Soft Machine:Out-Bloody-Rageous.Biography
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Topic: Soft Machine:Out-Bloody-Rageous.Biography
Posted By: Tony R
Subject: Soft Machine:Out-Bloody-Rageous.Biography
Date Posted: November 23 2005 at 13:03
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Title: Soft Machine Out-Bloody-Rageous Author: Graham Bennett Pub: S.A.F. Publishing (URL: http://www.safpublishing.com/ - www.safpublishing.com ). Publishing date: October 2005 ISBN: 0 946719 84 5 Note: UK price: £20 (US $30), but Amazon.UK are discounting it to £14 (November 2005) (I'll admit straight from the start, that I have been involved with the later stages of this biography's birth, as a proof reader and finder of the odd bit of trivia. Therefore I'm very much committed to telling the world of this excellent book). Ever since first hearing the psychedelia of Soft Machine played on John Peel's Top Gear radio show in 1968, I felt this was a special band that stood out during period of major innovative in rock music. And then the rapid progression from psychedelic rock to the very British jazz rock of the seminal 'Third' (a contemporary album to ‘Bitches Brew’) and later the boundary breaking, jazz fusion of the 70's. While I've largely followed Machine through most of their career on record, and for instance I did the Pop Proms and was in the same building the night that the 'British Tour' recording was made, Graham Bennett clearly has made greater commitment and heard them both on record and in numerous performances. What Bennett had recognised is that Soft Machine have had a complex history: the unexpected departures, a spectacular and bitter firing, radical musical changes and radical musical innovation, then surviving only to peter out with a whimper in the early 80's. But strange to tell, while hosts of websites tell bits of their story, provide copious discographies, performance dates in scrupulous chronological order, nobody has got round to writing the definitive biography - until now. Out Bloody Rageous** is very thorough in its contents reflecting Bennett's graduate research training as a scientist, (here, well applied to the arts), with respect to the depth of research, the accuracy of detail, good analysis and most importantly telling the various stories well and with clear sense of chronology. Virtually everybody associated with Soft Machine collaborated in this book’s creation through interviews, including the late John Peel to whom the book is dedicated. Unsurprisingly, but unfortunately Mike Ratledge was the exception; as writers in Jazzwise and Mojo magazines have discovered over the last 5 to 10 years; to this former Machinist, their history is a closed book to one of their most important members. And perhaps unlike Paul Stump and his recent Gentle Giant biography, Graham Bennett has gone out of his way and taken time to talk in detail with fellow fans of the Softs. As a proof-reader I read the finish draft without the forwards, photos (BTW the folded out dustcover has my favourite picture), nor the discography (alas already out of date with the 4 or 5 Machine albums that have appeared this year), but now with the finished book in hand, I am really impressed. A few typos still exist, and one introduced ironically thanking the proof-readers for the corrections, and the worst (but not serious) stating I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again as being a TV rather than a radio series. IMHO it is amongst the very best rock or jazz biographies published, for being near exhaustive in it research and reporting (cf. other similar biographies). BTW, amongst the pictures is one of Wyatt in that famous yellow suite made by Pan(Pam?), (check out the lyrics on Soft Machine's first album for further details) and reported to have been later presented to Jimi Hendrix. Lyrics are published - including the variants on record of Moon In June - so bang have gone a few of my misconceptions held for 30 years. Like Sid Smith before (i.e. with his biography, In the Court of King Crimson), Bennett is honest when offering comment about weak albums or performances. However, one reviewer in Amazon.UK while giving the book 5 stars, complained that there was a lack of critical analysis about Karl Jenkins’s contribution to Machine – read the book, and realise very few other biographers actually analysed performance etc. to anywhere the extent Bennett goes. This excellent biography is for serious contemplative reading, not the mundane fanzine (i.e. 'my band can do no wrong') level of writing. A must for Soft Machine fans, and a must for future rock biographers as an illustration about doing things right. For those uncertain between paying identical prices for this Soft Machine or the Gentle Giant biography, there is no contest, Bennett’s is much superior. ** Pure coincidence that the Soft Machine compilation issued earlier in 2005 has the same title. |
Replies:
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: November 23 2005 at 15:06
Great review Dick, well done!
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Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: November 24 2005 at 07:28
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Another amazon purchase in progress... You say virtually everyone involved contributed to the book. Did Wyatt provide any input do you know? ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: November 24 2005 at 09:04
| I think everybody bar Ratledge (who have avoided interview on Soft Machine for over 10 years now), and (Graham Bennett has confirmed in the last hour, in part as a response to the criticism in Amazon.UK) Karl Jenkins. Wyatt, is still very angry about being fired and seems to regret that he and Ratledge couldn't be more accommodating to Kevin Ayers' musical concept - but Machine would have been a very diffient band. Hugh Hopper, was very laid back and candid about friendships and more often lack of friendships, as the band move away from the Canterbury community and took on board jobbing jazz muscians based in London |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: November 26 2005 at 15:36
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I ordered it last week thanks to you Dick!
Which brings me to another debate: How about progrock book reviews??? They couldbe in the database at the end of the tool bar or in the Misc or others section!!!! ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Alucard
Date Posted: November 27 2005 at 12:58
I know only the Robert Wyatt Biography 'Wrong Movement' and I am looking forward to read Bennett's book! ------------- Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear "Hey there! Rotter's Club! Explain the meaning of this song and share it" |
Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: November 29 2005 at 05:00
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Just ordered this from Amazon and it has a 3-5 week delay. Must be selling like hot cakes (or has it not been released yet?). ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: November 29 2005 at 09:09
| Supposed to be published in Spetember, then delayed to October........ However, one reader's review has been published in Amazon.UK so presumably it is available. |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: December 02 2005 at 14:45
"Wrong movement" is good and includes a little Gong chapter. |
Alucard wrote:Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 04 2005 at 09:11
| The Wrong Movements annoys me because of it is written in diary (or chronological) form. While very easily disgested it lacks lot depth. The other annoying thing, was it took 8 months from the point of ordering in the local Ottakars before they could get a copy from the publisher |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: December 05 2005 at 02:43
| I agree with you that it lacks of consistency. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: December 12 2005 at 11:44
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Sure as hell got it quick after ordering it!! Took ten days!! Big book too! Cost me € 30.00!! it will have to wait after the Mason (1/3 of the way through) book and I will receive the VDGG book that will come after it!! I have no idea when I will be able to finish Dream Brothers (Buckley father/Son) ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 12 2005 at 13:06
What is this like? I know Gary Lucas pretty well, and he told me he was particularly annoyed at some rewriting of the truth, on the beheast of Jeff Buckley's mother. And it is increasingly clear that the postumous double CD My Sweetheart The Drunk, included tracks Jeff Buckley never intended releasing (one was for his girlfriend's ears only), but his mother insisted - although I wonder if the delightfully quirky Genesis cover would otherwise ever been released. I started reading the Tim Buckley biog written by his guitarist Lee Underwood, but the style got to me and put it down - besides with the availability of the Soft Machine biog, then the Gentle Giant biog, these were much more preferable choices. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: December 13 2005 at 03:46
Actually it is a cool book but the chapters alternate between the lives of Tim and Jeff and it starts by the tragic death (drowning) of Jeff. So this is hardly chronological and tries to draw too many paralells between the two careers. I think that the man is way too biased towards Jeff. I mean Jeff's achievement was one sole album (however good Grace was) which does not come to knee height of Happy/Sad or Starsailor. I mean Jeff spend years studying classic rock in school etc... buthis final achievement is rather tiny. Tim had around eight records hal;f of them absolute classics. Sure Jeff was completely destabilized from not having his father around (Tim has only seen Jeff twice or maybe four times as a baby) , but he was an underachiever. But the writing style is interesting and it is of a real writer One of the worst book I read re: Rock was Emerson's Pictures of An Exhibitionist ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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>>> Exactly that a sad tale of exhibition, self promotion, sending out punches to Greg Lake etc..... and an awful writing style.Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 14 2005 at 09:37
I have 5 or 6 Tim Buckley albums, and perhaps the postumously released Letter from London is my favourite (Danny Thompson is on great form), followed by the fairly obvious choice, Goodbye Hello. Otherwise, I find others including Starsailor, uneven. Personally, if asked the best rock album of the 90's, I would go for Grace (Nirvana' Nevermind some distance behind). Check out the album Gary Lucas managed to get the Buckey's estate to issue under his and Jeff Buckley's joint names, http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006YXBT/ref=lm_lb_4/026-9226558-7204446 - Songs to No One [1991-1992] - it clearly reveals the development of Buckley from an inhibited ('put upon', a term I've heard privately) individual to a quite masterful singer. What the Buckley estate don't want you to know, is Buckley's biggest hits were originally written by Gary Lucas, in his capacity as Buckley mentor - even musical tutor - Lucas gave Buckley a cassette with the instumental versions of Grace & Mojo Pin, and told Buckley to go ahead write lyrics and rearrange as necessary - the result is what you hear on Grace. Listen to Lucas's Level the Playing Field [Early Hurly Burly 1988-1994] for the original demos.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1OK5QKS5AOHUF/026-9226558-7204446 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse /-/1OK5QKS5AOHUF/026-9226558-7204446 |
Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: December 14 2005 at 09:55
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Softs book came last night, already well into chapter 3. Excellent book. Thoroughly recommend it. A certain mr. Richard Heath in the credits list. ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 05:58
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Some Updates.
Gary Lucas (let's name drop!! - see the blog for 4th January for more detail at http://www.garylucas.com - www.garylucas.com ) introduced me to Mike Barnes (the definitive Beefheart biographer) just after Christamas, who spent some time talking about Out Bloody Rageous and Robert Wyatt. Barnes reckons OBR is the best rock biog he's read, and anticipates a lead review in Mojo magazone soon. Jon Newey editor of Jazzwise magazine, is also reviewing it (contacted me to complain about the errors but more so to moan about the comments made by Bennett wrt Stuart Nicholson's Jazz Rock A History) - so clearly a book that interests both rock and jazz people. Graham Bennett also tells me it is up for a prestiguous US publishing award! |
Posted By: hawkbrock
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 13:06
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I need this book lol, one of my favorite bands! ------------- 
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Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: January 11 2006 at 02:37
I'm very interested in this topic, got the book and a fair number of Tim albums, plus all the various "albums" that came out after Jeff's death ... Interesting angle on Lucas as a crucial songwriter ... the bitterness of Mary, Jeff's mother towards Tim, is something that Lee Underwood has spoken out against quite often, although Underwood himself can be a Tim-worshipper ... Although I have no doubt that Tim was the greater talent, I think calling Jeff Buckley an underacheiver is quite unfair though ... the scene had changed so much ... and I believe he should be judged on Grace alone ... it's an excellent legacy ... I get very frustrated thinking about this one ... ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: January 11 2006 at 05:20
You got a good point here. But Jeff being an underachiever (I could not find the word) is exactly how I feel about him. He wasted many years in music schools and always doubting. By the time Jeff had one album out, his father was already dead. EEEhhmmmm!!!.............. not supposed to be read that way, though Grace is one of the better 90's record, though ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: January 11 2006 at 05:21
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Shouldn't we be discussing Soft Machine?
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 11 2006 at 08:33
| Gary Lucas is acknowledged in Out Bloody Rageous! No real objections to sensible tangents thrown up in threads, subject matter can be quite educational. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: January 11 2006 at 11:51
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I was just kidding anyway, discussing the buckleys can only match the prog we discuss everyday. Anyway, about a third of the way through VDGG's book and then OBR. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: August 22 2006 at 09:16
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Out-bloody rageous is competition for rock biographies. Please read message I just received from author Graham Bennett: Hi Dick,
I hope all is well. Good news: I’ve just heard that “Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous” has been nominated by the Association for Recorded Sound Collections for its 2006 Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. The ARSC has slotted the book into its rock music category (send complaints to the ARSC, not me, but preferably after the winner has been announced in October). The other nominees are: - Grit, Noise, and Revolution: The Birth of Detroit Rock 'n' Roll, by David Carson - Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of the Byrds's Gene Clark, by John Einarson - Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Life of "Mama" Cass Elliot, by Eddi Fiegel - Speak to Me: The Legacy of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, by Russell Reising - Van Morrison: No Surrender, by Johnny Rogan - Conversations with Tom Petty, by Paul Zollo and Tom Petty. So we’re up against some stiff competition, but hopefully this will at least help raise SM’s profile. Cheers, Graham |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: August 22 2006 at 10:05
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Although I have yet to see the books mentioned above , I suspect that the more original one will have an edge to win, and OBR has a chance right behind the Detroit RnR Birth book.
About a third of the way through in Out Bloody rageous, BTW!
It looks like Robert's mother was the real hero in the alcyon days of the band. Without the Ellidge-Wyatt houseold open to beatnicks of all kinds, none of that Canterbury scene would've happened. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 14 2006 at 12:59
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Another new original title from SAF Publishing Soft Machine Out-Bloody-Rageous Graham Bennett The definitive story of Soft Machine, with forewords by Daevid Allen, Hugh Hopper and John Etheridge A Hardback original 156 x 234mm, 448 pp UK £20 US $30.00 96 B&W & colour photographs & illustrations ISBN: 0-946719-84-5 PRESS RELEASE: Soft Machine wins ARSC Award1st November 2006 SAF Publishing is proud to announce that Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous, the definitive history of British jazz–rock pioneering legends Soft Machine, has won a 2006 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research recognising a work of exceptionally high quality."The goal of the ARSC Awards Program is to recognise and draw attention to the finest work now being published in the field of recorded sound research," says Brenda Nelson-Strauss of the ARSC Awards Committee. "We congratulate you on your achievement in this field." Graham Bennett has been invited by the ARSC to the presentation banquet to be held in Milwaukee on Saturday May 5, 2007, to collect his award during ARSC’s annual conference. Begun in 1991, the awards are presented to authors and publishers to recognise outstanding published research in the field of recorded sound. In giving these awards, ARSC recognises outstanding contributions, encourages high standards, and promotes awareness of superior works. For more information, to arrange an interview, or to reserve a review copy of the book, please contact Dave Hallbery at SAF Publishing. 149 Wakeman Road, London NW10 5BH. England Tel: +44(0)20 8969 6099 Fax: +44(0)20 8354 3132 Email: [email protected] Website: www.safpublishing.com------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 18 2006 at 06:16
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In all probability a paperback verison of OBR, extended/updated, will be published hopefully towards the end of 2007. Graham Bennett and I have been exchanging correspondence and made comment about Karl Jenkins' Desert Island Disc programme - where he did not mention Soft Machine directly.......................sort of reinforces a story heard last year about the auditions to find Allan Holdsworth's replacement and Ollie Hassell turned up (needs confirmation but then will possibly be part of the updates).
Update: John Etheridge has confirmed at least part of the story: Brian Godding and Ollie Hassell (after borrowing Godding's guitar) did audition in the hope(?) of replacing Allan Holdsworth - apparently Holdsworth had recommended all three guitarists. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |