Moon in June (A Jet-Propelled Soft Machine)

Moon in June is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Soft Machine, credited also to their touring band, The Whole World. The album was produced by the manager Peter Jenner and released in late November 1970 by Harvest Records in the United Kingdom and by Capitol Records in the United States.

The first song recorded for the album was Moon in June, originally proposed to be released on the previous album, The Garden of Love. Moon in June contains another songs previously played by Soft Machine back at the U.F.O. Club, called Clarence in Wonderland. The album was recorded during the last leg of the Tour of Insane Times.

The album was a big hit in France and the United Kingdom, and it is the second album consecutively to top the UK Albums Charts. In the US, the album reached the #67 position in the US Billboard 200. Lunatics Lament was released as a worldwide single, failing to hit in the US, peaking in number 49 at Billboard Hot 100, but hitting in Britain in number 3. In France, May I? was released as single, topping the chart.

The album marks a point of transition of Soft Machine of the psychedelic era to the progressive-oriented music. Critics at the time noted a mix of styles between Songs for Insane Times and The Garden of Love on the album. Moon in June is the first of two albums of Soft Machine credited together with Moon in June. Former member Daevid Allen appears being lead guitarist on Lunatics Lament. It was also the starting point for the Pink Floyd v. Soft Machine "rivalry".

Soft Machine

 * Kevin Ayers - lead guitar, lead and backing vocals [1; 3; 5; 8]
 * Robert Wyatt - drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals [2; 4; 7]; Hammond organ, Mellotron, Hohner Pianet, piano, bass [all on 7]
 * Mike Ratledge - piano, Lowrey Holiday De Luxe organ, Hohner Pianet
 * Hugh Hopper - bass guitar

The Whole World

 * David Bedford - organ, piano, accordion, marimbaphone
 * Lol Coxhill - saxophone
 * Elton Dean - alto saxophone, saxello
 * Mike Oldfield - electric guitar and backing vocals
 * Mick Fincher - drums, percussion, bottles & ashtrays
 * The Whole World Chorus

Additional personnel

 * Rab Spall - violin [3]
 * Daevid Allen - lead guitar, co-shared vocals [all on 5]
 * Peter Jenner - producer