From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V3 #171 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Monday, July 13 1998 Volume 03 : Number 171 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] scott walker (no BF content) [erik simpson Subject: [AVALON] scott walker (no BF content) I sent this to Arnie, rather than the list, regarding Scott Walker. He suggested I send it to the list anyway. So here goes (with some minor adjustments); I wanted to say that one thing that hasn't been addressed, regarding Scott Walker, is there is a big difference musically between his earlier (late '60's/early '70's) stuff, which makes up most of the compilations I have seen, and the "Nite Flights" material and beyond. I'm no scholar, and there is alot of his stuff I haven't heard, but here is what I know. The earlier stuff is done with very slick orchestral arrangements that are representative of the era. And Scott was definitely the crooner with golden throat. I can kind of imagine Robert Goulet or another singer of that type singing over many of these arrangements. What sets them apart from other work in this style from that time, is the lyrics, particularly when he is tackling Brel. Some of Walker's material is fairly surreal, and the Brel stuff is VERY lyrically pointed for material of this type and from this era. I figured there is no way I'm gonna need several albums of that kind of stuff, no matter how much I admire the quality of the work and the artistic intentions behind it so I bought a compilation, a US one, called (I believe; I just looked all over for it and came up empty handed, but that's to be expected when you have several different arbitrary filing systems in play at the same time, and several more cds than any sane person would consider necessary) "It's Gonna Rain Today". From my experience, most, if not all of the compilations are from that era. There's one out there of Scott singing strictly Brel material (which is the best stuff, in my opinion) that I might seek out one day, but otherwise, this comp covers that era good enough for me. I may be oversimplifying things a bit (or more), but I makes no claims to be a devotee of this kind of music, so what may sound occasionally a bit schlocky to me, may be someone else's cup of tea. (It IS worth noting that, far and away, this was certainly the most prolific period of his career.) There is a big break, musically speaking, from what little I know, around the time of the Walker Brothers last album "Night Flights" in '78. Hardly a group effort, each "Walker Brother" (who were neither Walkers, nor Brothers) presents his own songs as a block and then makes himself fairly scarce. Scotts 4 songs lead off the album and are pretty much the main (were I not feeling generous, I would say only) reason for owning it. The other "brothers" contributions were fairly forgettable, at best. Musically, Scotts 4 songs really reflect the musical experimentation that had gone on in the '70's courtesy of artists such as Roxy/Ferry/Eno. The band was filled with smart, accomplished, electric players. Scotts material on here was much more abstract than his previous work, a trend that follows through till today, each release being a bit more abstract than the last. As I said before, "Night Flights" is just one of those perfect arrangements, and Scott croons lyrics like; "the dark dug up by dogs the stitches torn and broke the raw meat fist you choke has hit the BLOODLITE" and, of course; "be my love we will be GODS on nite flights with only one promise only one way to FALL" In other words, all his lyrics are laid out on the printed page as poetry, and more and more he seems to able to convey them as "poetry" (esp. on "Tilt") rather than "song lyrics". Pretentious as hell, but that's not always a bad thing in my book. (I am of the opinion that a little pretense is preferable, at times, to the alternative. I also have trouble always accepting the term "self-indulgent" as a musical criticism. Who, exactly, should an artist indulge, if not him/herself, foremost? The charts are full of musicians trying deperately to indulge the listening public's whims, usually to dire results. Give me someone who is striving for artisic success over commercial anyday.) The "Nite Flights" album was my first introduction to Scott Walker, not counting "The Sun ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" so I was a bit taken aback when I first heard the earlier material. I bought a copy of "Nite Flights" on vinyl in'78 and just recently found a copy on CD after all this time. "Climate of Hunter" came out in '82, and basically took up where Scotts material on "Nite Flights" left off without the contributions of the other "brothers" diluting the effect. An excellent, overlooked effort. Then a big gap between that and "Tilt" which is copyrighted '95. I got an UK import copy 2 summers ago, so it's kind of weird to suddenly see interest in it. It's certainly not a record for everyone. It is, in fact, one of the most uncompromisingly abstract "pop vocal" records I have ever heard. So basically, for me, his legendary status is based on 2 & 1/2 albums worth of material in the course of the last 20 years. No small feat. A lot of his rep seems to be based based on that earlier stuff. I keep working on the earlier material, and one day it may really click for me, but not today. I've gone on at length here, and imparted just about all I know, regarding the subject. (Which, once you get past my opinions, is virtually squat.) Bye for now. Be Well; Erik S ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 12:29:02 -0700 From: erik simpson Subject: [AVALON] more scott walker (no BF content) I found this on the web which explains Scott Walkers career fairly well, for those interested. Pretty informative and fair, if somewhat brief. "http://www.roughguides.com/rock/index.html" Bye; Erik S ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 20:03:54 -0500 From: "Victor Hastings" Subject: Re: [AVALON] scott walker (no BF content) - -----Original Message----- From: erik simpson To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Sunday, July 12, 1998 2:09 PM Subject: [AVALON] scott walker (no BF content) (snip) >So basically, for me, his legendary status is based on 2 & 1/2 albums worth >of material in the course of the last 20 years. No small feat. puts him in the 'boston' category! ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V3 #171 **************************** ======================================================================== Please send any questions or comments about the list to avalon-digest-owner@smoe.org