Clarence In Woderland

2. We Know What You Mean

3. Certain Kind

4. Hope For Happiness

5. Stranger Scene (Aka Lullaby Letter)

6. Facelift Mousetrap Noisette Backward Mousetrap Reprise

7. Moon In June

8. Instant Pussy

9. Slightly All The Time

10. Virtually

11. Fletcher's Blemish

12. Neo-Caliban Grides

13. Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening

14. Eamonn Andrews / All White

15. Mousetrap / Noisette / Backwards / Mousetrap Reprise / Esther's Nose Job

Editorial Reviews

The first volume, of two, in Hux Records release of Soft Machine's complete BBC Sessions. Featuring all the sessions recorded for John Peel's 'Top Gear' program, including several previously unreleased recordings including the 1967 session with Kevin Ayers on bass, guitar, & vocals. The running order is mostly chronological but has been tinkered with by Robert Wyatt, 'for reasons of aural satisfaction'. 2003. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow!!, May 11, 2003

By 

Joseph L. Kolb (harris, mn USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BBC Radio: 1967-1971 (Audio CD)

i was a little leary about buying this as there is a glut of early live material out there, some of it not good. this is a fantastic 2cd set. it covers the early softs with wyatt/ratledge/ayers and ends with charig/dean/dobson/hopper, etc. first five tracks are the rockin' side of the softs, the rest is from mostly second and third. the sound quality is excellent and the performances are top. wyatts vocals, especially on Dedicated to You... are superior. great liner notes and photos accompany this cd. this is a must have recording.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows off Early Softs at most creative!, August 20, 2003

By 

Aging Disgruntled Snob "Jeff-Bob" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BBC Radio: 1967-1971 (Audio CD)

I've got a lot of Soft Machine. A lot. And I was thinking this CD would just be another brick in the wall. But the first four tracks alone of this 2-cd set make the price well worth it. Here are Ayers and Wyatt going at it with amazing pop weirdness with Lowry guru Mike Ratledge just laying back. Disk 2 features more of the classic quartet with Elton Dean and the band mostly performing from their "classic" 1970 period. Insert book from Hux Records is first rate with excellent color reproduction of a number of hard-to-find promo shots. If you like the Softs, this is a must have CD.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the moment that was the Soft Machine . . ., September 22, 2003

By 

Robert Cossaboon "devil doll" (The happy land of Walworth, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BBC Radio: 1967-1971 (Audio CD)

The Soft Machine, when their star had risen the highest and for one brief perfect period of time, were one of the most exciting, imaginative progressive-fushion bands anywhere on any continent. This two-disc set, for the most part captures the Softs in their ascention and at the peak of their creativity. The first disc is pretty much flawless material for any Soft Machine fan. The first five tracks feature Kevin Ayers; I love the version of Clarence in Wonderland, which would later figure as part of a suite on Kevin Ayers's second solo album. The version of Moon In June here is nearly identical (it probably is the same version) as that on the Peel Sessions. The only tough lemon to swallow for me ws Fletcher's Blemish (which is exactly what that song is!) as it goes nowhere and recalls the worst moments of pointless jazz noodling; for avante garde enthusiasts only. But the best song, hands down, is the 20 minute plus workout of Mousetrap-Esther's Nose Job suite. It's simply amazing, and as Hugh Hopper said in his liner notes, the best jazz they ever recorded. Elton Dean's saxophone on this song, and throughout the rest of this collection, comes across like an ongoing whip-crack, especially on Virtually, the opener for the second disc. The BBC Radio sessions represents the Soft Machine in all their experimental and inventive glory. This, and not the successive albums of banality that came after Third, is how they should be remembered and appreciated.