Released July 1972 Producer Soft Machine Artist Soft Machine Label CBS Records International | Length 36:34 Fifth
(1972) Six
(1973) Release date July 1972 | |
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Recorded Nov–Dec 1971 and Jan–Feb 1972 at Advision Studios, London Genres Jazz, Jazz fusion, Free jazz Similar Soft Machine albums, Jazz fusion albums | ||
Soft machine all white 1972 hq
Fifth (the title is Fifth while the front cover shows the number 5), is the fifth studio album by the Canterbury associated band Soft Machine, released in 1972.
Contents
Overview
Fifth was the first Soft Machine album recorded after the departure of founding member Robert Wyatt and continued the band's trend from their original blend of psychedelic and progressive rock towards jazz fusion. Wyatt's replacement was Phil Howard who contributed to the 1971 sessions that comprise side one, after which he left and was replaced by John Marshall for the 1972 recordings that make up side two. Future member Roy Babbington played double bass on side two, as a session musician. Unlike the previous two albums, Elton Dean's saxophone is not augmented by a brass and reeds section composed of session musicians.
An alternate version of "All White" appeared on their next album, Six. "Pigling Bland" was composed in 1969 for inclusion in a revised arrangement of the "Esther's Nose Job" suite.
In 1999, Soft Machine albums Fourth and Fifth were released together on one CD.
Soft Machine Fifth was released remastered with alternative take of "All White" as bonus track and re-designed cover art in 2007.
Side one
- "All White" (Mike Ratledge) – 6:06
- "Drop" (Ratledge) – 7:42
- "M C" (Hugh Hopper) – 4:57
Side two
- "As If" (Ratledge) – 8:02
- "L B O" (John Marshall) – 1:54
- "Pigling Bland" (Ratledge) – 4:24
- "Bone" (Elton Dean) – 3:29
2007 CD reissue bonus track
- "All White" (take two) - 7:14
Personnel
Songs
1All White6:01
2Drop7:49
3MC4:54