Top 10 Soft Machine Songs

Photo: By Tim Duncan (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Many bands in classic rock history have merged the elements of jazz and rock and roll into a sound that many fans found most inviting. Artists like Steely Dan, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Chicago found great commercial success in blending rock, pop, and jazz genres. Other bands in classic rock history merged elements of classical music and rock and roll that, for the most part, we have described as progressive rock. Bands like Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Genesis also found great commercial success in their mixture of musical elements. The band Soft Machine took the genres of psychedelic rock, progressive rock, classical music, and mostly jazz to formulate a sound unlike any other band in history.

Most people have labeled the band Soft Machine as progressive rock, but the jazz element and their improvisational skills, blended with all those other rock formats, elevated the band into a unique category. The only other artist we could compare a band like Soft Machine to would probably be Frank Zappa, who also belongs to his unique category.

Our Top 10 Soft Machine Songs list is simply an attempt to cover various periods of the band’s career. We will not get into the history too much because the band underwent many lineup changes. We will dedicate an entire article to covering the band’s personnel and some legendary musicians like Allan Holdsworth and Andy Summers of The Police, who played with the band at times. This article will serve as an intro to some of the band’s music.

We have chosen some of the highlights here, but we have also chosen some of the lesser-known songs. If you don’t know the band, we hope this list turns you on to one of the most unique bands of the twentieth century.

# 10 – One Over The Eight

We start our Top 10 Soft Machine Songs list with a track from their ninth studio album, Softs, which was released in 1976. The album was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, which became famous because of The Beatles’ Abby Road album cover.

# 9 – All White

Soft Machine’s “All White” track was released on their fifth album, appropriately entitled 5. This has always been one of our favorite Soft Machine tracks. The album was released in 1968. The album 5 featured Mike Ratledge on keys, Kevin Ayers on bass and lead vocals, and Robert Wyatt on drums and lead vocals.

# 8 – Love Makes Sweet Music

Like many progressive rock bands that got their start in the late 1960s, some of the band’s early material was bathed in psychedelia. Soft Machine’s first single release was a very cool hippie-inspired tune called “Love Makes Sweet Music.” The single was released in 1967

# 7 – Out Bloody Rageous

It’s hard to believe that this is the same band playing on “Out-Bloody-Rageous,” who released the single “Love Makes Sweet Music.” That’s why we love Soft Machine. No one ever knew what to expect from this great Canterbury-based band.

# 6 – We Did It Again (Live Versions)

No other song in the band’s catalog may have displayed Soft Machine’s love for improvising than the song “We Did It Again.” The studio version of “We Did It Again” is short, but the live versions of “We Did It Again” were always concert highlights.

# 5 – Teeth

“Teeth” may be one of the lesser-known tracks in the band’s catalog, but it’s one of our favorite Soft Machine songs. The track “Teeth” was released on the band’s Fourth album. The record was released in 1971. The band’s fourth album was a legendary release. The record album featured the musicians Elton Dean on alto saxophone Mike Ratledge on acoustic piano, electric piano and Lowrey organ, Hugh Hopper on bass guitar and Robert Wyatt on drums.

# 4 – Hope For Happiness

The Soft Machine song “Hope For Happiness” was the band’s debut album’s opening track, released in 1968. The song was written by Soft Machine founding members Kevin Ayers, Mike Ratledge, and Robert Wyatt.

# 3 – Slightly All The Time

The track “Slightly All The Time” was released on the band’s third album, Third, a two-disc set. It is one of the most significant albums of the band’s career. The record is an important representation of the Canterbury music scene, which also includes bands like Camel and Caravan. If you are going to purchase only one Soft Machine album, Third is the one to get.

# 2 – Why Are We Sleeping

The great track “Why Are We Sleeping“ was released on the band’s debut album as the next-to-last track. The song’s powerful opening grabs you right away. The spoken word intro sets up the great chorus, and you’re hooked onto a ride in 1960s psychedelia. The two-chord organ comping juxtaposed against the poetry submerges you into tranquility.

# 1 – Moon In June

Our choice for the number one song on our Top 10 Soft Machine songs list is the legendary track “Moon In June.” The song was released on the band’s two-record set Thirds. The band’s lineup on the album consisted of Elton Dean on alto saxophone, Mike Ratledge on acoustic piano, electric piano, and Lowrey organ, Hugh Hopper on bass guitar, and Robert Wyatt on drums.