Many regard “Scott 2” as Walker’s classic album, and I’m not going to pour water on that assertion, I just might not wholeheartedly support it, while also not being able to offer one other record that I would tag as his “best”. It is definitely a very, very good record and does act as home to my absolute favourite of Scott’s songs. I find that I like bits and pieces from all Scott’s albums up until 1970 and don’t really have an opinion one way or t’other on which is better than another.

“Scott 2” holds another three songs written by Jacques Brel. Scott contributes 4 originals this time and there is another from Tim Hardin alongside Henry Mancini and Bacharach and David.

One of those original songs is my very, very favourite of Scott Walker’s songs, “The Amorous Humphrey Plugg”. It comes on like the theme tune from a glamorous 60’s film. But in the lyrics Humphrey leads a pretty mundane life by day, looking after the kids and watching the telly. But by night he escapes into the city, to a club, possibly a brothel, where the hostesses Ann and Corinna entice him in and keep him there. I can’t make out if Scott is singing about a place in Channing Way or if those hostesses have an enchanting way. Whatever it is the lyrics are beautiful

“Oh to die of kisses, Ecstasies and charms

Pavements of poets will write that I died in nine angel's arms

And they all were smiling, Still seductive as sin…”

By the end of the song you have been seduced by Humphrey’s story, our own worries forgotten for a time in this beautiful song. Two of Scott’s other self penned songs have reached Walker classic status too. “The Girls From The Streets” and “Plastic Palace People” are both big, lush torch songs with the former definitely paying back some of that debt to Jacques Brel with its accordions tumbling into the chorus and the latter again giving the feeling it should be part of a film score. 

Brel’s contributions are the breathless song of adoration “Jackie”, the extremely French, even when sung in English, “The Girls And The Dogs” and the seemingly inappropriate “Next” which tells of losing your virginity in a mobile Army brothel complete with a fresh dose of the clap. It was also recorded by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and sits much more comfortably with them than it does with Scott.

It must be my folks love of the old crooners that draws me to Scott Walker. To my ears he’s every bit as good a singer as many of those 50’s heart throbs pre-rock ’n’ roll. His songs are somewhat more involved however. He was also a big influence on both Bowie and Julian Cope, two of my very favourite artists. 

The Amorous Humphrey Plugg - https://youtu.be/JFXuMljSY7g?si=z8mYsOp48bXxZk6q