SOFT MACHINE.

 

Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs.

Founded in 1966, the original line-up was Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, David Allen, Mike Ratledge and, very briefly, guitarist Larry Nolan. Later on Alan Holdsworth (also in Gong and U.K., Derek Sheridan '04 (Dream Theater), Jack Bruce, Bill Bruford, Level42, Jean-Luc Ponty and John Wetton) and John Etheridge (later with/ in Stephani Grappely, Paul Rodges and Danny Thompson) were part of the band.

Related bands are Soft Heap, Caravan.

 

The Soft Machine (a double album '68).
Robert Wyatt – drums, lead vocals
Mike Ratledge – Lowrey Holiday De Luxe organ, piano
Kevin Ayers – bass, lead vocals (on 10 and 11), backing vocals, piano
Hugh Hopper – bass
The Cake – backing vocals.
Third (the 3 album, also a double '70).
Mike Ratledge – Hohner Pianet, Lowrey organ, piano
Hugh Hopper – bass guitar
Robert Wyatt – drums, vocals, plus (uncredited) Hammond Organ, Hohner Pianet, piano, bass,
Elton Dean – alto saxophone, saxello,
Lyn Dobson – soprano saxophone, flute,
Jimmy Hastings – flute, bass clarinet,
Rab Spall – violin,
Nick Evans – trombone.
Followed by, the Firth, Fifth and
Six ('73)
Hugh Hopper – bass guitar, sound effects on "1983"
Karl Jenkins – oboe, baritone and soprano saxophones, electric piano and grand piano, celeste
John Marshall – drums, percussion
Mike Ratledge – organ, electric piano and grand piano, celeste

Seven and surprisingly Bundles ('75)
Roy Babbington – bass guitar
Allan Holdsworth – electric, acoustic, and 12-string guitars
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 flute and bass flute on "The Floating World"

A live and Well (recorded live in Paris '78)
John Marshall – drums, percussion
Karl Jenkins – piano, electric keyboards, synthesizer
John Etheridge – acoustic and electric guitars
Ric Sanders – violin (credited as Rick Sanders)
Steve Cook – bass guitar
To end with The Land of Cocaine ('81)
Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synths
John Marshall – drums, percussion
with
Jack Bruce – bass
Allan Holdsworth – lead guitar
John Taylor – electric piano
Ray Warleigh – alto saxophone, bass flute
Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
Alan Parker – rhythm guitar
Stu Calver – backing vocals
John Perry – backing vocals
Tony Rivers – backing vocals


Kevin, Robert & Mike.

 

 

 

Symfo-Index.