Happy Birthday, Scott Walker!

Noel Scott Engle, aka the legendary Scott Walker, turns 67 today. I'm too busy packing boxes and clearing shit outta my yard today to go at length into the enigmatic gentleman's history, or to talk about what his remarkable music (especially his first four solo albums) means to me, but I didn't want let the day go by without acknowledging him.

Wish there was much, much more in the way of solo or Walker Brothers live footage floating around on the Tube of You, but I think this promo clip for the Walker Bros' 1965 hit "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More" nicely sums up Scott's overdramatic aesthetic. (My friend Eric once described him as "the intellectual Tom Jones," which he meant as a great compliment — though I'm not sure Scott would take it as such.)

It also brings back fond memories of the afternoon in 2002 when Lemmy and I were booted out of the West Hollywood hotel where I was interviewing him, unceremoniously expelled just because we felt drunkenly compelled to bellow this song from the balcony, complete with flamboyant hand gestures...

Comments

[Bob MacKay]

Thanks Dan!!
My guitarist and I have been playing this on the side (Frankie's version) but always get shot down bringing it to the band. With this clip, and Lemmy's uh, 'backing', perhaps they'll see the genius.
- Bob

[Dan E]

Awesome, Bob! Such a great song - hope you'll be able to convince your bandmates to rock it!

[Will]

One of the longest-running friendly musical arguments between me and my brother is how to rank his first four solo albums. I'd probably go II-I-III-IV, or maybe II-III-I-IV... so much amazing music.

There's a nice documentary about him called 30 Century Man that's doing the rounds at the moment. I think it's out on DVD in the US; it's worth a look if you get a chance.

[Dan E]

Oddly, Will, I've never even thought about that - but I guess I'd have to go with II-IV-I-III. Haven't seen the doc yet, but I'm dying to...