Chapter Ten - Epilogue

Robert Wyatt, 2017​

After the success of Soft Machine and Friends’ Hyde Park concert, Robert Wyatt continued his solo career, going on to work with the likes of Brian Eno, Henry Cow, Roxy Music, Clara Bley, among others. He also became more politically active, joining the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 80s. The same decade, he would release his first full-length album in 6 years, Born Again Cretin on the Rough Trade label.

Born Again Cretin

                                         Front Cover                                                            Back Cover

Side A

Opium War (Robert Wyatt) (7:14) [1]

Heathens Have No Souls (Wyatt) (7:12) [1]

L'albero Degli Zoccoli (Wyatt) (8:28) [1]

Side B

Holy War (3:35) (Wyatt) [1]

Revolution Without "R" (Wyatt) (3:24) [1]

Billie's Bounce (Charlie Parker) (1:30) [1]

Born Again Cretin (Wyatt) (2:35) [1]

Prove Sparse (Wyatt) (10:10) [1]

Released: August 7th, 1981

Track sources:

[1] - Radio Experiment Rome, February 1981 - 2009

Around that decade, he would release some of his most politicized music, starting with the Elvis Costello and Clive Langer song Shipbuilding, and a series of covers which were compiled in 1982’s Nothing Can Stop Us.  He would go on to release several more albums and EPs across the decades, including 1985's Old Rottenhat, 1991’s Dondestan, 1997’s Shleep, 2003’s Cuckooland, and 2007’s Comicopera. He retired from music entirely in 2014.

“I would say I’ve stopped, it’s a better word than retired. Fifty years in the saddle, it’s not nothing. It’s completely unplanned, my life, and it’s just reached this particular point. Other things have happened – I’m more taken up by politics, to be honest, than music at the moment. Music tags along behind it. There is a pride in [stopping], I don’t want it to go off.”

Robert Wyatt, 2014​

Kevin Ayers and Galen Ayers, 2008​

Compared to his former bandmate Wyatt, Kevin Ayers’ career was arguably more prolific. He lived in Deìa in the late 70s and 80s, developing an addiction to heroin. His albums in this era compared to his earlier solo work were poorly received, avoiding his more psychedelic and progressive rock stylings from the 70s, though still containing his humorous writing style. One album that was at least better received of his 80s work was Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain, his first album not released on the Harvest label.

Diamond Jack And The Queen Of Pain

                  Front Cover                                                                          Back Cover

Side A

Madame Butterfly (Kevin Ayers) (4:31) [1]

Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan) (4:18) [1]

Who's Still Crazy (Ayers) (4:44) [1]

You Keep Me Hangin’ On (J.J Cale) (3:23) [1]

You Are A Big Girl (Ayers) (3:25) [1]

Side B

Thank God For A Sense Of Humor (Ayers) (3:54) [2]

My Speeding Heart (Ayers) (4:15) [1]

Take It Easy (Ayers) (3:00) [2]

Give a Little Bit (Ayers) (3:48) [1]

Champagne and Valium (Ayers) (5:19) [2]

Released: 1983

Track sources:

[1] -Diamond Jack And The Queen Of Pain - 1983

[2] - Deja Vu - 1984 

After his 1992 album Still-Life With Guitar, Kevin would tour America twice, for the first time since 1972 with Soft Machine. After the tour, Kevin would retire from music, becoming a recluse in southern France. He would put out one last album in 2007, The Unfairground, which would include members of Neutral Milk Hotel, Teenage Fanclub, Ladybug Transistor, Roxy Music, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, and Kevin’s former band, Soft Machine.

Ayers died in his sleep on February 18th, 2013 in Montolieu, France.

"I can't write songs unless I am in love, and I have always been that way. If I am not in love, nothing is meaningful to me. I have no energy."

Kevin Ayers, 2008​

Tanglewood Tails, 2018​

Since 1975, a handful of more personnel changes occurred within Tanglewood Tails’ ranks. Guitarist Allan Holdsworth was replaced by John Etheridge, and founding keyboardist Mike Ratledge would leave the group soon after.

“To be the only original member is horrible, this probably is the main reason for quitting and losing interest in it. When people want to identify you with an entity called Tanglewood Tails and to consider you responsible for what's happening, your first reaction is to get away...”

Mike Ratledge, 1976​

The band officially disbanded in early 1978, superseded by a new band formed by founding members Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean, called Tanglewood Heap (briefly called Tanglewood Head). In 1981, members Karl Jenkins and John Marshall would reunite and record an album under the Tanglewood Tails name, titled The Land of Cockayne.

Throughout the 90s and 2000s, several Tanglewood off-shoots would come and go, including Tanglewood Wares, Tanglewood Works, Tanglewood Mountain, Tanglewood Bounds, and Tanglewood Legacy. The latter band (at that point consisting of guitarist John Etheridge, drummer John Marshall, bass player Roy Babbington, and sax, flute and keyboard player Theo Travis) would change their name to Tanglewood Tails, recording the first album under that name since 1981’s Cockayne, Hidden Details. The band still tours to this day.

The Soft Machine, 1967​

In the late 80s, there was a sudden resurgence in interest in Soft Machine and their music thanks to the release of a double album compilation titled The Soft Machine Turns On - Their Weakest Hits. It was initially sold at a price cheaper than a single album generally was, allowing it to sell quicker than an average album of its nature. Soon enough through word of mouth and positive reviews by critics, the album became one of the band’s best-selling.

“It was a surprise, really. Most of the music on that record was decades old, and we were never necessarily a huge band like The Beatles or The Stones. We were suddenly all being interviewed about our time in the band, even Mike gave an interview or two I think.”

Robert Wyatt, 2003​

In February 1988, Soft Machine officially reunited for the first time in over 10 years for a two-day occupation of the Drury Lane Royal Theatre, in a lineup consisting of Robert Wyatt on keyboards, percussion, and vocals, Kevin Ayers on guitar and vocals, David Bedford on keyboards, Hugh Hopper on bass, and Nick Mason on drums. The setlist consisted of songs from the Turns On album, with slight alterations to the set on both nights. Although the concert was recorded, it remains officially unreleased to this day.

The Soft Machine Turns On - Their Weakest Hits

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Front Cover

Disc One - The Songy Bits

Love Makes Sweet Music (2:29) [1]

O Caroline (5:04) [1]

A Certain Kind (4:14) [1]

Margaret (3:20) [1]

Clarence in Wonderland (4:21) [1]

Whatevershebringswesing (8:13) [1]

Memories (2:59) [1]

God Song (3:00) [1]

The Lady Rachel (5:16) [1]

She’s Gone (2:30) [1]

Singing a Song in the Morning (2:55) [1]

Why Are We Sleeping? (2:54) [1]

Stars (3:32) [1]

Feelin’ Reelin’ Squeelin’ (2:49) [1]

Song from the Bottom of a Well (4:37) [1]

Moon in June (9:21) [1]

Stranger With Blue Suede Shoes (3:24) [1]

Disc Two: The Jammy Bits

There is Loving - Among Us - There is Loving (7:22) [1]

Part of the Dance (9:09) [1]

Hope for Happiness (8:47) [1]

Ether’s Nose Job (11:09) [1]

Why Am I So Short - So Boot If At All (9:02) [1]

Marchides (8:25) [1]

Facelift (5:57) [1]

We Did It Again (3:46) [1]

Hibou, Anemone and Bear (5:59) [1]

The Circus Party (2:48) [1]

Released: August 23rd, 1987

Track sources:

[1] - Custom Mix