Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #68, Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt.

 Originally posted to Facebook on January 4, 2024.

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Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #68, Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt.

For info about the Challenge see this post: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=6684569734933012&id=100001401549636&mibextid=Nif5oz

When sharing your thoughts about this album, use the following scale to indicate how familiar you are with the album:

0- Never heard anything from this album, totally new to my ears.

1- I might have heard a song on occasion, or I know a big hit from the album but not the full album.

2- I've listened to the full album a few times, but it's been a while. Slightly familiar with it.

3- I listen to this album periodically, fairly familiar with it.

4- I have listened to this album many times. I know it inside out. Very familiar with it/expert level

I will post links for anyone who needs them to be able to stream it in the comments below. Remember, no matter what your experience level with the album going in, please listen to the album before commenting. I will post album #67 on Monday .(You can participate, even if you haven't done all or any of the previous rounds.)

Enjoy! (And be nice!)

#100greatestprogrockchallenge

From Comments:

As I prepare to listen to this, I am at level “0”, I’ve never heard anything from it before. I do know a bit of history behind the album though. Robert Wyatt had been in the bands, Soft Machine and Matching Mole. He was preparing this album when he fell out of a 4th floor bathroom window in 1973. The fall left him as a paraplegic. He has stated that he fell as a result of substance abuse, and as I understand it, he has been sober since. So this album released in 1974 is a bit of an epiphany for him. Additionally, it was produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd. Looking forward to hearing it.

Track 1 - Sea Song

A moderately slow tempo with wind instruments and piano ushers in Wyatt’s vocals. There are polyrhythms in the piano part following the first verse. A bit of dissonance in the backing synth part. While an interesting listen, the song never seems to “take off.”

Track 2 - A Last Straw

This one seems to have a bit more rhythm to it. There is a subtle drum part. I like the “scat singing” section. Wyatt has a pretty impressive vocal range. Apparently, Wyatt is playing the slide guitar parts on this song. I like how the piano and guitar seem to be chasing each other on the fade out.

Track 3 - Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road

We begin with a horn section and percussion & piano providing rhythm underneath. The piano and bass provide the chord changes over the cacophony of horns. Wyatt’s vocals start with “aahhhhs” then he begins singing lyrics. The vocals are then a reverse recording. This seems to be a very “experimental” album. The vocal part seems to be alternating between reverse and normal. Then there seems to be a conversation, but I can’t quite make it out. I like the bass line that takes shape near the end. The cacophony of horns seems to continue throughout.

Track 4 - Alfib

A gentle rhythm is played on the bass with sustained keyboards over top. A melody is played over everything on what sounds like a jazzy guitar. Vocals join a bit over halfway along. He is singing about “Alfib my lover”.

Track 5 - Alife

(AKA Alifie, which is what the song is copyrighted as. The title was misprinted as the other spelling. Different editions of the album have it one way, while others have it the second way).

It begins as a continuation of track 4, However, then drums join in and chords change. More backward recorded vocals. This album keeps getting more and more “out there”. Random saxophone squaks along with the bizarre vocals. This is chaotic. Some dialog samples include “What’s a Blongna?” and other random *phrases”.

Track 6 - Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road

We have an actual melody and a marching snare beat with a sustained mellotron behind it. This one actually gives me slight Moody Blues meets King Crimson vibes.Mike Oldfield provides guitar lines here. At around 2:50 the sounds that were playing fade out and a viola, played by Fred Frith, takes over. Lower register vocals enter. Not sure what they are on about though. Something about eating lunch and a hedgehog. A crazy laugh closes things out.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

WTF did i just listen to? I am very disappointed. The backstory of the album is indeed inspiring, but the “music” did NOTHING for me. How is this album even on this countdown, let alone ranked above some over the absolutely brilliant albums we have already had? I really was optimistic going into this that I’d really enjoy it, but I really didn’t. 1 out of 5 stars.