Who gives a crap what RS says about music anyway. That's like saying Grammy awards and Rock Hall of Fame nominations go to musicians not bullshit artists. CMON
When I was 14 years old, my brother and I went to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968 and the Soft Machine opened the show. My ticket cost me $3.00 and I was seated in the 6th row from the stage. Both bands were in fine form, and this video brings back those memories. Drummer Robert Wyatt made quite an impression when he first walked onto the stage. The only thing he wore was bikini-style briefs.
I saw them with Hendrix on Feb 25 1968 at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. I was 16 at the time Seeing these two bands changed everything for me,it was truly a magical experience. I still have the ticket stub, well half of it. I believe we might have been at the same show. Cheers!!!!!!!
Lyricist aged 62 I write unconventional songs. I feel that I was born at the wrong time of the century. However being born in 1961 the band's and music I grew up with hearing it was an amazing and incredible time for music 🎵🎵🎵🌈♥️
@@bobknight8412 - i didn't expect to see you, either! Long ago I actually had the handwritten sheet music notes to this penned by Mike. Sadly, lost somewhere along the way of my travels.
@@CookinginRussia F. As an organist myself, I would have loved to see that! Great to see you have good taste both in tongue and in ears, though. Hope you're doing safe, shame your restaurant fell through.
Sadly, no he won't. He is almost completely forgotten already. Truly tragic that he never received the widespread recognition that he deserved, but when you look at the sort of music that's hugely popular these days, it's no wonder Mike is forgotten. He's so far over the heads of this generation that all they hear is noise, I'm sure.
@@CookinginRussia In Paris they were pretty well knowne by the young generation, they play in great place like "Palais des Sport" were the Stones gives 2 concerts in 1970.
@@Methilde - That was 1970. I was listening to them all the time in the same year in the United States, but no one else I knew had a clue as to who they were.
@@CookinginRussia I was saying that they play in the same place than the Stones, that means they have a large public. But cause of young ones who invaded the place, quite cool, just when Soft were begining to play the all electricity was cut and policemen where standing all around, so in real they couldn't play, so frustrating.
@@CookinginRussiaI recently discovered soft machine and I’m only 19 so far I’m loving it but I get what you mean most people like brain numbing rap beats nowadays. I’m also a huge Zappa fan but if I had to pick a favorite from soft machine it would be Priscilla or slightly all the time
Mike and Hugh were brains of the band, and Robert and Kevin were heart and soul (and Daevid was spiritual father, I think he was most important figure in Canterbury scene). When Robert left band, SM lost something vital (still 5 album was quite good), but first 4-5 years were pure gold, unique and forward thinking music that still very inspiring and fresh.
correction: GREAT VOICE. and Martin right below is correct too - great drummer! and to SING while drumming??? you don't see that too often especially at such a level.
I wasn't born yet when they played at this concert, but I am so grateful to my dad that he introduced me to so many different kinds of music, including the magnificent Soft Machine at a very young age. The symphonic nature of the tracks that flow into each other and sometimes make a reprisal, combined with the richness of the diversity in tempo, volume and timbre made me experience this music throughout my body. I don't need drugs for that. Art is so immensely powerful when you allow yourself to open to it. Thanks for sharing :-).
I think that the early Soft Machine were the finest band of rock musicians of their era- they are that good. Robert Wyatt's voice is up there with Peter Gabriel's and Steve Winwood's.
He was an awesome drummer...I think he might have been the best of all his contemporaries with the possible exception of Mitch Mitchell (I do realize that's a pretty contentious statement LOL!).
10:52 that solo blows my mind every day, every month, every year since 1977 when I became old and wise enough to know it. I have listened to this song a 1000 times.
It's just a freak out using scales and figures he's already familiar with. Its kind of determined to transcend but is inevitably a product of its limitations. As well as merit there was a lot of pomposity around at this time. Not sure why it would blow your mind.
This composition really clicked with me during this performance. It's also really cool to hear the timbres, riffs and atmosphere that would go on to influence the rest of the Canterbury folk
My first listen to Soft Machine. Most interesting is the later Allan Holdsworth connection, which I experienced and recorded at the Catalyst, with The Fents opening, Santa Cruz 1985ish. I get it.
I saw them at Burton Constable Hall (with Elton Dean in the Softs lineup) in 1970. Amazing set played for 90 plus minutes. Great to see this knowing how important Softs 3 and Rock Bottom have been in my life!
I saw them live in 1969 in Grenoble. The next day I rushed to go buy their album 2.since then I've never ceased being into Robert Wyatt music and singing. Rock Bottom being totally one of the best albums ever. I'm 68 and still listens to this album. Never tired of that beautiful, poetic and sensitive music.
@@chrismoller4272 Well... The Canterbury Scene encompassed pop, jazz, rock and prog: Brinsley Schwartz and offshoots, Softs and offshoots, Caravan. I've typed 'Canterbury Sound' in other comments but the OP's 'Canterbury Scene' is a much better phrase - of course, it extended across Kent to include Tunbridge Wells
For me ,the best line up of Soft Machine! Great music played by great musicians ! Thanks for the post, From deep south of France, C.& Chelsea the Dog. 🐉🔬🐲
I was born in 58. I'm listening to this for the first time having known almost nothing about this " group". Watching and listening to this performance what strikes me is its sheer, intense .... vibrancy ... almost as if it was recorded last week. I have to mentally pinch myself to remind me I'm looking at something from 55 years ago. Whatever the form of music there's something viscerally exciting about watching a small group of performers familiar with each other in a groove making music together.
Nice to see all three playing this live. It was heartbreaking to learn years later that when they came to record Moon In June in 1970, Mike and Hugh wanted nothing to do with it and refused to play on most of it.
Saw them at the Round House Chalk Farm , London about this period. Remember Wyatt's presence on stage, topless also. Knew this was something different from anything else I heard at the time!
I had a friend, Paul Evans, who was really into The Soft Machine. He played them a lot and, I must admit, I didn't really get it. It took my 20 years to appreciate them and now I could listen to them all day long. I saw them play but didn't if you know what I mean.
They were so good, when your too good you can never be as big as those who aren't - and while the lesser swim in big pools made of gold encrusted with diamonds, the soft machine is something They would listen to, the musician's musicians. When your that good respect is the only bigtime money you get from your art. But they contribute to a greater part of intellect than the big names that reach so many - and the few are blessed by it and expand in sparks all the better that way.....
Long Live, eh! Any and all versions are worth hearing, again and again. I reckon this has been a catalyst for hundreds of thousands of fans finding their way among jazz-rock-prog in the last (dear god) nearly 50 years. Me, anyway :-)
Soft machine one of those beautiful bands i forget drift back to with essy indulgence thku Mcconnie & Allie , its their psychedic playfulness thats calls to me again & again o to have seen them live
Cette version est une ébauche de ce que deviendra la version studio ; ici, il s'agit juste d'un collage entre les différents thèmes, sans aucune transition. J'ai écouté ce titre tellement de fois que je le connais dans ses moindres détails et que je peux le jouer dans ma tête sans avoir besoin de l'écouter sur ma chaîne hi-fi... Soft Machine est LE groupe que je mets sur un piédestal ; j'ai eu l'immense plaisir d'assister à plusieurs de ses concerts, et même de photographier Mike en train de jouer, à quelques centimètres de lui. Mon souvenir le plus intense est d'avoir discuté avec lui après un concert à Poitiers et posé mes doigts sur les claviers de son orgue Lowrey après avoir fumé un joint avec Roy Babbington. ********************************************************************************* This version is only a draft of what will become the studio version; here, it is just a collage between the different themes, without any transition. I've listened to this track so many times that I know it down to the smallest detail and can play it in my head without having to listen to it on my hi-fi... Soft Machine is THE band that I put on a pedestal; I had the immense pleasure of attending several of his concerts, and even of photographing Mike playing, a few centimeters from him. My most intense memory is talking with him after a concert in Poitiers and putting my fingers on the keyboards of his Lowrey organ after smoking a joint with Roy Babbington.
