Soft Machine

Third

First released1970

Soft Machine's Third was recorded at Island Records' studios in London during 1969-1970, marking a significant shift toward jazz fusion and away from their psychedelic roots. The album was produced by the band themselves in collaboration with engineer John Punter, who played a crucial role in capturing the group's increasingly complex instrumental arrangements. Recording took place across multiple sessions, reflecting the band's experimental approach to composition and arrangement during a period of significant musical evolution. The production emphasized live ensemble playing with minimal overdubs, allowing the interplay between the band's musicians—particularly keyboardist Mike Ratledge and bassist Hugh Hopper—to define the album's sound. Third represented one of the earliest and most influential jazz-rock fusion albums of its era, released in 1970 as a double album that showcased extended improvisations and complex time signatures that would influence progressive rock and jazz fusion for years to come.