The Soft Machine (Soft Machine album)  

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The Soft Machine, as reissue also titled "Volume One", is the debut album by the British psychedelic rock band Soft Machine, one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene. The band, founded in 1966, recorded and released this studio album during their 1968 tour of the USA. It was produced by Chas Chandler and Tom Wilson.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Hope for Happiness" (Brian Hopper, arr. Robert Wyatt / Mike Ratledge / Kevin Ayers) – 4:21
2. "Joy of a Toy" (Ayers / Ratledge) – 2:49
3. "Hope for Happiness (reprise)" (B. Hopper, arr. Wyatt / Ratledge / Ayers) – 1:38
4. "Why Am I So Short?" (Hugh Hopper / Wyatt) – 1:39
5. "So Boot If At All" (Ratlege / Ayers / Wyatt) – 7:25
6. "A Certain Kind" (H. Hopper) – 4:11

Side two

1. "Save Yourself" (Wyatt) – 2:26
2. "Priscilla" (Ayers / Ratledge / Wyatt) – 1:03
3. "Lullabye Letter" (Ayers) – 4:32
4. "We Did It Again" (Ayers) – 3:46
5. "Plus Belle qu'une Poubelle" (Ayers) – 1:03
6. "Why Are We Sleeping?" (Ayers / Ratledge / Wyatt) – 5:30
7. "Box 25/4 Lid" (Ratledge / H. Hopper) – 0:49

Personnel

• Robert Wyatt – drums, lead vocals
• Mike Ratledge – Lowrey Holiday De Luxe organ, piano (on 13)
• Kevin Ayers – bass, lead vocals (on 10 and 11), backing vocals (on 7 and 9), piano (on 5)

with

• Hugh Hopper – bass (on 13)
• The Cake – backing vocals (on 12)