| Fire Escape in the Sky: The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker | ||||
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 28 August 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1967–1970 | |||
| Genre | Orchestral pop | |||
| Length | 47:58 | |||
| Label | Zoo Records | |||
| Producer | John Franz with Peter Olliff (tracks 4, 5 and 8) | |||
| Scott Walker chronology | ||||
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Fire Escape in the Sky: The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker is a compilation album of material by singer Scott Walker, compiled by musician Julian Cope and released by independent Zoo Records (catalogue no. Zoo Two) in August 1981. The material on the album was drawn from Walker's orchestral pop solo albums released between 1967–70, and focuses on songs that the singer had written himself. After Walker's popularity declined in the 1970s and his albums became out-of-print, Cope conceived the album to rescue Walker from obscurity and present his material to a new audience. Whereas he had previously appealed to middle-of-the-road fans, the compilation was created to help promote Walker to a post-punk audience.
The album's title, Fire Escape in the Sky, is taken from the lyrics of the song "Big Louise" from Walker's album Scott 3, while according to Cope in the 30 Century Man documentary, the album's plain, neutral grey sleeve was designed to allow people to enjoy Walker's music without feeling they were buying into "some dodgy '60s MOR icon". The compilation reached number 14 in the UK Independent Chart and helped find Walker a new audience, and ultimately contributed to a reappraisal of the singer's material. Walker, who had retired in 1978, resurfaced with new material in 1984.