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Portrait

by The Walker Brothers

Released: August 26, 1966

Pop, baroque pop, blue-eyed soul

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

"Portrait" is the second studio album by American pop group The Walker Brothers, released in August 1966. While Portrait was not released in the USA, an alternate album titled The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore was compiled by Smash Records for the American market. This U.S. version substituted most of the tracks from Portrait with A-sides, B-sides, and tracks from their first EP, retaining only a few of the original tracks such as "Just For A Thrill," "Old Folks," "People Get Ready," and "Take It Like a Man." In 1998, the album was remastered and expanded for its CD release, allowing fans to experience the album with enhanced sound quality and additional content.

Inside the Recording

The album was produced by John Franz, with musical direction by Ivor Raymonde and Reg Guest, and was available in both mono and stereo LP formats.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album's blend of pop and orchestral arrangements…

The album's blend of pop and orchestral arrangements, combined with The Walker Brothers' distinctive style, helped solidify their prominence in the 1960s music scene, especially in the UK.

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Essential Tracks

Just For A Thrill

This U.S. version substituted most of the tracks from Portrait with A-sides, B-sides, and tracks from their first EP, retaining only a few of the original tracks such as "Just For A Thrill," "Old Folks," "People Get Ready," and "Take It Like a Man." In 1998, the album was remastered and expanded for its CD release, allowing fans to experience the album with enhanced sound quality and additional content.

Old Folks

People Get Ready

Take It Like A Man

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Explore the Album

The Walker Brothers - Portrait

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Then

Reception

It was the group's most successful album, reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart. The album received good to mixed reviews, and the sleeve notes were written by Keith Altham with photography by Dezo Hoffmann.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Portrait" is the second studio album by American pop group The Walker Brothers, released in August 1966. It was the group's most successful album, reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart. The album was produced by John Franz, with musical direction by Ivor Raymonde and Reg Guest, and was available in both mono and stereo LP formats.

The album received good to mixed reviews, and the sleeve notes were written by Keith Altham with photography by Dezo Hoffmann. While Portrait was not released in the USA, an alternate album titled The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore was compiled by Smash Records for the American market. This U.S. version substituted most of the tracks from Portrait with A-sides, B-sides, and tracks from their first EP, retaining only a few of the original tracks such as "Just For A Thrill," "Old Folks," "People Get Ready," and "Take It Like a Man."

In 1998, the album was remastered and expanded for its CD release, allowing fans to experience the album with enhanced sound quality and additional content. The album's blend of pop and orchestral arrangements, combined with The Walker Brothers' distinctive style, helped solidify their prominence in the 1960s music scene, especially in the UK.