SOFT MACHINE - 25 August 1968 Ce Soir On Danse

1. A Certain Kind
2. Save Yourself
3. Priscilla
4. Lullabye Letter
5. Hope For Happiness
Robert Wyatt-Mike Ratledge-Kevin Ayers
Filmed in October 1967.
Broadcast on Ce Soir On Danse TV France 25 August 1968.

[@TheMrBennito]

Robert Wyatt, one of a kind. I followed his whole career. The End of an Ear for instance, a masterpiece.

[@67psych]

The End of an Ear is fucking amazing album! wow!

[@barflytom3273]

@@67psych Rock Bottom is a great album too.

[@dominicmurphy3676]

My uncle managed and produced much of SM's early work. Unfortunately he passed last year and I am really trying to learn all I can about the band & awesome to see classic videos like this one . Thank you for posting 🙏

[@moethemoon]

Wow really? Lucky! Rest In Peace to him!

[@dougsmith7083]

💖🤘🔥

[@boychildnew1]

Thats nice, well done.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Sean Murphy.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Bravo, Dominic. Saluti dall'Italia.

[@vasconatura4960]

I was not even born , only 1969. But with 16 years old i discover Soft Machine. I guess one of the best ever bands. What memories

[@philippeperez2886]

Grandiose ! L époque où les cameramen de l ORTF savaient filmer et mettaient en valeur les artistes. Robert Wyatt impérial comme toujours ! Merci de nous faire profiter de ces belles images.

[@jean-paulguinard9715]

Et surtout une époque où il y avait beaucoup d'authenticité chez les artistes.

[@jandebernardi6931]

En 1970 j'était dans ma cabine au Psychédélic club de Nice et après la fermeture de la boîte vers 5h00 du matin, j'écoutais ce morceau pour m'évader un peu. Aujourd'hui encore la version studio de "a certain kind" m'arrache les tripes.

[@djmikio]

With all those well-dressed, selfconcious audience members sitting through this incredible performance, my heart is with the one woman (and finally, also one dude) who are just going-off dancing!!!

[@theloniousratledge8835]

The most underrated keybordist ever.

[@johntechwriter]

In a class of his own, technically. There was nobody in pop or jazz to compare him to. I could never understand why he chose to play that piece of shit Lowrey organ.

[@jorgeguimaraes8820]

@@johntechwriter Respec the Lowrey. Rutledge works it very well. Another lovely use of the organ (besides the classic Lucy in the Sky) is with The Band

[@gimmehendrix]

Hardly. At the time was hugely rated.

[@gimmehendrix]

It was all he could afford. I think it was quite fortuitous actually. You cant bend notes on a Hammond like you can on a Lowery TLO.

[@skodaskoda]

@@johntechwriter I think that organ sounds amazing! :) Like a really nasty distorted guitar, amazing what he does with it!

[@Traumm9]

What a fine drummer he was!!!

[@davidpasicznyk6521]

My favorite band of all time. They were the best; so progressive and humorous!

[@TommysDaddy]

gosh what a privilege to have been one of the few people at that performance ! I couldn't sit through that. I would have to be dancing. but not now as nearly 70 !

[@user-bc8fr3zd9g]

Simply the best band ever

[@stephenbeckham3513]

I was lucky enough to see the Softs in 1968, opening for the Amboy Dukes and Jimi Hendrix! what a great show. What a great original band. Too bad about Wyatt's accident.

[@dantean]

Wow. Probably the REALLY surprising thing is the Amboy Dukes on the bill. I've always known Jimi and Soft Machine toured the States in 1968 (same management firm), but never knew the Dukes went back that far.

[@boblgumm1]

In Detroit?

[@johntechwriter]

Jimi and the Softies included Canada in their 1968 tour as well as the USA. I saw them in Canada's capital, Ottawa. It was a wild concert. The mood was positive and that encouraged the players to give it their all. I happened to be on acid at the time and though I had never seen Soft Machine or even heard of them I loved them immediately. Now I have everything I am aware they recorded. This was probably the only tour where Jimi Hendrix was the more conservative of the performing artists.

[@MonteBlacksGrubbyChamber]

Crazy! I worked at electric lady studios in NYC and they have that concert poster framed in their tech room

[@michaeldrennan9932]

Yes, Ted Nugent was only 18 when they released their first album!! Take A Ride To The Land Inside Your Mind!!

[@bobgreen623]

A Certain Kind is such a beautiful song.

[@oregonbobv]

Incredible and original organ improvisations by Mike Ratldege.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Ratledge è stato l'unico ad improvvisare all'organo Lowery esattamente come Cecil Taylor. Aveva un grande talento jazzistico.

[@Methilde]

​Joe Zawinul in the dame line.

[@thewoodentops.]

this one of those things on the net i personally keep returning too . its got everything you need. class, dirt, poetry , skill, experimentalism of youth and three absolutely stunning musicians. r i p Kev.

[@ZENMAN5]

I, like the other poster, never thought that I would get to see the original line up with Kevin Ayers in a live clip. Thanks for posting this, what a gem.

[@dodibenabba1378]

It's not original line up as that had Daevid Allen on guitar...

[@Tarrassacordoba]

I close my eyes & put myself inside the audience like there's no time in my life

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Probably the best Soft Machine footage on KZbin. A great performance by the classic trio.

[@dvaidr]

KA was the man. He genuinely was, without effort or contrivance, an icon. He was so far out, he was too far in.

[@Rrrrichy]

fantastic drums by robert wyatt and amazing fuzz organ by mike ratlege. love it

[@feltongailey8987]

Funny how much Kevin's voice deepened, mellowed with time. We lost a minor god to be sure.

[@WorkoutWithDanny]

He and the boys made some memorable music. Thanks and RIP Kevin Ayers!

[@michaeldrennan9932]

Love Kevin Ayers Song called "Stranger In the Blue Suede Shoes "!! A Definite Cult Classic!!

[@royferguson3909]

keven Eyres is Herne Bay's finest export

[@charlescreange9059]

Un frère de Christian Vander de Magma. Robert Wyatt est immense. Toujours d'actualité.

[@croiners4166]

This is absolutely incredible, to be able to travel back decades and see this early recording of such great original artists in their formative days, Thanks for sharing/jim

[@andreaprodan4432]

A comment i TRULY agree with...

[@royferguson3909]

hope you feel the same...5 years on

[@croiners4166]

@@royferguson3909 Absolutely!

[@croiners4166]

@@royferguson39096 years on/double what I said before!

[@whiskeyriver4322]

Uniquely gifted, perpetually iconic, always searching, continually stretching boundaries, never satisfied............ sadly missed for all these years; nearly 50, the void is still present as the noon-day sun. Oh we lucky few, who recognized the magic, and keep the memories......... of an era of creativity that will never be replicated. Out-bloody-rageous!!!

[@dodibenabba1378]

Soft Machine are still touring and released an excellent album only last year, not this line up tho....

[@cedricrubingisa2943]

??

[@kphyman]

It's great to see this. I saw this line-up and repertoire when they opened for the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford CT, spring of '68. I had no clue going in and was there to see Hendrix (of course) - he did Dylan's "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window" as well as most of "Are You Experienced?" and they did not disappoint. However, my lasting memory is of The Soft Machine. Totally unknown to me and unexpected. They were as loud, if not louder than the Experience, and, I think, opened with "Hope For Happiness" which is still one of my favorites. Couldn't take my eyes or ears off of them. Had a similar experience when I saw Mahavishnu Orchestra open for ELP in Long Beach CA in '71 or '72.

[@embeddedengineeringgroup9644]

I was at the Bushnell for the March show and had exactly the same reaction. I knew what to expect from Hendrix but never heard of Soft Machine. They had some big amps and some big talent. What a sound! Never forgot the show and still listen to them all the time. Hope for Happiness was burned into my brain that night.

[@paulmeek5774]

Same 'experience' for me, twice in '68 (Feb and Aug in Dallas); these guys were just incredible!!

[@d_walsh]

That must Have been an amazing concert. Great

[@Methilde]

Agree with you, saw Mahavisnu in 72 Paris Olympia, such an incredible experience.

[@raulmacias1311]

What an explosive Psychedelic/Jazz/Pop combo! Kevin, why did you have to leave? How cool Kevin is wearing makeup pre Glam by 3 years! R.I.P. KEVIN AYERS

[@authenticzoomer]

makeup was everywhere before glam

[@wademullendore9618]

Kevin is a star no doubt. But man hugh was a level above most any bass player and I think he fit the direction they were going better. Heck even rob got pushed out of the vision eventually. I love this line up and the next three piece the best personally. I like the poppy mix those two line ups produced

[@philippemonthaye]

How can people dislike this gig ? Have they ever heard the Soft Machine before ?

[@mikedrennan8303]

What an Awesome band especially for that time period! Never got the notoriety they most justifiably deserved! Way ahead of their time! Pink Floyd with Soul!! Absolutely Brilliant! Very difficult to play drums and sing with that intensity! WOW!!

[@fuccasound3897]

If someone said there will be no music in the world from now on but you can save one band, i would choose this one.

[@fatadam16]

That's some bad ass playing. Also the dancing was absolutely great! Makes me so happy

[@warvandal3443]

Bitch wanted Kev's ass lol

[@laylay_9979]

This is a hidden gem of a video and I'm so glad I found it. Kinda awesome that The Police's Andy Summers was in this band for a little bit too!

[@JarfSalto]

thanks for sharing this amazing moment in music history

[@Traumm9]

Excellent upload, thanks for sharing

[@reidwhitton6248]

Ayers and Wyatt! Great artists!

[@stephenbeckham3513]

I had commented a while back about seeing SoftMachine opening for Jimi H. in '68. It's great how the music fans keep this alive! I knew it was special then!

[@m-tetsuo]

I discovered SM through this video when I was around 20 (30 now). I had this and their first album on repeat for weeks! Then Volume Two for months. They instantly became my favourite band of all times and still are today. Also Robert Wyatt's drumming is a major influence. My favourite drummer together with Billy Cobham, Ginger Baker, Bill Bruford and Pierre van der Linden.

[@Methilde]

The same except Ginger :)

[@m-tetsuo]

@@Methilde Understandable!

[@0liverWhite]

0:00 A Certain Kind 3:52 Save Yourself 5:55 Priscilla 6:30 Lullabye Letter 14:10 Hope For Hapiness

[@mrbenoit5018]

@King Chromosome 0:00 3:52 5:55 6:30 14:10

[@Spectre-kf2td]

Thanks for this

[@andrewknight4999]

Jeepers! Footage of Wyatt/Ayers/Ratledge! Absolutely priceless.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Remember...Is not easy play drums and to be a singer, on live performances. Wyatt was great.

[@lamecasuelas2]

Holy shit! only when i see footage of em' i realize how much Robert's drums add to the music. fucking amazing!

[@MaurusAP]

Incredibili! Grandiosamente psichedelici e melodici allo stesso tempo. Wyatt a batteria e voce è straordinario!!! Le tastiere di Ratledge hanno un che di onirico e precursore per il loro periodo jazz che arriverà a breve.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Troppo sottovalutato, Ratledge, forse perché si è ritirato presto. Già si era scocciato, a partire dal '73, infatti fu lui a volere Karl Jenkins ed a consegnargli il complesso. Ma musicalmente era troppo superiore..ma pigro.

[@revon0521]

My older brother dragged me to the Grande Ballroom in Detroit for their summer of 1968 show. I'd never heard them before and much of the crowd there that night was older and wiser but more stoned than me, for sure. I was certain I'd never heard their tunes before but knew I was witnessing a unique amalgamation of experimental musicians. Thank brother, Tommy!

[@gregorallnight371]

Soooo cool...great young musicians "back in the day"... and i think all great live shows should have at least a few very cool delightful dancing girls with those wonderful wiggles.. thanks for posting this...great find

[@patpao6933]

Questo è veramente incredibile. Un pezzo imperdibile. Grazie grazie grazie

[@mikedrennan8303]

Robert Wyatt is Badassed!

[@djjllbc]

These cats were talented! Thank you sharing this piece. 💯 🔥

[@djedtiscali]

maybe one of the best singers ever appeared on this earth

[@nilsonsantos8949]

Excelente registro 🙃Progressivo bacana 🇧🇷☮️💋🌼

[@Methilde]

Wyatt one of my three fav drummer, so musical and creative.

[@thewoodentops.]

Early Soft machine is completely ace. You tube having a few movies up is a real treat for those of us too young to be let in, or even find our way to the venue! I'd have looked wild in my school shorts and cap!

[@antoniopezoa9234]

... music is great ...... I just can say that !!!! ... my skin, my heart and my soul fly free in a real world ..... a world that is not understood by anybody or everybody .... a world as much real as you and me ...... grandioso !!!

[@blankfrancine]

Fantastic performance. Love that final piece!

[@robertochiang8057]

Wow! Absolutely love those old songs (specialy "A certain kind"). Didn't expect to be "videos" that old. Great to see such a young Wyatt Thanks!!!

[@bobgreen623]

RIP Kevin, and huge thanks to vernixx for putting this wonderful set up here

[@alocyn]

Fantastico filmato, ottima regia, una grande emozione sentire i soft machine nella loro prima formazione, meno beat di quanto fatto sentire nel loro primo disco. La dimensione live ci rivela un gruppo già molto avanti. Notevole!

[@henribrisoux9071]

Fabuleux Robert Wyatt . Grand merci pour ce témoignage. ...très ému

[@Depierres]

I always dug the Softs, from the very beginning. Bought all their records. As well as, later on, the recordings of concerts on compact discs (like "Live at the Paradiso 1969"). Even got "Spaced", the sound track the Softs did in 1969 for a multi-media show. Saw them in Rotterdam in 1970 and in New York City in the 1970s. Was crazy about the first three albums. Really dug SM Six, too. Was shocked when I heard of poor Robert Wyatt's accident. Never understood what happened to the band - why Robert was pushed out.

[@craigrunyon6663]

God damn Michael Ratledge could get down to business on that organ!

[@dodibenabba1378]

Think it was to do with his drinking and them looking to go instrumental...

[@bobatkinson3114]

Wyatt and anything he has done defines art.

[@Harald136]

to be honest , this is the most artistic view of a drum kit i've ever seen

[@Methilde]

The all fim is best than more of live videos.

[@Richard-ic3ix]

Saw them accidentally at the Museum of Modern Art in 1966. They played without stopping for a half hour and the set was done. I knew they were amazing and that set was reproduced as a studio session on their first album with Kevin Ayres on bass.

[@enzogalli5506]

Fenomenale...grande tecnica e perfezione...STRAORDINARIA band...SM!!!

[@RaxOldies]

Filmed in October 1967...Just 5 months before I saw them when they opened for Hendrix/March,8th 1968.. What a great band!!

[@picha3031]

Une fantastique liberté créative à faire palir ! La naissance d'une école musicale (de Canterbury) qui fera des émules. Un grand moment, merci

[@7karlheinz]

It's great to see Wyatt's very unique Premier drum set in action! He was an amazing drummer.

[@megatedassaultituary6783]

One of those bands that make you wanna live for music

[@johnmathies5218]

Sure would like a official release of that . It definitely sounds and looks like '67 . They changed so fast .

[@d_walsh]

This is just fantastic. Hello 1968, from 2022.

[@alfioalberelli1071]

Che dire...affascinante!!! Wyatt grande interprete alla batteria, con uno stile di voce inconfondibile.Documento storico.Ciao

[@blaksu]

legendary footage, they were so original and have never been surpassed in what they did. Ayers

[@MonsterValentin]

J'en ai des frissons dans tout le corps !

[@mikehahaha2962]

alleluya un jeune dans les commentaires d'une video de soft machine ! écoute ma playlist pour découvrir d'autre truc cool ;) www.deezer.com/playlist/4177276582?

[@debedde]

today, almost 55 years later, I see my favorite album of all times played live...

[@debedde]

eeeh, 56 years

[@louisemathieu2047]

35 ans d'attente ,mais ça vaut le coup merci vernixx, robert chant et batterie c'est !!!!

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Questa esibizione live dei Soft machine del 68 vede la band in formazione a trio Robert Wyatt canto e batteria e percussioni Mike Ratledge Organo e Kevin Ayers chitarra basso Nel filmato vediamo anche ragazzi che stanno ballando Premesso che la musica dei Soft machine non è musica da ballare però chi la voleva ballare si muoveva a shake cioè i movimenti non seguivano dei passi studiati ma si muovevano come la musica suggeriva alla mente e al corpo di ogni singolo individuo Quindi con libertà totale di espressione e movimento

[@shadegat3996]

Very few people freak out like i do. I am from a different generation but listened to this music (Gong too) when i was a kid and i still freak out to all this. I'd never saw this until today and really, just freaked to it fully. I do wish Daevid had been with them still. Love makes sweet music.

[@dodibenabba1378]

I take it you have heard Jet Propelled Photograph? Excellent album with Allen...

[@shadegat3996]

@@dodibenabba1378 I love Allen and all his works. I started getting into Gong, Hawkwind , Van Der Graaf Generator , The Moody Blues, about 1981. I composed music myself during that time and by 1988 , i moved into the Electronic House music side of things. I was then and still am, into these bands , it meant i missed a lot of material out until the Web allowed me to search all areas and research much more. Yes, i'v heard most of his work with the Softs. What i really missed out, was some of the very early Canterbury sound. I have found myself completely speechless with what i heave been hearing, and seeing . It has been like missing pages from a book i once read and only now i have those missing and needed pages. No future musicians will ever do what those who came out of the 1960's did. They created it.

[@1e0s]

This is awesome & Wow those dancers are something else.

[@falschnehmung]

... stunning up-to-date'ness of this music !!! Only few contemporary trios to match this level of energy, intelligence and understanding ...

[@fossilmatic]

Yes, you wonder if Martin Medeski and Wood have been listening.

[@DorGA_o5_VolnyiVeter]

Какие все молодые. Эх, какое время было! Несметное количество талантов. Ну, эта группа просто супер.

[@marcfedak]

Thanks a million Vernixx for posting this great footage.

[@Adibarum]

I notice 2 people disliked this soft machine Vid...i find that unbelievable. what is there not to love ..this is such great music..I especially Love Soft machine 1 which these tracks came off

[@ivanrainbird2416]

this is really good music with a bit jazz fusion in there i'm very pleased found them after hearing kevin ayers

[@trainman5698]

00:00 A Certain Kind 03:50 Save Youself/Priscilla/Lullaby Letter 14:01 Hope for Hapiness

[@eddieedditter2253]

All wonderful, music, dancers, tv direction✨✨✨✨✨

[@milomeliora7271]

My favorite version of ‘A Certain Kind’ ever!!! Mike also appears to be very fashionable here!

[@BarryTones]

Bravo guys I still love ya nearly 50 years later

[@vampira1409]

I'm incredibly saddened to learn of Kevin Ayers' passing. Thankfully Robert Wyatt is still among us. When he goes, I'll be a downright mess.

[@raulmacias5735]

I so wish they had performed Kevin Ayers' "We Know What You Mean". I also wish Kevin did more singing.

[@mellotrongirl]

And I love the way Ratledge works the rocker switches while playing the organ...

[@johntechwriter]

Maybe you can tell me why he played a piece of shit Lowery home organ? I’ll bet it was the slider on the volume pedal that enabled the player to bend notes. Not a good enough reason!

[@Syfoll]

@@johntechwriter He must've liked it. He played it on every Soft Machine album he's been part of. I don't understand the choice either. The Hammonds, Farfisas and Philicordias were much better.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

@@Syfoll Probabilmente, il Lowery era più economico.

[@Syfoll]

@@theloniousratledge8835 I don't know italian

[@theloniousratledge8835]

@@Syfoll L'italiano è una bellissima lingua.

[@user-it4gq9dq4q]

What a drummer!!!

[@Bucky315]

I agree Jeni! LOVE the way Mike is working the switches on the Lowry while he's soloing. These guys were always innovating. Always looking for new sounds. . absolutely fantastic. Mike Ratledge is one of the unsung heroes of both the organ and piano. And one of the greatest songwriters of his day. . his melodies still stay with me.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Ratledge, the most underrated musician of all the time. Ratledge, il musicista più sottovalutato di tutti i tempi.

[@MrDoctorMabuse]

Truly funny to me how many people here think Wyatt wasn't sounding EXACTLY how he wanted to. Listen to his solo albums - the man can't and won't do it like anyone else.

[@andreasschneider8556]

Vital and humorous! Robert Wyatt's drumming was brilliant in that days! Even Kevin Ayers' bass playing is surprising.

[@rikk7041]

Kevin used a thumb-pick on bass! (Geddy Lee thinks any bassist using a pick should be excommunicated from bass-dom; not that I agree)

[@feltongailey8987]

Kevin was a multi instrumentalist and probably felt more comfortable picking that bass.

[@clarkt5439]

Saw them live in Dallas in ‘68 with Hendrix. Way ahead of their time.

[@BenHaddar]

A certain kind ! Ma chanson préférée !!!!

[@The1961yankees]

This show couldn't have been from August 25, 1968 because I saw them in New York City the night before. I believe they were still on tour with Hendrix. This is from an earlier time.

[@hasechan55]

Very rare video of Three Pieces Soft Machine. Their performance quality is so good!!

[@oldmcmetal3688]

Thumbs up for this awesome show.

[@iboskos2010]

Great music! Musicians can naturally die...their music never! He and his music are still alive (thanks to reproduction means....vinyl, video tapes etc and our memories!).

[@humphrysr]

Saw these guys in Detroit. Started a lifelong interest in these guys, all the permutations, and Mallorca

[@MADROCKS221]

Robert deserves much more credit for his drumming.