When you must have it all, get this one. My only quibble, is that is sounds a bit thin, i.e. like an ok quality audience tape. Again, the Soft Machine material coming out on Voice Print just doesn't sound as good at the stuff out on Cuneiform. That said, I can't recommend this one to people new to the Softs. For you, start with the first four studio recordings, the BBC stuff that is out now, etc. Another interesting bit on this one is that Robert Wyatt doesn't really sing on this one. The playing, over all though, is first rate.