Soft Machine's Fictitious Sports (A Jet-Propelled Soft Machine)

Soft Machine's Fictitious Sports is the twelveth studio album by the English rock band Soft Machine. The album was produced by Nick Mason. Fictitious Sports was released in 3 June 1980 by RCA Records. It was originally supposed to be a solo project of Pink Floyd's drummer, Nick Mason.

The sessions started after the end of the Softs tour. Pink Floyd at the time was finishing The Wall, and in free time, Nick Mason invited Robert Wyatt to record vocals for his album. After a while, Wyatt also called Soft Machine, and following a desinterest on the project, Nick Mason gave it to Soft Machine to finish the album.

In Soft Machine's Fictitious Sports, the band starts their 80's era trying to approach again of the jazz music, making it to drop gradually the progressive influence throughout the eighties, approaching of a album-oriented radio sound.

The first side of the album starts with the album's hit, Steppin' Out, one out of two songs by Ollie Halsall inserted in the album, followed by Karl Jenkins's piece, Panoramania and by songs by Ayers and Halsall. Seven Days features John Halsey, who met Ollie during the backstage of The Rutles. Robert Wyatt makes his appearance only in the second side, featuring in the highlight single, Hot River, which features guitarist David Gilmour on the guitar solo.

Soft Machine's Fictitious Sports debuted in number 10 but peaked in number 4 in Billboard 200, their best position throughout the 80's in the US, peaked in number 2 in France (losing to The Wall), and topping UK Album Charts and Spain. Ollie Halsall's Steppin' Out was released as a single, hitting in the United States. Later, the band released Hot River, received better in Europe.

Initially received with mixed views, Fictitious Sports is generally regarded as Soft Machine's best work during the eighties. The album was well-received by the people, carrying it into a tour with Pink Floyd.

Soft Machine

 * Kevin Ayers - bass guitar, lead and backing vocals [3-4; 6; 10]
 * Robert Wyatt - drums, percussion; lead and backing vocals [7; 9]
 * Karl Jenkins - synclavier, C.S. 80, Mini Moog, piano, orchestration
 * Ollie Halsall - lead guitar, slide guitar [4; 10]; lead and backing vocals [1; 5]

Additional personnel

 * Clare Torry - backing vocals [6; 10]
 * David Gilmour - guitar solo [9]
 * Karen Kraft - duet vocal [9]
 * John Marshall - drums
 * John Halsey - drums
 * Michael Mantler - trumpets, recording engineer
 * Gary Windo - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
 * Gary Valente - trombones
 * Howard Johnson - tuba
 * Ray Warleigh - alto saxophone
 * Nick Mason - producer
 * Carla Bley - songwriting, producer