Soft Machine

Third

First released1970

Soft Machine's third album, released in 1970, was recorded at Miles Davis' Columbia Records sessions and other studio locations, marking a significant shift toward jazz fusion and extended instrumental compositions. The album was produced by the band themselves with producer Tom Wilson, who had previously worked with Dylan and other avant-garde artists. Recording took place across multiple sessions using 16-track recording technology, which allowed the band to layer complex instrumental arrangements and experiment with studio techniques. The album featured longer, more exploratory tracks that showcased the band's evolution from psychedelic rock toward progressive jazz, with notable contributions from saxophonist Elton Dean and keyboardist Mike Ratledge. The production reflected the late 1960s trend of rock musicians incorporating jazz influences and utilizing expanded studio capabilities for ambitious instrumental works.