It’s one of the stranger stories in popular music that the first four tracks of Nite Flights played a major part in shaping popular music for the coming decade. Released in 1978, Nite Flights was the third reunion album for European pop sensation the Walker Brothers. While each member is given room to pursue their interests, Scott Walker went into these sessions with a new fire underneath him. In part, inspired by Brian Eno, David Bowie and Iggy Pop, Walker went even further on his tracks — “Shutout,” “Fat Mama Kick,” “Nite Flights” and “The Electrician” – and inspired Bowie and Midge Ure of Ultravox, among the many, and the New Romantic and synth-pop world of the early ‘80s was on its way.  The remainder of the album is quite a bit different. Gary Walker’s “Death of Romance” plays towards smooth adult-contemporary jazz-pop. “Rhythms of Vision” come closest to Bob Seger. John Walker’s “Disciples of Death” also plays like radio-ready pop. It’s no wonder that Scott Walker would return to his solo career with an avant-garde vengeance.