Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 28, 2026

Old Rottenhat

Old Rottenhat is the fourth studio album by Robert Wyatt. It was released in November 1985, and in 1993 it was reissued in its entirety as part of the CD Mid-Eighties. The album was produced and performed solo by Wyatt, and is dedicated to Michael Bettaney, a UK MI5 intelligence officer who in 1984 was convicted for acting as an agent-in-place for the Soviet Union.

Last revised
Jul 28, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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422 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Old Rottenhat
Studio album by
Robert Wyatt
ReleasedNovember 1985 (1985-11)
Recorded1984–1985
StudiosWest 3, Acton, London; Acre Lane, Brixton, London
Genres
Length43:49
LabelRough Trade
Robert Wyatt chronology
The Animals Film
(1982) 		Old Rottenhat
(1985) 		Dondestan
(1991)

Old Rottenhat is the fourth studio album by Robert Wyatt. It was released in November 1985, and in 1993 it was reissued in its entirety as part of the CD Mid-Eighties. The album was produced and performed solo by Wyatt, and is dedicated to Michael Bettaney, a UK MI5 intelligence officer who in 1984 was convicted for acting as an agent-in-place for the Soviet Union.1

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar2
Robert ChristgauB−3
Pitchfork6.1/104

The New York Times wrote that, "while the tunes are low-key, they often have surprising rhythmic shifts or twists of chromatic harmony."5 David Fricke of Rolling Stone found the lyrics pedantic in comparison to those of Nothing Can Stop Us, but considered the album musically effective, praising the tracks "The Age of Self" and "Gharbzadegi".6

Trouser Press said, "The completely self-penned Old Rottenhat is a perceptive, beautifully performed and ultimately bleak view of ongoing political struggle, more specific than Nothing Can Stop Us but no less emotive. Though many of Wyatt's lyrics veer towards the doctrinaire, his singing is as quietly passionate as ever."7

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Wyatt

Side one

  1. "Alliance" – 4:24
  2. "The United States of Amnesia" – 5:50
  3. "East Timor" – 2:52
  4. "Speechless" – 3:37
  5. "The Age of Self" – 2:50
  6. "Vandalusia" – 2:44

Side two

  1. "The British Road" – 6:23
  2. "Mass Medium" – 4:43
  3. "Gharbzadegi" – 7:54
  4. "P.L.A." – 2:31

Personnel

  • Robert Wyatt: vocals, piano, keyboards, bass, percussion

Recording details

"Thanks to Charles Gray and Vicky Aspinall for invaluable help and advice and thanks Duncan".

Album cover

The artwork for the album cover was created by Wyatt's wife Alfreda Benge.

References

References

  1. "Interviews & articles - English as a foreign language - New Musical Express 14th December, 1985 - A Robert Wyatt discography". disco-robertwyatt.com.
  2. Unterberger, Richie. Old Rottenhat at AllMusic
  3. "Robert Christgau: CG: wyatt". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. "Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom / Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard / Nothing Can Stop Us / Old Rottenhat / Dondestan (Revisited)". Pitchfork. 4 November 2010.
  5. Pareles, Jon (14 March 1986). "Pop Album of the Week". The New York Times. p. C24.
  6. "Rolling Stone, Dec. 4, 1986". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008.
  7. Scott Schinder and Ira Robbins. "Robert Wyatt". Trouser Press.
External links