Scott Walker

[Carol Baynes]

Who saw the BBC1 documentary on Scott last night. What an innovator the man still is-probably more so than years ago, except his music tends to be quite experimental and uncompromising. His voice is still beautiful though.The programme still presents him as a slightly reclusive enigma though,and the conversation was limited.


"Scott 4" is one of my favourite albums too...let's discuss Scott, and the Walker brothers too if you like!

[Paul Monk]

I watched half of it and taped the whole thing. Scott is one of my heroes. I'll come back later to say a bit more.

[Pip Madeley]

I watched that last night too. I love his earlier solo work (Scotts 1 thru 4), especially his George Brel stuff (I love 'Jackie'), and of course 'The Walker Brothers', but I must say his more recent solo work... it's very stark and emotional, poetic even, but very unaccessible. It's a shame, because he does have an amazing voice, but I just couldn't get into 'The Drift' or 'Tilt'... nevertheless, I'm glad he's chosen his personal fulfilment over trying to please others/stardom. In my opinion the best thing he's done since 1975 is produce Pulp's We Love Life. But I would say that.

[Matthew T]

I only like "Jackie" after it was used in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous.

[Carol Baynes]

I'm so glad you discovered Scott, Pip. I remember a time when to you he was "just the producer of Pulp's last album" (and very good it is too).

Also..."Climate of hunter" from 1984 is meant to be interesting, although I've never heard it. You can no longer but "'Til the band comes in" or a few other '70s solo albums, as Scott thinks they're sell out crap and he won't allow them to be re-issued.

I'm spending my morning off listening to him, actually. That seems a constructive use of time to me.

[Pip Madeley]

T'were Mr Monk that got me listening to Scott properly. You can definitely see his influence on Jarvis. As you say though, he's blocking many reissues of his 70s LPs, so I haven't heard those... they played something off 'Climate of Hunter' on that show last night, it reminded me of Tony Banks from Genesis' solo work. Nobody will get that reference, but never mind.

[Paul Monk]

A friend of mine has all Scott Walkers albums including the un re-issued ones. His verdict on the later albums is that they're all crap except for tilt which is interesting crap.

[Paul Monk]

Can I just say as well that he was a cool dresser as well. In a geeky kind of way.
And glad I got you into him Pip. I didn't realise I had

[Pip Madeley]

He looked cool in those Dusty Springfield show clips. Wish I had his waistline.

And yes, you told me to get listening to Scotts 1-4, and I did.

[Carol Baynes]

Some of The Walker brothers albums are worth hearing too, although I've never heard "Night flights", which is meant to be a masterpiece.

[Pip Madeley]

I've some of the Walker Brothers on this compilation, mixed with Scott's earlier solo work:



For me, Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) is his/their peak.

[Carol Baynes]

I've some of the Walker Brothers on this compilation, mixed with Scott's earlier solo work:



For me, Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) is his/their peak.

Mmmm..it's good, but it's not his best in my humble little opinion. Although it is the first Scott/brothers song I ever heard so it's still quite special to me, and is a good song in it's own merit. Far better than most similar music from the time.
I love Johny Marr's comments in the BBC programme about the Scott Walkers of the '60s being as much part of that musical soundtrack as "Ticket to ride" (as Marr put it). It fitted in so well with the 'kitchen sink' greyness of everyday life at the time, but transcended it as well- offering a kind of bohemian accomianment to the struggles. Life is epic, even when it's days are often not. Inside our heads it can often be made different. I do love music to soundtrack life and make it the beautiful (if sometimes monochrome) movie we fail to see it is, with us as the star.

[Pip Madeley]

Life is epic, even when it's days are often not. Inside our heads it can often be made different. I do love music to soundtrack life and make it the beautiful (if sometimes monochrome) movie we fail to see it is, with us as the star.

Oh, you hippy you. That's quite a sweet thought, Carol.

"Make It Easy On Yourself" is currently on my media player.

[WhiteCrow]

I've only heard a bit of Scott, but really been impressed by what I've heard, "the old man's back again" and "seventh seal" being two favourites.

[Paul Monk]

The Old Man's Back Again has the coolest bassline ever.
I'm listening to that compilation that Pip posted the cover of earlier. Its not bad. I really would like to hear more Walker Brothers stuff though because I don't know that many songs of theirs.
Somewhere on tape I have the 70's album Lines but I don't remember much about it.

[WhiteCrow]

Did anyone buy the 5 Easy Pieces set? I was thinking about doing that for a whle.

[Pip Madeley]

The Old Man's Back Again has the coolest bassline ever.

I love the strings on that one too.

[Paul Monk]

Yes. The whole song is fantastic really.

The other cool thing about Scott is that he's in my vocal range so I can sing along to his tunes quite easily (although badly)

[Pip Madeley]

Maybe you could go on Stars In Your Eyes next year?

[Paul Monk]

Did you not see the bit I put in brackets?

[Pip Madeley]

You seen some of the people on there?

[Paul Monk]

Jarvis singing as Rolf Harris is the best thing that ever appeared on Stars in their Eyes.
But I'm going off topic!

[Pip Madeley]

But you're so right!



I was delighted when he won

[Paul Monk]

Why has no-one put that clipon youtube yet?

[Paul Monk]

THis guy won a episode of Stars in their Eyes as Scott Walker

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