Old Rottenhat

Old Rottenhat was produced and performed solo by Wyatt, who plays vocals, piano, keyboards, bass and percussion. It was recorded in 1984 at West 3 Studios in Acton with John McGowan, and in 1985 at Acre Lane Studios in Brixton with Bill Gilonis. The sleeve artwork is by Alfreda Benge, and in 1993 the whole album was reissued as part of the CD Mid-Eighties. It was his first solo studio album since Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, apart from the 1982 compilation.

Trouser Press found it a perceptive, beautifully performed and ultimately bleak view of ongoing political struggle, though it also said many of the lyrics veered toward the doctrinaire. Pitchfork's Douglas Wolk called The Age of Self one of Wyatt's most winning melodies, but felt the quick production and cheap keyboard presets made it sound like a preliminary demo. Dev Hynes later credited the album as an influence on Take Your Time, from his 2018 album Negro Swan.