Marcus O’Dair’s biography of English musician Robert Wyatt is book of the week on BBC Radio 4.
January 5th through January 10th, 5 chapters abridged by Katrin Williams and read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.
January 5th, 00:30 – Chapter 1 – Jazz, pop and word games, along with family and friends, influence Wyatt’s early years.
January 6th, 09:45 – Chapter 2 – Wyatt perfects his drumming style, even practicing at the Mallorca home of poet Robert Graves. Then he gets married and afterwards it’s the emergence of The Soft Machine, playing psychedelic pop ‘happenings’ and ‘freak outs’.
January 7th, 00:30 – Chapter 2 – Wyatt perfects his drumming style, even practicing at the Mallorca home of poet Robert Graves. Then he gets married and afterwards it’s the emergence of The Soft Machine, playing psychedelic pop ‘happenings’ and ‘freak outs’.
January 7th, 09:45 – Chapter 3 – In 1970 Wyatt splits with Soft Machine and goes on to play with Matching Mole. Three years later, at a party in London, comes the moment that will change his life forever…
January 8th, 00:30 – Chapter 3 – In 1970 Wyatt splits with Soft Machine and goes on to play with Matching Mole. Three years later, at a party in London, comes the moment that will change his life forever…
January 8th, 09:45 – Chapter 4 – He records the sublime song Shipbuilding, with Elvis Costello and Clive Langer. After that, some great records follow, penned and arranged at his home in Louth, Lincolnshire.
January 9th, 00:30 – Chapter 4 – He records the sublime song Shipbuilding, with Elvis Costello and Clive Langer. After that, some great records follow, penned and arranged at his home in Louth, Lincolnshire.
January 9th, 09:45 – Chapter 5 – Wyatt curates a very successful Meltdown Festival in London. We learn about ‘le trac’ – his particular form of stage fright – and meet some of his famous collaborators…
January 10th, 00:30 – Chapter 5 – Wyatt curates a very successful Meltdown Festival in London. We learn about ‘le trac’ – his particular form of stage fright – and meet some of his famous collaborators…
Show Produced by Duncan Minshull.