Fourth/Fifth by Soft Machine - DeepRiffs

COMPILATION

Releasing Soft Machine's Fourth and Fifth on one album isn't only convenient, but rather intriguing as well. While both albums display the band's wonderful jazz-rock abstractness and frittering "saxophone versus drums" interweaves, Fourth has the distinction of being the last album to feature drummer Robert Wyatt before he went on to form Matching Mole. The differences between Fourth and Fifth aren't startling, but to true Soft Machine fans they are blatantly apparent, since it was Wyatt's free-ranged approach which led the band to where they were at that point. Fourth romps and frolics with Mike Ratledge's erratic organ meandering under the off-beat but highly colorful drum playing from Wyatt, while Elton Dean's sax and saxello playing is nothing more than frantic throughout, gelling their progressive tendencies as a whole without notice. With Phil Howard and John Marshall sharing the drum work for Fifth, there are remnants of Soft Mahine's non- structural artiness still remaining, especially on "As Is" and "Pigling Bland," but the same level of groovy spunk and improvised metaphysics in the form of Wyatt's off-centeredness is gone. Tracks such as "All White" and "Drop" can't match the hectic, fused frenzy of "Fletcher's Blemish" or the excitability that builds during "Teeth" from Fourth. Still, grouping the two albums together as one package is the best way to hear both, even when taking the comparison factor out of the picture.

1. Teeth

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

2. Kings And Queens

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

3. Fletcher's Blemish

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: Eddie Dean; Composer
Lyricist: Eddie Dean; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: Eddie Dean; Composer
Lyricist: Eddie Dean; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

4. Virtually Part 1

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

5. Virtually Part 2

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

6. Virtually Part 3

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: H. Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: H. Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

7. Virtually Part 4

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Cornet: Mark Charig; Performer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Executive Producer: Sean Murphy; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Clarinet: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Drums: Robert Wyatt; Performer
Flute: Jimmy Hastings; Performer
Engineer: George Chkiantz; Production
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Alan Skidmore; Performer
Trombone: Nick Evans; Performer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

8. All White

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge
Elton Dean; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

9. Drop

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge
Elton Dean; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

10. M.C.

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Elton Dean
Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Composer: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Lyricist: Hugh Hopper; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

11. As If

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge
Elton Dean; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

12. L B O

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: John Marshall
Phil Howard; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Elton Dean
Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: John Marshall; Composer
Lyricist: John Marshall; Composer
Composer: John Marshall; Composer
Lyricist: John Marshall; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

13. Pigling Bland

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Mike Ratledge
Elton Dean; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Composer: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Ratledge; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

14. Bone

by Soft Machine

Primary Artist: Soft Machine; Main Performer
Performer: Soft Machine; Performer
Alto Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Bass Guitar: Hugh Hopper; Performer
Drums: Phil Howard
John Marshall; Performer
Organ: Mike Ratledge; Performer
Piano: Elton Dean
Mike Ratledge; Performer
Saxophone: Elton Dean; Performer
Composer: Elton Dean; Composer
Lyricist: Elton Dean; Composer
Composer: Elton Dean; Composer
Lyricist: Elton Dean; Composer
Producer: Soft Machine; Production
Engineer: Gary Martin; Production
Producer: Soft Machine; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

14 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 15 minutes and 42 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 600x600 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

Only 1/14 tracks has lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Pop/Rock, Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Classical, Psychedelic, Prog-Rock, Art Rock, Art & Progressive Rock

Label

Columbia

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jan 31, 1999

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099749334120