Althouse: "Scott Walker, a pop singer who gave up stardom to carve out one of the most original and uncompromising careers in modern music, died Friday."

March 25, 2019

"Scott Walker, a pop singer who gave up stardom to carve out one of the most original and uncompromising careers in modern music, died Friday."

"He was 76," NPR reports.

20 comments:

Ficta said...: Walker was such a fascinating artist. A bit of an Anglo-American Jacques Brel. A bit of Bowie. But mostly just one of a kind. His most recent work was really experimental but not totally unlistenable.; 3/25/19, 12:16 PM
BamaBadgOR said...: Today's irrelevant trivia question: Which Walker brother was married to a one-hit wonder and what was her name?; 3/25/19, 12:38 PM
Kay said...: The man did David Bowie before Bowie was doing Bowie (I guess at the time Bowie was doing Dylan or Donovan). I’ll be playing “30 Century Man” on repeat today in his honor.; 3/25/19, 12:50 PM
Wilbur said...: The 60's gave us some great blue-eyed soul music. May he RIP.; 3/25/19, 12:55 PM
Nonapod said...: Nite Flights is weird experimental album that's hugely influential. I really like the song The Electrician.; 3/25/19, 1:03 PM
YoungHegelian said...: he has produced works that dare to explore human vulnerability and the godless darkness encircling it

Yeah, but can yah dance to it?

...featured an assortment of studio musicians who — according to Walker in the documentary Scott Walker: 30 Century Man — recorded their parts without knowing the melodies, to ensure that there was "no chance of everyone swinging together."

Sounds like what Captain Beefheart did in the making of Trout Mask Replica.; 3/25/19, 1:04 PM
LuAnn Zieman said...: “WRONG” SCOTT WALKER DIED ACCORDING TO LEFTISTS by Scott Wigderson at Right Wisconsin. He listed several tweets. Here's just one:
@DawnHFoster
Can't believe God killed the wrong Scott Walker.
the guardian.com/music/2019/...
Dawn Foster is a writer with The Guardian and has a Twitter “verified” blue checkmark.

Doesn't surprise me--just proves how vindictive and hateful the left is.; 3/25/19, 1:21 PM
Unknown said...: With Hal Blaine on drums? Sounds like Goldstar Studios echo chamber.; 3/25/19, 1:26 PM
J2 said...: I never got the Brel thing.; 3/25/19, 1:29 PM
Kevin said...: Poor guy doesn't even get to use the Scott Walker tag, which I imagine has been around the track a few times here. Sad!; 3/25/19, 1:37 PM
BJK said...: How was there not a "The Best of Scott Walker & the Koch Brothers" parody signs during the Act 10 protests?

(I thought lefties were supposed to be creative!); 3/25/19, 1:39 PM
mikesixes said...: Coming on the heels of Mueller report, the discovery that the obit was for THAT Scott Walker must have been a crushing blow to Democrats.; 3/25/19, 1:42 PM
Anonymous said...: John Maus, a/k/a John Walker, was married to Kathy Young, who had a hit in 1960 with her band The Innocents of "A Thousand Stars."

You are right, it's irrelevant, but as interesting as knowing Maurice Gibb was married to Lulu for awhile. Love the trivia.

Hate the passing of Scott Engel.; 3/25/19, 3:13 PM
Darrell said...: His name was Scott Engel and he wasn't related to the other two--Gary Leeds and John Maus.; 3/25/19, 4:11 PM
wild chicken said...: "Make it Easy on Yourself" was their best record IMO.; 3/25/19, 4:18 PM
Bob R said...: Sounds like they moved Phil Spector's Wall of Sound to London.; 3/25/19, 4:46 PM
Charlie Currie said...: Boy that really sounds like a Phil Spector "wall of sound" production. But, it's not.

Didn't know who Scott Walker was, but I do remember that record. It was a good one.; 3/25/19, 7:52 PM
Charlie Currie said...: Bob R snuck in right ahead of me.; 3/25/19, 7:53 PM
dustbunny said...: When I saw he died I had no idea who he was then I played the clip Althouse posted. Ok, I
I sort of remember the song but it sounds kinda Rightous Bros/Phil Spectorish. Did he influence them or was he lost in the wall of sound Phil was blasting?; 3/26/19, 7:26 AM
Shawn Levasseur said...: This reminds me of a short story in a compilation of alternate universe stories focused on the Kennedys, "Alternate Kennedys"

This story featured a world where the Kennedy brothers became a pop music group, while the Beatles became politicians.; 3/26/19, 8:32 AM