Soft Machine
Live in October and August 1969

Unknown Lineage

These are two hard-to-find Soft Machine recordings. Ive run out of full 1969 concerts to post, so here are a couple of odd recordings that werent part of a full set, or at least the full set isnt around anymore.
The first is a performance of "Pigling Bland" by the rare septet lineup. This is from the legendary October 1969 TV broadcasts. I can't post the other two songs, which are "Facelift" and "Hibou, Anemone, and Bear", since they can both be found on the CD, "Backwards" The Frusterating thing about this, however, is that the VIDEO of at least two of these recordings still exist! The whole performance of Pigling Bland was on youtube, in an Elton Dean tribute video, but it has since been removed. You can get about a 30 second glimpse of "Facelift" in a Soft Machine Retrospective view compilation. I've yet to see any of "Hibou, Anemone, and Bear", so Im not sure if its still around. If anyone here has these videos, or know where I we could find them, please say something!


Lineup:

Robert Wyatt: Drums
Hugh Hopper: Bass
Elton Dean: Alto Sax
Lyn Dobson: Soprano Sax
Marc Charig: Cornet
Nick Evans: Trombone
Mike Ratledge: Keyboards





The second song is a 7-minute, incomplete recording of "Moon in June", at Plumpton, Lewes, England on August 8, 1969. This is the only live recording I have ever heard with Brian Hopper in it, so that's kinda cool. Unfortunatly, it cuts off around the point where they go into the jam in the second half of the song. Apparently, they had a power failure, which is why this is the only song they played here.


Lineup:

Robert Wyatt: Drums, Vocals
Hugh Hopper: Bass
Brian Hopper: Tenor(?) Saxophone
Mike Ratledge: Keyboards

The sound quality is good on both recordings, but moreso on Pigling Bland.