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.”

Shleep

seconded

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

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

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.

xxpost

As good as but very different to.

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

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...

Rock Bottom

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

rock bottom.

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

yes

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

bimble, strange question, how old are you?

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.

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.

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

Shleep

rock bottom

but shleep is awesome too.

shleep for accessible, beautifully eccentric pop

rock bottom for vague, harrowing masterpiece

then everything else

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.

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.

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

here’s some yummy wyatt from italian radio

https://plus.xdrive.com/z/474689294mHUgzqs9VFCt7rucXXh

bimble, strange question, how old are you?

I’m 35.

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

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

‘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.

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

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.

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