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            1968 BRITISH PSYCH-EDELIC PROG-ADELIC COLLECTIBLE

          FAMOUS CUSTOM "WHEEL COVER" 

 

                                               

                         

                      THE SOFT MACHINE

                 Vol. 1

                      

                                             

                             USA - PROBE - CP LP 4500

MINTY CLEAN VINYL! (see full condition details below)

ORIGINAL '68 "WHEEL COVER"  ... MINTY CLEAN VINYL

Collectible 44+ year old original 1968 first pressing in thick gatefold with the famous trippy gimmix designed "WHEEL COVER" by the psychedelic laced pioneering progressives, laced with plenty of acid-sixties reverberations...

See condition details below

The SOFT MACHINE > VOLUME ONE

Without a lead guitar, the first Soft Machine, fondly remembered as Volume 1, sought to meld psychedelia and progressive-rock through Wyatt’s imaginative, liberally panned drumming, Ayers’ jazz & pop bass grooves, and Ratledge’s horror movie Doors organ. With those pieces in motion, they achieved a wondrous time capsule of experimental pop under the constant surreal lyricism of Wyatt and Ayers. Like Syd Barrett was to Pink Floyd, Ayers brought an infatuation with unhinged, uncouth pop to the group aesthetic, which would make Vol. 1 the most conventional Soft Machine album in terms of structure. Ayers wasn’t long for this band, though. He left on good terms after the US tour in order to focus on his solo career, which would find modest success over a few decades and a dozen odd releases, many of which returned to the themes first explored on Vol. 1. There’s no rest for the wicked, as they say and the bass-hole was quickly filled by one Hugh Hopper just in time to record their second album in 1969. Hopper had previously played with Wyatt in the Daevid Allen Trio, so it was an easy fit that reflected in the work they produced together. The band's debut is certainly a very creative album, and with all the organ fireworks going on during the instrumental jams, one may not notice on the first couple listens that the "lead guitar" Kevin Ayres is credited with is actually a bass. There are no boring or weak moments. The sound production suits the music just fine. Fuzzy organ and bass are spread all over the place, from short odd-time-signature experiments "Box 25/4 Lid" to downtempo almost-ballad-like type songs ( "A Certain Kind"), to three-minute repetitive trance in "We Did It Again".

"Why Are We Sleeping" is a highlight, with simple structured organ chords, excellent lyrics and frenetic solo...but they're all really good. Nice humour, experiments with vocals, overall warmth...

Side one

"Hope for Happiness" (Brian Hopper, arr. Robert Wyatt / Mike Ratledge / Kevin Ayers) – 4:21 "Joy of a Toy" (Ayers / Ratledge) – 2:49 "Hope for Happiness (reprise)" (B. Hopper, arr. Wyatt / Ratledge / Ayers) – 1:38 "Why Am I So Short?" (Hugh Hopper / Wyatt) – 1:39 "So Boot If At All" (Ratlege / Ayers / Wyatt) – 7:25 "A Certain Kind" (H. Hopper) – 4:11

Side two

"Save Yourself" (Wyatt) – 2:26 "Priscilla" (Ayers / Ratledge / Wyatt) – 1:03 "Lullabye Letter" (Ayers) – 4:32 "We Did It Again" (Ayers) – 3:46 "Plus Belle qu'une Poubelle" (Ayers) – 1:03 "Why Are We Sleeping?" (Ayers / Ratledge / Wyatt) – 5:30 "Box 25/4 Lid" (Ratledge / H. Hopper) – 0:49

 

 

 

CONDITION: The cover: rated: VG+(+) The "wheel" gatefold cover is a thick gatefold ~ solid all over; little light wear beginning is all, overall collection keeper... the wheel spins fine   no delete marks (rare for this LP)  overall looks fine ...no split seams, no bends and no writing 

The vinyl: is glossy on both sides, M- TOP COPY is brightly shiny = Expect play grade to be strong, enjoyable, in excellent CLEAN audio zones = hard to find this Lp this clean

...both Probe labels are clean (!)

       

 

A GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record

NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving negative feedback. Thanks! GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps   MULTIPLE LP SETS COUNT EACH DISC FOR SHIPPING COST (double Lp count as 2-Lp, etc.)   The Records In All Parcels Are Well Protected = The disc of an LP will always be separated from its cover (avoiding seam splits,etc)   ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 7 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END   Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction!   ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!