Recommend me a Robert Wyatt album to try

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I used to have a Soft Machine LP and didn't like it much. He seems to be really well respected. I remember "Stalin Wasn't Stallin'" and "At Last I Am Free" but that's it. What album do you think will give me the best introduction to him?

― Bimbler (Sourkraut), Sunday, 17 December 2006 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

From wikipedia:

Recently the verb "Wyatting" appeared in some blogs and music magazines to describe the practice of using weird tracks from a pub jukebox to annoy the other pub goers. The name was coined by Carl Neville, a 36-year-old English teacher from London, because one of the favourites LPs for this effect is Dondestan.

Robert Wyatt commented to The Guardian: "I think it's really funny," and "I'm very honoured at the idea of becoming a verb."

― Bimbler (Sourkraut), Sunday, 17 December 2006 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Shleep

― amon (amon), Sunday, 17 December 2006 17:56 (seventeen years ago) link

seconded

― I am the best lyrocost since Dylan (Scourage), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm skeptical that any solo Wyatt is as good as any of the first 4 Soft Machine albums.

― Oddly enough, staying here I saw seven golden bowls make cakes and religion (goo, Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Or the pre-first-album "demos", for that matter.

― Oddly enough, staying here I saw seven golden bowls make cakes and religion (goo, Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:28 (seventeen years ago) link

It's not a cheap option but in some ways the EPs box gives you a snapshot of his career. Also "Te Recuerdo Amanda" is amazing.

― Fat Lady Wrestler (Modal Fugue), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:29 (seventeen years ago) link

xxpost

As good as but very different to.

― Fat Lady Wrestler (Modal Fugue), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm no prog-head, but Rock Bottom really works for me.

― m night colemanian (lovebug ), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, if you want a Soft Machine record to get started on, Third is IMO incredibly good, with Moon In June and Out-Bloody-Rageous (especially the former) absolutely mind-melting pieces of rock music. The second half of MIJ is just epic, and as for that speedy-up slowy-down bass/organ/violin drone...mmmmmmmmmm...

― I am the best lyrocost since Dylan (Scourage), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Rock Bottom

― walterkranz (walterkranz), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Moon In June is practically a solo Wyatt piece anyway, until Ratledge and Hopper turn up for the aforementioned second-half prog-jam.

― I am the best lyrocost since Dylan (Scourage), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:36 (seventeen years ago) link

rock bottom.

i love the soft machine but i love wyatt's solo work more.

― Tyrone Slothrop (Tyrone Slothrop), Sunday, 17 December 2006 18:47 (seventeen years ago) link

yes

― sleeve (sleeve), Sunday, 17 December 2006 21:00 (seventeen years ago) link

my introduction to wyatt was Old Rottenhat. i think that, schleep or rock bottom are good starting points.

― jaxon (jaxon), Sunday, 17 December 2006 21:49 (seventeen years ago) link

bimble, strange question, how old are you?

― jaxon (jaxon), Sunday, 17 December 2006 21:49 (seventeen years ago) link

There is a double album called Going Back A Bit: A Little History Of Robert Wyatt that is representative of pretty much everything he's done up to 1994 or so.

If you want the integrity of an actual album, then yeah, Rock Bottom is probably the one to go for.

― dqdq (dqdq), Monday, 18 December 2006 00:56 (seventeen years ago) link

First listen to Sea Song. Then the R. Wyatt/Epic Soundtracks Jelly Babies. Then check out some albums (starting with Rock Bottom). Soft Machine is fucking great, but they're not Robert Wyatt albums.

― sgh (sgh), Monday, 18 December 2006 12:24 (seventeen years ago) link

rock bottom or ruth is stranger than richard. or shleep I guess. these are all good

― akm (akmonday), Monday, 18 December 2006 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Shleep

― M.V. (M.V.), Monday, 18 December 2006 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

rock bottom

but shleep is awesome too.

― M@tt He1ges0n (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 18 December 2006 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

shleep for accessible, beautifully eccentric pop
rock bottom for vague, harrowing masterpiece

then everything else

― milton parker (milton parker), Monday, 18 December 2006 18:55 (seventeen years ago) link

The Japanese His Greatest Misses comp (distributed by Ryko in the US) is a pretty good overview and hits most of the high points, if you're in a hurry. But Rock Bottom really is the best place to start.

― telephonething (telephonething), Monday, 18 December 2006 19:02 (seventeen years ago) link

His Greatest Misses is definitely worth considering as it's probably the cheapest / easiest way to get his versions of "Shipbuilding" and "I'm A Believer".

Also I'm mildly surprisd no-one's mentioned Cuckooland.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:02 (seventeen years ago) link

I love two tracks on Cuckooland, the rest I think you should come to only after becoming a fan

― milton parker (milton parker), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:03 (seventeen years ago) link

here's some yummy wyatt from italian radio
https://plus.xdrive.com/z/474689294mHUgzqs9VFCt7rucXXh

― daniel seward (bunnybrain), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:11 (seventeen years ago) link

bimble, strange question, how old are you?

I'm 35.

― Bimbler (Sourkraut), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:26 (seventeen years ago) link

i really like nothing can stop us now, tho i dunno how highly it rates w/ most people.

― j.d. (j.d.), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

where's the love for end of an ear ? i love that album.

― chaki (chaki), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 01:31 (seventeen years ago) link

'nothing can stop us now' is pretty great. the chic cover is amazing. i've got it on vinyl and it's got no name, a different track order and different cover artwork. prolly the one i go back to most after old rottenhat.

'end of an ear' is pretty great, but not really something i'd have a first timer listen to. or 'ruth is stranger than fiction'. both a bit weird and proggy.

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 02:41 (seventeen years ago) link

I would probably say Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, because most days "Team Spirit" is my favorite Wyatt song.

― I Am Curious (George) (Slight Return) (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 02:51 (seventeen years ago) link

It's not often you get songs sung from the perspective of a football being kicked about...

RISTR has its moments (Laurie Allan's drumming on "Song For Che" for one) but I'm not too sure how well it works as an integrated album.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 08:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yes, and one of the other, many great things about "Team Spirit": Eno is credited with "direct inject anti-jazz ray gun."

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 19 December 2006 08:34 (seventeen years ago) link

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