Customer Reviews

'Til the Band Comes In

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When this album first came out no-one had anything very good to say about it and, basically, no-one bought it. Scott's plummet from the heady heights of No. 1 albums and his own TV series(!) to being just another pretty-boy has-been was complete. Even when Scott's reputation was first being rehabilitated in the 1980's, this album was more or less airbrushed out of the picture, leaving the "perfect" quartet of Scott 1-4. All of which is a shame as this album has much to commend it, it has 3 or 4 tracks which are the equal of anything on Scott 1-4.

Basically, this album is a flawed document, it's a snapshot of something that could have been more substantial. The opening 10 track, 25+ minute sequence of Scott's own compositions (with some lyrical pruning from new manager, Ady Semel) works very well and contains some excellent material, but (not unlike the Walker Brothers' "Nite Flights" album) Scott or Semel seem to have lost their nerve and filled the rest of the album with by rote cover versions. Maybe the fact that the self-penned Scott 4 bombed, maybe they just ran out of songs, but whatever the reason, the effect is one of frustration!

Opening with an ominous "Prologue", a slightly dissonant string version of "Thanks For Chicago Mr. James", overlaid with tapes of dripping taps and children playing - right away you know you are in Scott Walker territory! The driving "Little Things" is virtually the only one of these tracks ever to pop up on Scott compilations, and it is an exciting track, though (as Scott wryly points out in the sleevenotes) lyrically it's Scott at his least optimistic about the world, politics and the whole damn thing. There are some suprises on the album, a couple of jazzy ballads, "Joe" and "Time Operator", allow Scott to stretch out vocally - the latter being a rare outbreak of relaxed humour from the usually intense Mr. Walker. (Unfortunately, the other uncharacteristic stab at humour, "Jean the Machine", is the worst thing on here!) "Thanks For Chicago, Mr. James" was apparently considered as a single, and it would have made a fine one even if lyrically it is not exactly pop material, it appears to be a "Midnight Cowboy" inspired tale of a male hustler. "Long About Now" is a beautiful ballad.... but Scott doesn't even sing it! Instead, Esther Ofarim gives a powerful rendition of what is one of Scott's best, least known songs. Closing the ten-track "mini-album" are the powerful title track and the haunting "The War Is Over", another track to rank alongside Scott's best. These tracks were all arranged by Scott's most empathetic arranger, the great Wally Stott - the remaining tracks by Peter Knight, himself no slouch.

Of the covers, these are fine but nothing special. The only one that grates is "Stormy", which smacks of variety shows, supper clubs and dinner and dances at The Batley Variety Club. "The Hills of Yesterday" and "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" are pure showbiz schmaltz which allow Scott to exercise his Junior Sinatra vocal gymnastics - he was doing much the same thing on Scott 1 and Scott 2, so no need to castigate for doing it again here. "Reuben James" looks forward to the Country & Western stylings of "Stretch" and "We Had It All" - to be honest, Scott could sing anything and sound classy but he did have an excellent voice for this kind of material, it's corny but not unpleasant. Closing the album is "It's Over" which sounds like a re-write of Roy Orbison's "It's Over" and is actually rather good if a trifle underplayed.

So, all in all, an album which deserves more attention than it received at the time and more attention than it has received since!

10 original Walker-Songs, 5 covers. It's got a very fin de siècle-touch to it. It's more relaxed than Scott 4, except the opener; Joe and Time Operator are jazzy with existencial lyrics. This is kind of Scott 5. After this, Scott came back as a composer with Nite Flights 1978. I like it very much, even the sometimes very saccharin-pop covers. For me, together with Scott 3, it's the most autumn-feel album from Scott. Enjoy it.

I was lucky to find this album on CD at a second hand store - quite a lucky thing , as both the CD and the vinyl are hard to find now , not to mention becoming more expensive .

One of the previous reviewers has done a good job of giving listeners an idea of what is on this album . The original songs are good , for me the most affecting is 'Joe' , which describes an old man running out of friends simply by outliving them . There will always be Scott Walker lyrics that don't make much sense to anyone but him , but 'Joe' tells a story that is mostly heartbreaking .

The song 'Time Operator' is also a bit of a character study - could be the same character as 'Joe' actually , from another perspective .

The cover songs aren't as bad as people might think , let's face it , Scott has a pleasant voice and I am happy to at least listen to them before commenting . I had not heard the songs before and some of them have great lyrics . For that reason , I'm not bothered whether they are done in Vegas style arrangements . The arrangements on Scott's early records are always tasteful and individual - the 'cover versions' are mostly welcome to my ears .

The album is varied stylistically and that is always a good thing - it takes to you some different places but does not always make sense as a whole statement .

I know it will be difficult for most people to have a chance to hear it , but if you ever find it for sale , ask to hear it first . You will then know if you want to spend big money on adding it to your collection .

I hope the above has been useful to Scott fans out there .

One of Scott's more controversial and polared amongst fans. On the whole, TTBCI is wildly uneven, but there are some truly great tracks here. Scott's voice was at it's peak here, as in Scott 4. According to Scott, he was trying to cater to the public and dumbing down his music after the flop of his most personal album and his masterpiece Scott 4. I ignore the covers and the Esther sung song. As a true 23 year old Walker fan, I'll focus on his tracks of interest.

'Til the band comes in'- Beautifully sung by Scott, but it would've been better without the chorus, or at least without the female back up singers. The music here is also beautiful, as well creating a poweful mood and setting, musically, minus the chorus, it could've been on Scott 4. The verses he sings before the chorus are some of the most catchiest and well delievered. And with nice lyrics, wording and imagery, it invokes a uplifting feeling. But when you get to the chanty sing along chorus that ruins the mood and feel of the song, you're disappointed and it can be excruiciating. Luckily he saves it with his 'And the band comes rolling in......'

'Little things'- One of my favorite Scott tracks ever. Great orchestra work here, strings everywhere and it builds up and builds up as he sings. Dark humored, fast paced, exhilarating, exciting and bustling, Scott sings of depressing, disturbing events with such bravado, gusto, tounge in cheek, happiness and commanding force, reminiscent to his Brel covers. HE delivers the dark lyrics in a statacco mannner with is unique t his work. The song is very, very catchy and can be considered a sing along. You can tell Scott had some fun with this number in the tone of his voice, it almost sounds as if he's smiling. While the war's going on....

'Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James- One his best songs ever. Great title lyric and chorus. Scott is in top form here. The song tells a story in a goodbye letter from a male gigolo-type to a homosexual sugar daddy . The song is emotionally driven and is powerful in the main character's goodbye to the flashy Mr. James. Though the lyrics are slightly controversial, yet great, it would've been a nice single, due t it's easy accessability. This song never gets enough recognition.

'Cowbells Shaking'- A nice, harmless little ditty in the vein of '30 Cnetury man.' Straight acoustic guitar and Scott's vocal. Catchy, due to it's slightly simple rhymes, but like alot of Scott's most powerful songs very short, ending at a little over a minute.

'The war is over'- Is a great etheral number from Scott, reminiscent of Scott 3. Scott's voice in top smooth form here. A calm, relaxing number that is catchy and most definitely would've been a hit in his glory days. You can hear the relieved tone and weariness in his voice. The song can be considered a sequel to Little things. I think this song and 'Mr. James' do the best at capturing his essence on this album.

'Jean the machine' is trash. Stay away.

'Time Operator'- a song this album could've done without. Scott sings along to a jazzy lounge lizard arrangement, a vocal excercise in my opinion. I don't really like it much.

'Joe'-Another piano jazzy track and a much better vocal exercise than 'Time Operator', this song tells the tale of a lonely pensioner named Joe that is in solitude. Another character lef behind by everyone else in the world and is considering going to a retirement home. It's a good song, but not one of his best.

'Long about now'- Shouldn't even be here, since it's not even sung by him.

The covers, minus 'Stormy' and 'Reuben James' are delivered with workman efficency. He doesn't seem to be into the material here. Only really worth listening to if you want to hear him singing, nothing more, nothing less. They would've been better if he chose better material.And 'It's Over' ironically signalling his tenre of good consitent quality work and fame.

All in all, this album is for true dedicated Scott fans. Not reccomended for beginners. For beginners, I suggest Scott 4, then Scott 2. There are some real classics here, the ones I mentioned above. I hope this review has helped in your desicion in purchasing this album.

As an avid Scott Walker from the Walker Brothers days I liked this album very much. Scott's voice still has that beautiful baritone it had from they heydays. My favorite song on this album is The War Is Over(Sleepers). Would recommend this to any Scott Walker fan.