Scott arrived in the UK in 1965 with 2 American friends and formed The
Walker Brothers. Their second release 'Make It Easy On Yourself' went to
Number 1 in the British Charts and Number 16 in the US. Responsible for
some of the biggest hits of the 60s, Scott Walker was once more popular
than The Beatles and his music influenced the likes of Radiohead,
Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. The Rhymes of Goodbye tells the amazing
story of Scott Walker's life and work through his songs - a track by
track commentary in the tradition of Revolution In The Head that
encompasses his entire career from the first Walker Brothers single up
to his final work before his death in March 2019. Featuring an informed
guide to Walker's exceptional and esoteric lyricism and providing an
insightful analysis that will delight his legions of fans, lifelong fan
Lewis Williams presents a wealth of engaging information about an artist
who has been described as the most enigmatic singer of modern times.
By examining Walker's unique catalogue of songs, from classics like 'The
Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' to the most sought after of rarities,
The Rhymes of Goodbye approaches its subject with obsessive enthusiasm
to create a definitive portrait of the artist. Divided into sections
that correspond to the distinct phases of Walker's recording career,
this book covers the Walker Brothers' glory years - when Scott, John and
Gary Walker enjoyed the same level of popularity as the Beatles, Scott's
return to the public eye as a solo artists during 1967-70, his 'lost
albums' of the early 1970s, the Walker Brothers reunion and the success
of 'No Regrets', and his eighties forays into experimentalism and
soundtracks. Additionally, obscurities such as rare live tracks by the
Walker Brothers and recordings from the Scott Walker BBC TV show are
explored in an insightful and fascinating manner.
