Softs (A Jet-Propelled Soft Machine)

Softs is the tenth studio album by the English rock band Soft Machine. It is their first album after their first hiatus, with a reformed trio with Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt and Karl Jenkins. The album was produced by Nick Mason. It was released in 13 April 1977 by the RCA Records, responsible to release their albums until the second hiatus.

After the hiatus, Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt came back with Soft Machine, then integrating Karl Jenkins into the new formation. Ollie Halsall participated of the sessions as a session musician in two tracks of Kevin Ayers before join as an official members shortly before the tour. The sessions started in late 1976 and finished in early 1977. Jimi Hendrix appears on Rober Wyatt's piece, Slow Walking Talk, a re-recording of an old demo that Hendrix participated, indeed.

Softs returns with the jazz influence of Robert Wyatt which mixes with Karl Jenkins instrumental. Lyrical themes of Kevin Ayers shows an abstract but sentimental Ayers, with a few words. Muddy Mouse by Wyatt is an exception, which turns into a story.

The album peaked in number 16 in Billboard 200, worst position since Matching Mole. In the United Kingdom, the album peaked in number 2. The album topped in countries with growing fanbases, such as France and Spain. (If You Wanna Be a) Star and The Owl were released as singles, backed by a re-recorded version of Strange in Blue Suede Shoes and the Ballad of Mr. Snake.

Softs was initially poorly received with critics, such as being a mistake reform the group, and critics up on Kevin Ayers' songs. In other part, these songs received good appraise by the public and by other criticals, reclaiming it as a great return for their fans. The fanbase is divided about the album, claiming that it is one of the most underrated works by the band.

Soft Machine

 * Kevin Ayers - bass guitar, lead and backing vocals [3; 6; 7a-7e]
 * Robert Wyatt - piano, drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals [2; 4-5; 7b]
 * Karl Jenkins - piano, Lowrey Holiday De Luxe organ, AKS synthesizer, Fender Rhodes electric piano

Additional personnel

 * Ollie Halsall - guitar, backing vocals
 * Brian Eno - direct inject anti-jazz ray gun [8]
 * Fred Frith - piano [8]
 * Mike Ratledge - synthesizers
 * David Bedford - choral arranger [9]
 * B.J. Cole - steel guitar [4]
 * Nick Mason - drums, producer

Differences with OTL

 * 1) OTL Soup Song, from Ruth is Stranger than Richard.