Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom

Title: Rock Bottom Artist: Robert Wyatt Release Date: 1974 Re-Released On: 10/27/2008 Label: Caroline Distribution, Hannibal, Thirsty Ear Recordings, Domino Recording Company USA, Robert Wyatt, Japanese Import Duration: 39:29 Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto UPCs: 031257142625, 4988112413016, 700435704527, 017046163422, 031257142663, 5034202204015, 5034202204022 Genre: Rock Styles: Canterbury Scene, Art Rock Moods: Atmospheric, Cathartic, Dreamy, Witty, Bittersweet, Delicate, Gloomy, Intimate, Melancholy, Poignant, Reflective, Sad, Somber, Gentle, Playful, Brooding, Quirky, Restrained, Trippy, Whimsical, Wintry, Laid-Back/Mellow, Nocturnal, Refined/Mannered, Searching, Soothing, Wry, Bleak, Detached, Literate Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 10 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Sea Song
2. A Last Straw
3. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road
4. Alifib
5. Alife
6. Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road

Year Type Label Catalog # 2008 CD Domino Recording Company USA 40 2006 CD Robert Wyatt 2004 CD Hannibal 1426 2002 CD Japanese Import 1225 1998 CD Thirsty Ear Recordings 57045 1990 CD Caroline Distribution CAROL-1634-2

No other editions were found for this album.

Rock Bottom, recorded with a star-studded cast of Canterbury musicians, has been deservedly acclaimed as one of the finest art rock albums. Several forces surrounding Wyatt's life helped shape its outcome. First, it was recorded after the former Soft Machine drummer and singer fell out of a five-story window and broke his spine. Legend had it that the album was a chronicle of his stay in the hospital. Wyatt dispels this notion in the liner notes of the 1997 Thirsty Ear reissue of the album, as well as the book -Wrong Movements: A Robert Wyatt History. Much of the material was composed prior to his accident in anticipation of rehearsals of a new lineup of Matching Mole. The writing was completed in the hospital, where Wyatt realized that he would now need to sing more, since he could no longer be solely the drummer. Many of Rock Bottom's songs are very personal and introspective love songs, since he would soon marry Alfreda Benge. Benge suggested to Wyatt that his music was too cluttered and needed more open spaces. Therefore, Robert Wyatt not only ploughed new ground in songwriting territory, but he presented the songs differently, taking time to allow songs like "Sea Song" and "Alifib" to develop slowly. Previous attempts at love songs, like "O Caroline," while earnest and wistful, were very literal and lyrically clumsy. Rock Bottom was Robert Wyatt's most focused and relaxed album up to its time of release. In 1974, it won the French Grand Prix Charles Cros Record of the Year Award. It is also considered an essential record in any comprehensive collection of psychedelic or progressive rock. Concurrently released was the first of his two singles to reach the British Top 40, "I'm a Believer." ~ Jim Powers, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alfreda Benge Vocals, Artwork, Illustrations Dick Palmer Engineer Fred Frith Piano, Viola Gary Windo Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet, Tenor (Vocal), Wind, Sax (Tenor) Hugh Hopper Guitar (Bass), Bass Ivor Cutler Vocals, Baritone Concertina, Keyboards Laurie Allan Drums Mike Oldfield Guitar Mongezi Feza Trumpet Nick Mason Producer Pennie Smith Photography Phil Smee Artwork, Typography, Layout Design Richard Sinclair Guitar (Bass), Bass Robert Wyatt Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Keyboards Steve Cox Engineer Toby Bird Assistant Engineer, Engineer