Like rich food and fine wine, Scott Walker is an acquired taste. Possessed of a lush baritone voice and a somewhat flaky persona, he conjured dark soap operas of personal tragedy, loss and despair.
This 46-track set provides the perfect introduction to Walker. The first disc rounds up a few Walker Brothers gems and the highlights of Scott 1-4, his widely appreciated first four solo records.
By the mid-'70s he churned out a slew of contractual
obligations that have been largely ignored. Much of the second disc offers CD debuts for this material as Walker tackled everything but the phone book for crooner credibility.
It's not as immediate as the early stuff, but that voice and perfect arrangements transcend its dubious origins.
Nick Churchill
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