Outside of looking good (which,
admittedly, was important),
nobody knew why Gary Walker
was in The Walker Brothers.
Did he really sing and drum on
their records? The fact that he
didn’t defend himself against
such accusations suggested
minimal contribution.
When the group split, Gary
was the brother least likely to
succeed, but he teamed up with
The Rain, which featured Joey
Molland (Masterminds,
Badfinger) and Charlie Crane
(Cryin’ Shames). As Molland and
Crane wrote and sang most of
the songs, Album Number One
sounds like a latterday
Merseybeat album. The originals
include Joey Molland’s homage
to Playboy, Magazine Woman,
and the rough R&B of Doctor,
Doctor. Most, however, sound
like they were written in the pub.
There are also covers of Classics
IV’s hit, Spooky (also a single)
and The Drifters’ If You Don’t
Come Back.
Album Number One was only
released in Japan, where Gary
had a big following, though not
big enough for Album Number
Two. After 41 years, this is its
UK debut, enhanced by the
moody 1968 single, Cutie
Morning Moon, written and
produced by brother Scott (the
line, “The fog don’t hide my
fears,” is pure Scott Walker). Its
B-side, Gary’s Theme, however,
was as inconsequential as Sony
and Cher’s Hello.