Walker, Scott: Scott 2 LP

One of the most enigmatic figures in pop music history, Scott Walker first saw massive success in England with his band The Walker Brothers in 1965. Not really brothers, nor were they British, the trio left Hollywood seeking fame in England, and they found it there for a time with their particular brand of orchestrated pop. Following the groups demise in 1967, Walker set out to pursue solo stardom in perhaps the most peculiar way possible, with over-the-top baroque pop songs owing more to his idol Jacques Brel, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra than they did to the Beatles or the Stones. 

Originally released in 1968, Scott 2 made it all the way to No. 1 on the U.K. pop charts. Continuing with Scott's orchestral obsession, Scott 2 features sublime string and horn arrangements with Scott singing dark moody takes on '60s pop tunes like "Best Of Both Worlds" and "Black Sheep Boy," plus the usual round of Brel tunes including "Jackie" and "The Girls & The Dogs." The album also features some of his best songwriting on the cuts "The Amorous Humphrey Plugg," "The Girls From The Streets" and "Plastic Palace People."