THE SOFT MACHINE The Soft Machine (Super Rare 1969 Japanese first issue 13-track deep groove stereo LP on a black ABC Probe label manufactured by King Record, the landmark debut album from Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers & Mike Ratledge. Comes housed in a unique non-gatefold pasted picture sleeve which puts the uncensored image of the nude girl from the back cover of the first US edition on the front (she was later covered with a bikini on American re-releases)! This is a very elusive title that even our Japanese buyer struggles to find - we do not believe an obi-strip was ever issued & the LP could well have been withdrawn, which would explain its rarity. The back cover features a unique green tinted image of the band that was on the inner gatefold of the US version in full colour, complete with a Japanese/lyric insert with printed "1969" date. The matte cover is Very Good [thin 8cm split in bottom edge] with some mild foxing & a little minor paper splitting along the spine, with all text legible. The fantastic artwork has lost none of its impact, there is no writing & this would appear to be one of the few surviving copies out there on the market. The heavyweight vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with just a few faint paper hairlines or spindle marks not affecting play. A superb find! SR-303)