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I’m surprised to discover that I didn’t have this in my RW folder, so thanks Gordon.
However, Robert didn’t write Shipbuilding: it was written for him by Elvis Costello.
As for his discography, many fans cite Third as the Soft Machine classic album.
End of the Ear is unique in his oeuvre, and one mustn’t overlook the two Matching Mole albums, which featured his drumming, and preceded his post-injury ’74 release Rock Bottom.
This ‘launched’ his very unique, and rewarding, ‘singer-songwriter’ career.
Of course Soft Machine Third is a landmark album. I was putting my personal spin on things, as those were the first two Soft Machine albums I had heard (Third wasn’t released yet) and they made an enormous impression on me after I saw them open for Hendrix in 1968. And of course, Matching Mole – I ran one of those concerts a couple years ago. But I think you hit the nail on the head when you cite the other landmark albums. You start to realize just what an influential figure he is.
Actually Shipbuilding was a tune written by Clive Langer for Robert Wyatt, with lyrics by Elvis Costello
Yes, you’re absolutely right on that. I was just so moved by Wyatt’s version that, if people hadn’t heard it, they really need to add that to the list of his material they need to check out.