A 1969 edition (Number ASF 1356) bought in South Africa has a different sleeve (yellow with cut-outs in the Rock Machine boxes) and psychedelic multicoloured vinyl.

The Rock Machine marketing campaign was initiated in the US in January 1968, by CBS's American parent, Columbia Records, under its president Clive Davis.

[9][10] At the time, what was then called "underground music" was starting to achieve some commercial success in Europe, bolstered by new radio and TV programmes such as John Peel's Top Gear.

Although some of the featured artists were already stars, others such as Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal and Spirit were only starting to become known in Europe, and the album made a major contribution to their success.

[13] A version of The Rock Machine Turns You On was issued on CD by Sony Records in 1996, but it lacked the Simon and Garfunkel track for licensing reasons.