1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #130. Scott Walker - Scott 2 (1968)

Scott Walker - Scott 2 (1968)

Label – Phillips
Producer – John Franz and Peter J Olliff
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 43:47

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Jackie
2. Best Of Both Worlds
3. Black Sheep Boy
4. Amourous Humphrey Plugg
5. Next
6. Girls From The Streets
7. Plastic Palace People
8. Wait Until Dark
9. Girls And The Dogs
10. Windows Of The World
11. Bridge
12. Come Next Spring

I had never heard of Scott Walker before playing this record. Turns out he was originally in a 60’s band called the ‘Walker Brothers’ and they had a number of top ten albums and singles including number 1 chart hits "Make It Easy on Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" – neither of which I can recall ever hearing!
As the album title might suggest, this was Walker's second album and was his biggest commercial success, where it actually reached number one in Britain for 18 weeks! It is considered by many to be his greatest artistic triumph. At the peak of this fame in 1969, he had his own British TV series, Scott, featuring solo Walker performances of ballads, big band standards and introductions of his own and Jacques Brel compositions.
Best way to describe him is a crooner. Think Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or even Neil Diamond. They all came to mind as I listened to this record. On the surface it’s ok enough, but then as I listened closer the humor in the lyrics made me really like this record. Complete with Burt Bacharach, Tim Hardin, and his main influence Jacques Brel (who is covered three times on this record) the production is over-the-top, with schmaltzy orchestral arrangements, it’s easy to miss what is going on lyrically. Tracks about prostitutes, homosexuality, brothels and ganaria!
The Brel tune "Next" with its not-so-hidden hints of homosexuality and abuse. Another Brel tune, "The Girl and the Dogs," with it’s jaded view of romance comparing girls to dogs. The album included his first Top 20 U.K. hit, "Jackie" who he sings about "in a stupid ass way"! That over-the-top show ballad production did get overbearing and by the last few tracks I was ready for the record to be over.
It is recommended with caution.


You can purchase the 180 gram vinyl here

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