"Seven" is the seventh studio album by the jazz rock band Soft Machine, released in 1973. The album marked the entry of bassist Roy Babbington as a full-time member, replacing Hugh Hopper, who left to pursue a solo career. This lineup shift meant that over half of Soft Machine consisted of former members of the band Nucleus.
The album was released on CBS Records in the UK with a color gatefold cover featuring black and white photos of the band members inside. In the USA, Columbia Records issued a single sleeve cover that showcased the band photos on the front. While the title on the US cover is the numeral "7," it is spelled out as Seven on the spine and label. Although released in 1973, US copies bear a copyright date of 1974, suggesting a potential delay in the North American release. This album was the last of Soft Machine's studio releases to carry a numbered title.
The final two track titles are clearly intended as a joke. The preceding track, "Down the Road," fades into a swirling abstract jumble of keyboard notes that plays with little variation for three minutes before fading out. There is no musical indication of the transition to the subsequent tracks, which humorously alternate between German and French lessons, with no explanation provided for their different composer credits.
