'Til the Band Comes In
| 'Til the Band Comes In | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Scott Walker | ||||
| Released | December 1970 | |||
| Recorded | Philips Studios, September–November 1970 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:12 | |||
| Label |
Philips 6308 035 BGO Records (1996 re-issue) Water Records (2008 re-issue) |
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| Producer | John Franz | |||
| Scott Walker chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 'Til the Band Comes In | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.4/10 |
'Til the Band Comes In is the sixth studio album by the American solo artist Scott Walker. It was released in December 1970 but failed to chart. Three singles were released from the album. The title track backed with "Jean the Machine" was released in the Netherlands. "Jean the Machine" and "Thanks For Chicago Mr. James" were each released in Japan. No singles were released in the UK. The release is a loose concept album about the inhabitants of a tenement.
Walker wrote the songs for the album quickly while on a working holiday in Greece in September 1970. The album was recorded late that same year between September and November 1970 with Walker's usual Philips studio team consisting of producer Johnny Franz, engineer Peter J. Olliff and Wally Stott and Peter Knight directing the musical arrangements. Receiving negative reviews the album was first released as an LP in December 1970. The album was deleted and was not available for over twenty-five years. The album was later reassessed much more favourably and was eventually reissued in the UK on CD by BGO Records in August 1996, with new liner notes. This new edition fell out of print before a second CD re-issue followed in 2008 by the US label Water Records. The album was re-issued again on 3 June 2013 as part of a 5-CD set entitled Scott - The Collection 1967-1970.
The original liner notes were by Walker's then-manager Ady Semel with cover photography by Michael Joseph.
After the critical and commercial failure of Walker's previous album, Walker made several compromises with his manager and record company in an effort to restore his career momentum. The most apparent commercial decision was the singer's return to his stage name having disastrously chosen to be been credited under his birth name, Noel Scott Engel for the first time on his previous album Scott 4.
The album was split between the opening ten original compositions and five interpretations of middle-of-the-road standards and pop songs. Walker also took the unusual step of sharing his writing credits with his new manager Ady Semel. Walker summarised the collaboration with Semel: "He acts as my censor, vetting all my lyrics and striking out the words likely to harm old ladies". Walker also brought in Esther Ofarim, another singer managed by Semel, as a guest vocalist on "Long About Now".
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