Make no mistake, Scott Walker was being groomed to follow in the footsteps of those men, of Sinatra, of Dean Martin. The success of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" catalyzed a vast swath of teenage girls who were now as open to Walker singing softly as they were to the hip-shaking beautiful vulgarity of Mick Jagger. Whatever Walker had tapped into went very deep and the people in charge of his career smelled the proverbial blood in the water. Here was a mystery man, here was a person with the rare combination of sheer physical talent and impossible-to-quantify charisma. Add that to the strange songs of his own writing and you can see why they thought they had a gold mine on their hands.
When you say the word Sinatra, a certain style is automatically evoked in your mind. It involves red velvet walls, light glinting off ice cubes perspiring with brown liquor, evening gowns held lightly by gloved fingers to ensure that high heels don't snag, all class, all sophistication. Now, you can puncture that vision with any kind of deep gaze but Michael Buble is proof that the pudding still exists. Scott Walker's record company saw gold in them thar hills and Walker was their claim to it.
Thus, his first three solo albums are peppered with standards, with songs that wouldn't be out of place in a set by Judy Garland at The Rainbow Room, or from Sammy Davis, Jr. in the desert of Las Vegas. As that style of music must be, these recordings are immaculate. They are intricately staged set pieces of romantic imagination. Taken on their own they are some kind of pinnacle, but when paired with the OTHER work Walker was doing and would do, they become almost talismanic, they ARE the fantasy and they EVOKE the fantasy at the same time.
Watch him sing "When Joanna Loved Me" on the Dusty Springfield show. The song is from Walker's debut solo album "Scott".
The sound of this falls into some vague adult contemporary category, the world where Mel Torme and Englebert Humperdink live, the world where Steve and Edie sing the classics side by side and everyone's fears about the future are assuaged. There is no room for the radical there, the edges, the underbelly. The audience who was clinging to this type of music was desperately AFRAID of rock and roll, found it to be threatening in a fundamental way.
But Walker was a hybrid, the ultimate beatnik, a crooner who could pull off the formal emotional sweep of a show-tune like "When Joanna Loved Me" but who could also write his own material stranger than any experimental rock and roll anthem.
For a few short years, Walker seemed on the cusp of becoming a superstar combination of the two mutually exclusive genres. But the culture was rocketing away from the croon faster than Walker could work. By 1970 and the two albums that I consider to be masterpieces, he was seen as outdated, square, for parents. In a terrible perverse irony, he then spent eight years making music that was just that.
For a brief moment he'd been Sinatra in front of the orchestra. He paid for it by having to remain there as Mel Torme.
57 comments:
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post. Thank you for supplying these details.
Also visit my webpage rayban サングラス
Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through your posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects?
Thanks a lot!
Feel free to visit my web site :: オークリー
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog.
A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
Also visit my weblog; オークリー
Yes! Finally someone writes about モンスタービート.
My page :: monster ヘッドホン
Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just
wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you prevent it,
any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it's driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated.
My page ... pradaoutlet-sales.com
This website was... how do I say it? Relevant!
! Finally I've found something that helped me. Kudos!
my site - air jordan
This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined
your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post.
Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
my web blog: prada バッグ
Hi mates, its great paragraph about educationand
fully defined, keep it up all the time.
Here is my webpage :: monster ヘッドホン
Thank you for every other wonderful post.
The place else may just anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect manner
of writing? I've a presentation subsequent week, and I'm at
the look for such info.
my webpage :: ルブタン
Fascinating blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out.
Please let me know where you got your design.
Thanks a lot
Visit my web page ... monster ヘッドホン
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is
wonderful, let alone the content!
Review my web blog monster ヘッドホン
Hi to every body, it's my first go to see of this webpage; this weblog includes awesome and actually fine stuff in support of visitors.
My page :: クリスチャンルブタン
When someone writes an paragraph he/she retains the image of a user in
his/her brain that how a user can know it. Thus that's why this article is great. Thanks!
Here is my web-site: www.freewindows.dk
Hello, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog in Firefox, it looks fine
but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, superb blog!
My site ... ルブタン
Hey there, You've done an incredible job. I'll definitely digg it and
personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from
this web site.
Here is my site - エアジョーダン5
I think this is among the most significant information for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on
some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles
is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
Also visit my homepage - クリスチャンルブタンシューズ
Greetings! I've been following your web site for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!
Feel free to surf to my web site :: ルブタン 通販
Great article, totally what I was looking for.
my page: monster ヘッドホン
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how
can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a
acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast
offered bright clear concept
Here is my page - ジョーダン
I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It's
a very easy on the eyes which makes it much
more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Fantastic work!
Also visit my web blog: http://www.christianlouboutinoutletshopx.com/
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written
article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information.
Thanks for the post. I'll certainly comeback.
Feel free to visit my blog post inexgorica.com.mk
There is definately a great deal to learn about this issue.
I really like all of the points you have made.
My webpage ルブタン
It's remarkable to pay a visit this web page and reading the views of all mates regarding this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting knowledge.
Look into my page - monster ヘッドホン
Hi I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found
you by accident, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Regardless
I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have
bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep
up the superb jo.
Feel free to surf to my web blog: segurolandia.com
Hi there, I believe your website might be having
internet browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your
blog in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.
E., it's got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, wonderful blog!
My homepage ミュウミュウバッグ
I do not even know how I stopped up here, but I thought
this publish used to be good. I don't understand who you might be but certainly you're going to a famous blogger in the event you aren't already. Cheers!
My site - オークリー サングラス
Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is
wonderful, as well as the content!
My blog post :: ロレックスコピー
I'm really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility issues? A number of my blog readers have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this problem?
Also visit my site: オークリーメガネ
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your site, how could i
subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me
a applicable deal. I were tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vibrant clear idea
Look into my blog ... ロレックスコピー
This article is genuinely a good one it helps new web people,
who are wishing for blogging.
My webpage :: プラダ トートバッグ
Hello it's me, I am also visiting this website on a regular basis, this web site is really nice and the users are actually sharing nice thoughts.
Feel free to visit my weblog ... ジョーダン
I am truly thankful to the holder of this web page who has shared this fantastic post
at at this place.
Feel free to surf to my weblog: レイバン
Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you know afterward you
can write if not it is complex to write.
my site ミュウミュウ財布
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Cheers
Look into my web blog :: monster ヘッドホン
Its like you learn my mind! You appear to understand
so much approximately this, like you wrote the
e-book in it or something. I think that you can do with some p.
c. to drive the message house a little bit,
however other than that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent
read. I'll certainly be back.
Also visit my web blog: クリスチャンルブタンシューズ
Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one!
It's on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
My blog - クリスチャンルブタン
Great post. I'm dealing with some of these issues as well..
Also visit my site ... rolex時計
Ridiculous story there. What happened after? Thanks!
Also visit my blog post エアジョーダン
Great goods from you, man. I've understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you're stating and the way
in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise.
I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous
site.
Stop by my web page プラダアウトレット
Currently it sounds like Wordpress is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I've read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
My blog - クロエ アウトレット
Hi to every body, it's my first pay a visit of this website; this website includes amazing and truly excellent stuff in support of visitors.
Also visit my blog - クロエ
Hello colleagues, how is everything, and what you wish for to say
about this post, in my view its genuinely amazing for me.
Here is my web page ... http://www.raybansunglassesoutletsales.com
Spot on with this write-up, I really think this website needs much more attention.
I'll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the information!
My webpage ... templo-betel.com
I do not know if it's just me or if everyone else experiencing issues with your blog. It appears as if some of the written text within your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a issue with my web browser because I've had this happen previously.
Many thanks
Stop by my website ... rolex時計
Hey there! I'm at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!
my web blog http://todayshomebayarea.com/member/5074
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your post. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Also visit my web page; レイバンサングラス
This post is truly a nice one it assists new the web people, who are wishing for blogging.
Also visit my site: レイバンサングラス
Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post. Taking the time
and actual effort to create a great article… but what
can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never seem to get anything done.
Here is my blog post - ルイヴィトンアウトレット
I could not refrain from commenting. Perfectly written!
Feel free to visit my blog; prada バッグ
Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks I have read stuff from.
Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.
Here is my web site: エアジョーダンスニーカー
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am no longer sure whether or not this put up is
written by way of him as no one else understand such targeted approximately my difficulty.
You are wonderful! Thanks!
Feel free to visit my page アバクロンビー
Because the admin of this web site is working, no question very quickly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.
Feel free to surf to my web site ホリスター激安
Woah! I'm really digging the template/theme of this website. It's simple,
yet effective. A lot of times it's tough to get that "perfect balance" between user friendliness and visual appeal. I must say that you've done a very good job with this.
Also, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Opera.
Outstanding Blog!
My website ... シャネル アウトレット
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
By the way, how could we communicate?
Feel free to surf to my page: monster ヘッドホン
I was able to find good information from your blog articles.
my page - ロレックスレプリカ
you're actually a just right webmaster. The site loading pace is amazing. It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a fantastic process in this matter!
Look at my blog post; シャネル新作
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation however I in
finding this topic to be actually something which I think I'd by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward to your subsequent post, I'll attempt to get
the hold of it!
Also visit my webpage ルイヴィトンバッグ
Post a Comment