Episode 172 - Nite Flights by The Walker Brothers (Side A)

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You know how it goes by now folks: artists with big catalogues get two parters, and Scott Walker is no exception here. Weaver has chosen Nite Flights by The Walker Brothers this week, but with a particular focus on the Scott Walker songs on the album, which necessities a deep dive into his catalogue.

And what a catalogue it is. It’s so large in fact, that we only get as far as the 1980s. Indeed, this week sees us mostly talk about The Walker Brothers themselves and some of Scott’s early solo stuff. Of course, like his “brothers”, his solo career begins, musically, not too far away from The Walker Brothers’ sound, but with the influence of Jacques Brel very apparent in his lyrics early on, each subsequent album from Scott to Scott 4 peels back the curtain a little as he lets the darkness encroach on his sound more and more.

It’s important context because this period in his career would end with Nite Flights, and whilst we will be discussing that album next week, it also sets the stage for his music to get even stranger from the 80s onwards.

A fascinating artist, really. He began as a crooner and 60s pop singer, music swathed in strings and Wall of Sound production. But it ended…well if you know, you know. And if you don’t, you’ll find out next week.