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But to call this set His Greatest Misses is a little disingenuous: two hits nestle in this record, both of them written by other people. Wyatt's take on The Monkees' I'm a Believer was a hit single in 1975, after he returned to making music after the fall from a window that left him paralysed from the waist down. Thirty-five years later, it's still a delicious confection: Wyatt delivering his message of love plainly and frankly as fidgety guitars and Motown pianos add colour to the ends of his lines. His version of Shipbuilding, which Elvis Costello and Clive Langer wrote for him in 1982, is even better: he brings an almost unbearable rawness to the story of the Falklands War, returning work to the shipyards but threatening death to men at sea. Hearing his trebly warble deliver everyday phrases like "Well, I ask you", then tell us about the "people who get killed", you are listening to one of pop's greatest performances.
But Wyatt's own material is also more accessible than many would imagine. Sea Song, from his debut album Rock Bottom, is free-form in melody, but full of gorgeous hooks and touching lyrics ("You're terrific when you're drunk / I like you mostly late at night / you're quite all right"). Woodwind-heavy early track Solar Flares is propulsive and addictive; 1992's Heaps of Sheeps teems with perky keyboards and backing vocals; while Mister E from 2003's Mercury-nominated Cuckooland plays like a duet from a Hollywood film.
Nevertheless, there's plenty of oddness here too–Muddy Mouse (b), a dissonant minute-long tale about what "cubs and brownies do at night after a boring day", being a perfect example. But even here, tenderness and warmth bubbles through every second and syllable, reminding us of the palpable greatness of this Great British Eccentric. --Jude Rogers
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Customer Reviews
Wyatt's obviously adored by a huge number of fellow musicians, and collabrators on these tracks range from household names, like Paul Weller, Mike Oldfield and various members of Pink Floyd and Roxy Music, to more 'leftfield' artists such as Fred Frith and Ivor Cutler. Although each of them plays a full part in creating the overall sound on the pieces here, the arrangements are generally very simple and direct, there's no room for over-long solos.
For most people the songs will stand or fall depending on what they think of Wyatt's voice which is one of those you'll probably either love or hate. Describing it as generally high pitched with a sort of estuary gutteral delivery may make it seem like Joe Pasquale, but you get the general idea. For me Wyatt comes across as one of the greatest interpreters I've ever heard. If you're aware of Elvis Costello's version of Shipbuilding featuring Chet Baker you'll know it's incredibly beautiful in its own right but somehow Wyatt finds the extra emotional vulnerability in the lyrics that takes the song to another level. That's also strongly evidenced by some of the other covers here, particularly his incredible version of 'At last I am free' which is worth the price of the CD in itself. Having only heard this track before as a fairly anodyne disco ballad (on 'C'est Chic' of all things) I just couldn't believe the sensitivity and (again) apparent vulnerability that Wyatt finds in the lyrics - it's one of those tracks you have to play over and over again to lose yourself in its beauty.
It's not all covers though and some of Wyatt's own songs stand comparison to anything else out there. Particular favourites of mine are 'Free will and testament' and 'Sea song' which combine some of the most memorable melodies you'll ever hear with an amazing emotional honesty in the lyrics.
I enjoyed this compilation immensely and would urge you to buy it. As a newcomer I'm not really in a position to say if it contains the 'best' or most representative tracks although I was surprised that there's no place for 'Little Red Riding Hood hit the road' which is one of the few tracks I did know before and is simply astonishing (the excellent 'Little Red ROBIN Hood is included). But, hey, that's just another reason to go out and get Rock Bottom I suppose!
Wyatt's career spans four decades and includes numerous albums and collaborations. It can be daunting as you approach the starting gate and this re-release by Domino is to much welcomed as a entry point to the works of the great man. As for the music Wyatt's wispy and wistful singing is here in all its glory as are some of his greatest songs. His ability since the days of Soft Machine to be transcend the musical boundaries of jazz, soul and incorporate avant-garde impulses is amply represented by the song choices on "Greatest Misses". However as other reviewers beyond Amazon have noted Wyatt of course is being slightly disingenuous since two of the songs here were in fact "hits". His brilliant "English" cover of Neil Diamond's "Im a believer" sung in his Kent accent still sounds as fresh to today as when he performed it on Top of the Pops and amazingly gathered complaints form some Neanderthal viewers because he performed it in his wheelchair. And then of course there is his truly epic cover of Elvis Costello's "Shipbuilding" released at the height of the flag waving zenith of the Falklands War campaign which Wyatt makes his own infusing it with his own special passion and strained regret. It is one of the most powerful anti war songs ever recorded and frankly one of the most powerful songs recorded full stop. It was only beaten to the top spot in John Peel's Festive 50 in 1982 by New Order's "Temptation". With hindsight I'm sure that Bernard and Hooky would accept that Wyatt should have held the crown.
Other highlights include "At last I am free" a song derived from the greatest disco band to "tread the boards" namely Chic, the eerie "Sea Song" which was later covered by Tears for Fears and the Spanish language `Arauco', which charts all the indigenous cultures in Chile that were eradicated by European invaders. Wyatt of course never hid his Marxist beliefs or seemed particularly worried about stirring controversy and this approach also defines his music. Thus quite what musical genre you place "Little Red Robin On The Road', that teams him up with that other great English eccentric Ivor Cutler on harmonium and is underpinned by patois singing is a bit of mystery. But that is the joy of Robert Wyatt and if all "His Greatest Misses" does is lead you on the winding trail of the musical journey of Robert Wyatt-Ellidge and deposit's you in his 2003 masterpiece "Cuckooland" it will have ably done its work. In short this is a great introduction to an artist who we should all embrace and cherish.
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