Scott 3

Scott 3 is the third solo album by American singer songwriter Scott Walker, released on March 1, 1969, in the United Kingdom through Philips Records. It was produced by John Franz. Though a majority of the tracklist features original songs from Walker, the final three tracks are covers of compositions by Jacques Brel.

Upon release in 1969, it met with slightly fewer sales than his previous albums, as pop audiences struggled to keep pace with Walker's increasingly experimental approach, though it still reached #3 on the UK Album Chart.

The album's slightly muted reception and subsequent failure of his short-lived BBC TV series signified the beginning of Walker's decline in popularity. Since its release, however, it has been regarded by many of Walker's fans as a favourite.

The title of the compilation Fire Escape in the Sky: The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker is taken from the lyrics of the song "Big Louise", and the 2006 documentary Scott Walker: 30 Century Man is named after "30 Century Man".

Mark Lager, in a retrospective review, wrote that the album contained "contemplative, delicate, and nostalgic songs surrounded by a string section of somber darkness. The opening track “It’s Raining Today” is autumnal, gray, misty, and overcast and his lyrics share similarities with Leonard Cohen’s songs from around this same time period. “Copenhagen” contains Christmas chimes and, at the end, a carnival carousel. His voice is reminiscent of crooner Andy Williams, yet the lyrics are akin to Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way in their recollections upon faraway childhood innocence. “Winter Night” is a crystalline, melancholy mood piece that is best accompanied by a glass of Amontillado sherry."

In September 2019, Thom Yorke named "It's Raining Today" as one of the eight pieces of music he would take to an imaginary desert island on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs.

Marc Almond covered the song "Big Louise" in 1982 with his band Marc and the Mambas on the album Untitled.

Track listing
The original U.S. Smash label vinyl issue omitted "30 Century Man", replacing it with "Lights of Cincinnati", a UK non-LP single from the same period. This issue also featured a different cover design from the UK Philips release.

Personnel

 * Scott Walker – vocals, arranger
 * Angela Morley – Arranged and conducted all songs except "30 Century Man" and "Funeral Tango"
 * Peter Knight – Arranged and conducted "Funeral Tango"