The Soft Machine

The band signed to Probe Records and recorded the album in New York City in April 1968, at the end of the first of two North American tours they made that year as support to the Jimi Hendrix Experience, who shared their management. It was not released until December 1968. Ayers left after the final date of the Hendrix tour in September, before the record came out.

Pitchfork's obituary of Mike Ratledge singled out Hope for Happiness and Save Yourself, crediting the thrill of the early records largely to his keyboard solos and improvisations.