Talking to Reg Guest one comes to realise that this is someone who has been caught in the pop maelstrom (we're talking in the region 3,000 recording sessions over the years) but is now experiencing the calm after the storm. He jokes about Hove being "boring" but goes on to say how much he likes being near the sea, the cricket ground and the race track. Although he insists that the music business is a "young man's game" he is enjoying music as much as ever and a few impromptu gigs in recent years have given him the bug for performing - so there may still be additions to an exceptional CV. 　　Unlike Scott Walker, Reg could hardly be described as 'aloof' or 'moody' but he's a quirky, self contained man ("People have often said that I'm in the clouds, all it is, is that I'm into my music; you can't come in and nobody can") not unlike the singular characters that used to inhabit Scott's biographers say, reg is "cheery and avuncular" and a pleasure to interview. 　　Cutting his teeth as a jazz pianist in the Big Band era, Reg at various times accompanied such showbiz giants as Sinattra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Mel Torme. When the rock 'n' roll craze swept Britain in the late 50's, many jazzers feared for their livelihood but Reg, ever adaptable, took it in his stride. Influenced by Elvis's keyboard man Floyd Cramer, he played on Billy Fury's legendary 'Sound of Fury' album, widely regarded as British rock 'n' rolls' finest, most authentic moment. As well as having his own top 30 rock 'n' roll hit 'Winklepicker Stomp', Reg would later find himself involved in sessions with Eddie Cochran and Little Richard, not to mention becoming musical director of the ground- breaking Six-Five Special TV show. 　　In the late 60s' working largely with Decca and Phillip's roster of stars (including Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield), Reg was MD or session man on around 200 top 50 hits. Those with even a passing knowledge of British pop will recognise titles such as 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', 'Shout', 'As Tears Go By', 'The Crying Game' and 'Halfway to Paradise', all of which bear his mark. Having been there at British rock 'n' roll's inception, he was now in the thick of things during the Beat Boom. With his reputation established, Reg was soon to enter perhaps the most rewarding phase of his career - being The Walker Brothers' musical director. He was already familiar with their dramatic, orchestral sound, having played keyboards on their classic early singles 'Make It Easy On Yourself', 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' and his stirring piano part on 'My Ship Is Coming In' undoubtedly helped make it one of pop's truly joyous moments. Scott Walker's appreciation of Guest's talent was unconcealed: "Reg is obviously brilliant and one of the most under-rated arrangers in the country", he enthused, "if only I could write music like that - he knows exactly what I'm thinking". The rapport between the two men lead to recordings that have, as Scott's biographers say: "retained their ageless quality like exotic, brightly coloured insects preserved in amber". One troubled genius let loose with a brilliant arranger and an orchestra could pack one hell of an emotional punch. 　　Whilst Reg is often dismissive of his past work ("At Decca we used to turn out corn by the shovelful if it was Dave Berry I couldn't bear to hear it now, it just sounds crap") he is proud of what he achieved with Scott: "This was special. I've thought about this recently and I always knew it was special and with respect it wasn't John or Gary (the other Walkers). I knew that Scott was a really creative artist but I also knew that he wasn't a chart performer. He was also to most people a bit weird I sippose reclusive. There was something very private about him but we were very friendly. I don't think I'm particularly unusual but I have the ability to understand artistic people. I just sensed his whole persona. He's been mistreated all along the line and they would rely on people like me to get through to him, which was dead simple. Once you sympathise with someone it's no problem. So with me he had the opportunity to go as far out as he wanted - and he did. He went his own imperious way and it got him into trouble but he's been proved right in the long run."