Kevin Ayers on early Soft Machine

[@madben9981]

Soft Machine 1 may have been a little rough around the edges, but was still a terrific album. It was my introduction to Robert Wyatt who didn't play drums as much to keep time as he did to be another lead instrument. I was lucky enough to see them with Hendrix and they simply blew my mind. Their following album, Sort Machine 2, was and still is one of the greatest records ever. Would you believe I listened to that record for years before some one pointed out to me that part of it was them thanking Hendrix, etc, for taking them on tour?

[@caryheuchert]

After Hugh Hopper joined Soft Machine on bass, it all fell into place, especially on “Third”, my favourite album of all time.

[@autistichead8137]

Agreed

[@autistichead8137]

@@caryheuchert as an American Deadhead, I love it when people ask what my favorite album is. When I tell them “Third” The response is always, wha?

[@muzwot9603]

The fact that someone didn't come along a turm them into a manufactured band is the very thing that makes Soft Machine such a landmark band, so special and enduring for all time, also it was never even about the money.

[@9750939]

Agree: that first album is brilliant for all the reasons Kevin complains of.

[@coadmiller5010]

Yeah, I'm kinda surprised he's so prosaic about the whole thing...So many people really like the early stuff, apparently having more respect for the early group than Kevin himself... However, he continued to play "Why Are We Sleeping" throughout his solo career..I certainly have more love for the trio than he did, and both times I saw 'em with Hendrix had a lasting impression on me and made me a fan for life!...

[@bradseed66]

This seems to be the case with a lot of the pre-punk generation. They have contempt for their most interesting work, considering it amateurish. A lot of musicians fall in to this trap.

[@williamtotterdell9514]

They changed my life, it was a long time ago and I don’t regard one minute. From the proms concert to meeting my wife a few weeks later. I listen to something by them every day.

[@dantean]

The theme here: "we needed someone organizing us."

[@susanbutcher696]

The first album's my favourite. I thought, and I still think, Mike Ratledge was brilliant. I assumed that his "aggressive" keyboard sounds were a compensation for the lack of lead guitar, and Ayers played chords on bass through distortion to give an impression of rhythm guitar. Whatever the reason, they didn't sound at all like a normal rock group of the time. That was enough to grab me, the roughness of the playing and recording didn't matter. I can see Ayer's point of view, though; it's a pity the 1967 Softs demos never became a finished album, that music is more up his street.

[@7777Scion]

Although I like the next two better, I know where you are coming from. It's an album with a lot of drive.

[@bakeone4406]

Musicians often have blinders on and overlook things about recordings that they contributed to. It could be argued that Ayers put less into the first Soft Machine album than Ratledge or Wyatt and may be less engaged as a listener than quite a few people who own a copy of the album. Soft Machine 1 was a spectacularly groundbreaking pop album that prints in the head beautifully. I dig almost everything that came later, they're all different and 1 has an atmosphere and feel that's unique in their catalog.

[@mayasrequest]

What is he talking about 😭 the first album is one of the best things I've ever heard in my entire life. It's very sad that he thinks this way about a masterpiece that he himself was largely responsible for creating and developing.

[@thomascraymer8712]

Kevin was always so modest... there was another interview where he refers to Robert Wyatt as the soul guy, Mike Ratledge as the jazz guy, and himself as the beginner, while he wrote most of the songs on the debut album

[@fluentpiffle]

I think he’s talking about honesty..

[@aprendizdebrujo100]

The first LP is the more original and the best of the soft machine, even having a pair of little nonsenses like "we did it again"

[@Monetize_This]

I agree with Kevin’s assertion about the first LP but there’s some really great things in there. Let’s face it their first well produced album was Four.

[@rockonthestone4907]

Thanks for these awesome interviews man!

[@dennishockaday1509]

An old head in my town told me that Soft Machine tried to go hang out at a popular bar/teen club after they opened for Hendrix in Davenport Iowa and they were chased out of the place by bikers! I'm assuming they were intimidated by these hip British gentleman.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

I "bikers" erano, e sono, TROGLODITI.

[@banjoshua]

Wyatt's drumming on Volume One is nothing but groundbreaking.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Really enjoyed this interview and wished there was more . And yes it does sound like Kevin has missed the point of why Soft Machine attracted a’ certain kind ‘ of following.

[@oobenoob]

What bird is singing in the background? Possibly a Chaffinch?

[@fairpaintv593]

? I love the first record

[@anthonymackey222]

If the conversation was about early Soft Machine, there were 4 musicians in the original group.

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Very rare footage here!

[@pinba11wizzard]

where did you find footage from us tour(?), i mean around 4:48?

[@aymericleroy8500]

In my underground lair.

[@pinba11wizzard]

@@aymericleroy8500 you have some priceless stuff then!

[@markhewins8517]

“Spontaneous”

[@paulaspden161]

Good analysis from kevin there

[@charlierumoldboi3939]

The first album is no masterpiece, but is a great psychedelic experiment with some wonderful moments.

[@7777Scion]

That first album has excitement - finesse - and their own sound - was it "polished"? Probably not, but the songwriting, playing and genuine enthusiasm all shine through. Ayers is looking at it from the standpoint of his later studio stuff like "Dr. Dream" and can't see it objectively.

[@francabrilli3591]

❤

[@Robhalifax]

Musicians often dismiss early works which the fans love. Its a bit tiresome.

[@michaelmertens813]

-Three- was it for me

[@the_most_ever_company]

wow, Kevin Ayers totally misses the point of what made Soft Machine (and particularly their first album) great. He sounds old, boring, and corporate here, like an executive or a stuffy producer concerned with getting a "sleek" / "commercial" sound...

[@3lullabies]

Musicians need to grow in both song writing and performance. It is his music to be unsatisfied with. Although we all seem to love it. Also, he has always sounded dry like that, not a very animated speaker.

[@bravowhiskey5965]

David Allen was the psychedelic backbone of their first album, after he left to form gong soft machine went fully contemporary jazz. It’s still good but not as whimsical and psychedelic as their first record and gong

[@KennyRigby-pd1vv]

I think he's more than qualified to comment on his own work good or bad don't you

[@jcjc5702]

I dont think he was ever that good

[@tzadcannotbeleftblank9765]

@@bravowhiskey5965 but Daevid is not present on the debut album “The Soft Machine” aka ‘Volume One’

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

I bought one Kevin Ayers album and I just disliked it. The only part of an Ayers album I liked was a Ratledge organ solo. The fact that Ayers had a following at all mystified me. The first SM album was tremendous l thought.

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

@Syd McCreath just know what I like and I never cared for Kevin Ayers. I never liked his solo material. I loved all of Daevid Allen's stuff. I just never enjoyed Ayers' songs or his voice outside of Soft Machine. I did try...I do like certain songwriter/singers but, I do listen. Some people just don't click w me; I also try not make judgements about people who don't like what I like, tempting though that is...

[@timhancock6626]

Oh well, the rest of us will just have to continue to suffer Kevins music. I play "Song for insane times" on my piano and I think it's a truly great thoughtful piece of music even fifty years on from when I first heard it. Kevins words provided a depth of thought that Soft Machine could reach musically but not vocally. I like them both, but there was a fundamental incompatibility between Kevins louche persona and his whimsical songs and Soft Machines harder edged Jazz improvisations.

[@claudebuysse7482]

@@garygomesvedicastrology The beauty of a song is in the ears of the listener...for me , his first album with so different songs like Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong and Lady Rachel , even Stop this train with Ratledge on organ mesmerized me. I saw him in the end of 90 in Mtl with David Allen and his bananas. He seems old and his voice was not the same... i stopped to listen him after Bananamour. A old dandy in that time...

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

@@claudebuysse7482 I think part of my issue is that Ayers' music didn't excite me that much. I very rarely liked songs unless the music really grabs me. The music of Ayers never did. (For contrast, Jack Bruce's solo output did.) It's not a competition, just a preferebce.

[@gavriilnick4225]

​@sydmccreath4554bad albums he came out with

[@raulmacias1311]

I never understood why Robert Wyatt did the majority of the singing! He had a terrible voice! Kevin Ayers had a much better singing voice! I love "We Know What You Mean".

[@billlloyd4029]

Kevin had a pleasant voice, but Robert's, once you'd acquired the taste, was a supernaturally good voice. Open yer ears...

[@raulmacias1311]

Bill Lloyd I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. By the way, Kevin possessed Pop/Star charisma and had he not left, The Soft Machine would have been much more popular. This upload features some very cool footage! I sometimes wonder why "We Know What You Mean' wasn't included on their debut album. There's a nice "live" version on their BBC album release.

[@richardtuley7007]

Robert Wyatt has a unique singing style. I think he’s absolutely amazing. Soft Machine 2 is one of the best records ever made.

[@Hal9000ize]

@@richardtuley7007 Imagine if it had Kevin's songs from Joy of a Toy, it'd be their most famous record yet

[@richardtuley7007]

Hal9000ize Joy of a Toy is another of the all time great albums and I’m glad we have both records. Robert Wyatt also does a really nice vocal of Whatevershebringswesing.

[@jcjc5702]

Dont think Kevin Ayers mattered much in the end