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. Despite being the first of his solo albums not to reach the British Top 10, Scott 4 was perhaps Scott Walker's best and most ambitious. Originally released in 1969, the album was his first to feature only self-penned originals. It was also unique in that it backed off a bit from the heavily string laden production of his past releases, allowing other sonic influences to shine through, from country to folk to soul. The lyrical content remains intense as Walker tackles everything from war to Stalinism to heartbreak with equal aplomb.