'Til the Band Comes In

After the 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 chosen to be credited under his birth name, Scott Engel, for the first time on his previous album Scott 4 (1969). 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". with Walker's usual Philips Studio team consisting of producer Johnny Franz, engineer Peter J. Olliff, and both Angela Morley (credited as Wally Stott) and Peter Knight directing the musical arrangements. The album marked the last time Walker would release any original material until the Walker Brothers' album Nite Flights in 1978. ==Release==

The album was first released in December 1970. It was subsequently deleted and was not available for over 25 years. Receiving poor reviews upon release, 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 Semel, with cover photography by Michael Joseph. ==Reception==

At the time of release, Til the Band Comes In received negative reviews by the majority of critics. Critical reception of the album has warmed considerably since Walker was critically reappraised in the decades following the Walker Brothers' 1978 album Nite Flights. The album is now classed as a worthy if somewhat compromised follow up to Walker's first four studio albums (not counting Walker's 1969 TV companion album, Scott: Scott Walker Sings Songs from his T.V. Series). In retrospective reviews, Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork described Walker's originals "[as] a step down from those on his previous two albums" but "worthwhile nonetheless". Dave Thompson of AllMusic was less charitable, calling "Thanks for Chicago Mr. James" and "Joe" "[the] album's sole concessions to such matters as reputation", and "while Walker's first four albums remain essential listening, and the TV LP at least has its moments, Til the Band Comes In is best left waiting at the stage door. Some 'lost classics' were lost with good reason." ==Track listing==

• Scott Walker – vocals • Esther Ofarim – vocals (5) • John Franz – producer • Ady Semel – liner notes • Wally Stott – musical arranger (1–10) • Peter Knight – musical arranger (11–15) • Peter Olliff – engineer • Michael Joseph – cover photograph ==Release history==