Heart Attack and Vine beautifully summarizes itself at one point: "It's too early for the circus; it's too late for the bars." Always makes me wonder if Tom knew how much inspiration he was about to find in carnival imagery and sounds for the rest of his career.
Tom Waits is the only artist with above 40 years carrier and still doing fresh, original music of highest quality. One of a kind. You more than hear his songs, you see, smell places he describes.
As a youngster in Liverpool, I first came across Tom on the Old Grey Whistle Test. A chaotic noise with people playing odd instruments and stuff being hit. A man screaming lyrics that confused and then broke your heart. I’ve never been to the USA but Tom has taken me to the underside many times. I get it all. He explains it to working class Liverpool boy and I thank him for sharing his perfectly unusual gift with me and the world.
Widow's Grove on Orphans has extraordinary lyrics. Tennessee Williams comes to mind as the song apparently switches narrators. It's extremely poetic. If you got the first edition CD package, with each CD in it's own folder, like a 78 record book, you saw the faded old newspaper text with odd facts. This was repeated when the seven LP box set was released, but then all much larger. Those graphics came from me. I gave them, all collected in an old photo album from the 1880's, to Tom after a show at the paramount theater in Oakland. Left for him at the stage door, with my phone number. He called a couple days later, and i still have that message. That was seven years before Orphans. The spring of Orphans, Tom called again, to say he wanted to use the text in his Orphans CD. how could I say no? Orphans then came out in the fall. When I saw how he dressed the CD sleeves, the only thing I thought was, "My work on this planet is done." Andre in San Francisco...
The Brit’s are always more enamored with Waits troubadour Asylum years than his later underground more eclectic sound. I think this stems from their fascination with early Americana and the romanticism of driving down the great American highways west. I love that Tom too but I really hooked into him when I discovered Swordfishtrombone and the strange wonderful music that grew in its wake. It took me a few listens to understand that music, I was young and it was very foreign to me, but once I did I deep dived into a vast repertoire of European circus music & Jazz fusion where Howling Wolf met with Edgar Varese and tried to play the music of Tin Pan Alley on an old broken kazoo... in other words, magic!
No worries! This was fucking great, Oliver. I've been a massive Waits fan since the 80s, know his work back and forth, and am rather persnicketty in my opinions ... and yet I can't find a thing you said to disagree with. (Oh, I was waiting for it, but it never came.) I consider this man the most important American songwriter since WW2 aside Dylan. Thanks for this and all the work you do. Since you asked, a few favorites from Orphans: Altar Boy (that demented crooner delivery!), A Little Drop of Poison, Buzz Fedderjohn, Road to Peace, Children's Story ("Okay, there's your story, night-night"), Diamonds In Your Mind. Oh! Just one side note. About Bad As Me: I think of it as the Tom Waits Sampler. As though he took everything he had done throughout his career and boiled it down to a bite-sized taster platter. Wierdly, though the most recent outing of such a long and varied career, it serves as a suitable introduction to his work. If you like it, you're bound to like all the main courses, whether Real Gone or Bone Machine or Rain Dogs or The Heart of Saturday Night.
"If you don't love "Down By Law", frankly you don't have a heart.". Love it!....fantastic commentary. I fell in love with Tom Waits in 1984, saw him twice, and have listened to everything he had done over his career over that time. You always find more. Pure genius. Great post. Thank you.
My favourite Tom Waits record is Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt. I mean Black Rider. No doubt. I mean Frank's Wild Years. No doubt. I mean Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt et cetera. I saw The Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri rendition of Black Rider round about year 2000 in Helsinki and it was loads of fun but I already considered Black Rider one of Waits' best work so it didn't really change my opinion of it.
The thing, for me, Tom Waits is that it isn't just the way he writes - he talks like that too. Listen to interviews, and his responses sound like Tom Waits lyrics. I think he must also think that way, which is amazing. I'm not sure if it is a fantastic or terrifying way to live, but it is absolutely amazing.
Been listening to Waits since the early 90's, and I have to say he is one of my favorite music artists of all time. This video is brilliant because the only way to truly consume Tom, is to trudge through his amazing discography, album by album. I can say, truthfully, that each Waits album has a special place in my heart, and special memories in my mind. The man is a living legend, Cheers!
Thank you so much for making these fantastic videos. A few guides I would love to see: -Miles Davis -Bob Dylan -The Fall -Neil Young -The Beatles -Death -Frank Zappa Thanks!
I rarely comment on TH-cam videos, but this was such an excellent encapsulation of my favourite musician, I just had too. You’ve earned yourself a subscription. Favourite Waits records are: Mule Variations Rain Dogs Bone Machine But it all depends on my mood. I could listen to any of his albums on any given day. The only one I’ve never been able to penetrate is The Black Rider. Perhaps for the same reasons you state in the video. I just find it to be really hard work and I get no real enjoyment from it.
Hi from Canada, Kris! Your three fave Tom Waits works are the same as mine. Coincidence? I think not. I have every one of Tom’s works, even have Big Time on dvd. Both my (now adult) kids are big fans too. As is my daughter-in- law. If I don’t listen to Tom daily, I can barely function! My fave song … Murder in The Red Barn. Rage on, Mr.Waits! 🇨🇦 🖖 🇨🇦
Tom Waits is probably my favorite artist of all time so I'm so glad you did this guide! I can't pick between Rain Dogs and Bone Machine as my favorite Waits record but I obviously think that both album are amazing. Great vid man can't wait for the next one!
Mule Variations = easily my favourite Waits album. It is just so captivating and fascinating and simply brilliant (most of the way through). But I also wanted to bring up again --- because I know some people have mentioned this already --- I am REEEEALLY hoping you add COIL to your list of artist discographies to cover here! I honestly couldn't think of a more interesting discography from any artist.
Eric Yeah I know Coil. Very haunting listening to them now after they’re both sadly no longer with us. Made some amazing stuff and remained very consistent until their demise.
I know I ain't deep cuts but y'all can have this The official Maxine certified guide for exploring Coil's Discography The general method in which Coil albums are best heard is late at night or in a dark room, without distraction, with the best headphones you have. As they are a highly atmospheric band who explore texture and sonic depth very heavily, they are best heard with much attention. the less visually aware of your surroundings you are the better. Alternatively, listen in spiritual places, or late at night outside. They function very well in these situations too, although my preferred environment is definitely the first. Coil's career can be roughly fit into 3 distinct albeit broad styles. The industrial leanings of their releases 1983 - 1990 The nocturnal dark ambient leanings of 1991 - 2000 And the more surreal and spiritual dark ambient leanings of 2000 - 2005 Albums with implications to the broader scope and context of their career will have asterisks, which will be addressed in full at the bottom of this document. Starter Tier (meant to establish you with the 3 major styles/eras of their discography): Horse Rotorvator (1986)* Musick to Play in the Dark Vol 1 & 2 (1999 - 2000) The Ape of Naples (2005)** Exploring More-tier (Meant to introduce you to releases which better explore and fill out these 3 eras): Black Antlers (2004) Love's Secret Domain (1991)*** And the Ambulance Died in His Arms (2003)**** Astral Disaster (1999) The Remote Viewer (2002) Scatology (1984)***** Unnatural History I (1990) Live Four (2003) Branching Out-Tier (A collection of some of their more idiosyncratic or difficult essentials, as well as live albums which function better with a more expansive understanding of their discography): Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil (2000) Time Machines (1998) Moon's Milk (In Four Phases) (2002) Live Two (2003) Live At Dublin, City Hall (2004)****** ANS (2004) ELpH Vs Coil: Worship the Glitch (1995) The rest of their discography (there's loads to explore from here. Dozens of live recordings, EPs, Studio recordings and compilations. This is just a rough guideline to getting into them, there's far more to see and hear!) * their first album with tinges of dark ambient, you can see them beginning to move into new territory. ** a compilation assembled after the death of Jhonn Balance. One of the few albums with immense contextual weight which functions as an introductory piece into an artist's discography. While being entirely compiled of material recorded and written before his death, the atmosphere of mortality and spirituality drench the album in a very abstract and beautiful manner. *** Love's Secret Domain was the first album that saw Coil truly stepping away from their industrial roots and moving in somewhere else. Somewhere else being acid house. **** commonly considered to be their best live album, Balance's instability is palpable. Beautiful material. ***** their first studio release. ****** their final live recording. One of the most haunting and inescapable albums you will ever hear. Join @Coilposting if you have any questions, here's a download link to a large chunk of their discography. mega.nz/#F!J64DSAJA!ThhNyRlDCqwhyFDppR5yRg
late to the party again but who cares when im glued to ur words a story teller like no one else. ever u sir review of tom was brillant. gold star. i was. glued to the chair. cheers
The rendition of "Ruby's Arms" on Big Time, with that heartwrenching mournful muted trumpet is, in my opinion, the saddest song ever recorded, and it's not even close.
I hadn't heard anything from Tom Waits before I learned about him through this video, and about a year later he is one of my favourite artists, so thank you!
Years ago, a coworker made a copy of one of his TW cd's and gave it to me . Id never heard of TW before . Well, I listened to it and loved it . It was Bone Machine. I've been a fan since .
Great guide. Thanks for this. A couple of things - your own lyricism in talking about this music is wonderful. Hope you're writing. I agree with most of your assessment, although I, personally, still have a deep affection for both the film and the soundtrack of 'One from the heart.' Lastly, anyone wanting to get a sense of the live Tom Waits should listen to the 'VH1 Storytellers' album - it's hilariously entertaining, with his anecdotes and such - here's just one - 'My wife says I write two kinds of song: Grand weepers and grim reapers - this next one is a bit of both.' A truly unique voice from the man who said, "There's no such thing as the devil. It's just God when he's drunk." :)
I did see the _Black Rider_ play, which is probably why I really enjoy the album. Altough some of the songs were re-arranged, so after the play, the arrangement on the record sometimes don't make a lot of narrative sense to me. Your pronounciation of _Der Freischütz_ was pretty close btw. :D ___ In the context of _Blood Money_ , the play it's based on, _Woyzeck_ ("voi" as in voice and "tsek") is in turn based on a fragmented short novel by the author Georg Büchner. It's a satire of sorts of Prussian/German society during the 1830s and 40s, the time of pauperism and starvation in much of Europe. Many German schoolkids will know this book from school. If you're interested, there's a film version starring Klaus Kinski. The story, roughly, follows a poor conscript in the armed forces, who gets mistreated by his "superiors" at every turn. A doctor uses him for medical experiments, his officers berate him, and his wife Marie cheats on Woyzeck with another soldier. I believe many of the darkest, most cynical songs on the album reflect the world-view of those "superiors" of Woyzeck, as they display this sort of nihilism in the dialogue as well.
Alban Berg’s opera, Wozzeck, is a most terrifying and haunting musical experience. Arguably the finest opera of the 20th century, equal with the best of Janacek, Britten and Prokofiev.
Nighthawks introduced me to Tom Waits, so it is still my favourite. (Sorry swordfish.) I could not turn off this video, although I must work tomorrow, You are mesmerizing,. You have given me a newfound respect for art critics. Bravo, wonderful, and so on. Good for you.
My guy! I’m so happy you did this video! I spent almost a year of my life going through Tom’s discography for no other reason than I thought he was absolutely fantastic.
One night, I returned from work, lighted a joint and wondered what I was gonna listen to. My uncle gave me some time ago some CDs he wanted to get rid of, inside was many Tom Waits records. There wasn't his first one, Closing Time tho, so I booted Spotify and played it so I can follow him through his discography. The first song, Ol' 55, blew me away and became my favorite Tom Waits song to this day, and the ambiance of Closing Time is simply wonderful feels so pure and vulnerable... I can get enough of this record and I am still looking for this chill, sad and lovely mood in all the others records. I am more an Asylum fan, doesn't really dig Swordfishtrombone and what what came after. But, I am still discovering his albums and the next one I am listening to his Mule Variations, and based on what you said it doubled my curiosity! I listen to the Black Rider only one time, and it's the only time I will listen to it in my life, it was clear for me even not halfway through the record. Except for November and Just the Right Bullets
Thank you so much for this. Tom Waits is such a great musician and I'm glad my parents listened to him as much as they did. Off to grab myself a can of beens and enjoy the hell out of this!
I love One From the Heart. The movie and the soundtrack. It has so many beautiful songs. I don't know why it's reviled. BTW, great video. I was skeptical, but you summed Tom up really well.
Great video Martha is an amazing track on closing time. I have listened to Tom here and there throughout the years. Someone gave me Blue Valentine about a decade ago. Loved that record and was slightly familiar with others. A few months ago, it was pouring rain while I was about to start work. I put on Rain Dogs. Ever since I've been on a binge. Awesome recaps on the records.
I thought I heard Tom 1st in High School (graduated 1972) I was immediately turned on and, others listened to Zeppelin and the likee! Still listening and digging him 35 plus later!
This eloquent overview of one of our greatest artists is one major proof that it is really worthwhile to search TH-cam for meaningful content. Your work is a true gem. Thanks. Btw, wouldn’t it be interesting to play Georgia Lee in church and watch the faces?
Love Tom Waites and enjoyed this analysis of his discography. I think you don’t give The Black Rider enough credit though. I love the hybrid of dark Germanic fairy tale with the vintage carnival undertone. “November” with its whispy intro which I think is a saw being played, is a beautiful melancholic reverie, along with “That’s the way” and “The briar and the Rose”. The “Carnival” overture reminds me of a life changing visit to a calliope and band organ museum when I was a kid. The wedding dance with the boots on the wooden floor percussion is another gem, and one with such a cinematic feel to it. Probably one of my favorites of all is “Just the Right Bullets” which walks a line between humor, vintage western cinema and something legitimately creepy. I never tire of listening to Waites, and this one to me is in my top 5 Waites releases. I regret I’ve never seen “The Black Rider” performed live, but have seen several filmed portions of the stage production. It looks like an amazing production, however watching it made me miss Waites’ vocals.
Great video. Mule Variations is my favorite; I always likes Waits, and I got into Vinyl; One day I decided to drop acid and was having a grand ole time playing record for my friends. I decided to put on Mule Variations(I had never really listened to it all the way through). Well, long story short, whats he building in there is an absolute favorite of me and everyone else present that night. We play it at the bars every time we can and its sort of a running joke spoken between us. That song played for what felt like an eternity while we were tripping, and we loved every minute of it.
Wonderful video! It is a pleasure listening to your articulate opinions and feeling your passion for Waits. As for Orphans: I've always loved Bawlers the most. I just can't get enough of Waits' emotional piano ballads, which of the many he does I think he does best. "If I have to go" never fails to make my chest ache. Anyway, keep up the great work man. Cheers!
Oh yesss, just finished reading Barney Hoskin's 'Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits' which is a great in-depth book I'd highly recommend for people who want to go deeper into Waits
Holy Shit! What a good time to release this guide. I just discovered The Black Rider 2 days ago and have absolutely fallen in love with it. I think I've listened to that album 4 times already.
Been meaning to do a deeper dive into Waits' material. My favorites of his are Nighthawks at the Diner and Bone Machine. If you're taking suggestions, I'd love a guide to Current 93.
Thom Avella Hey man, I dig your channel. Dude, you have great tastes in tunes! Bone Machine is my fav too, and you’re the only other person I’ve ever encountered who digs on Current 93. I double that motion! (But I doubt many folks have actually heard any of his records.. maybe some ppl in this audience of audiophiles.. ✌🏼)
Thomas, Been a TW fan since 1977, and saw the great man in London during his "Rain Dogs" tour in 1985. Utterly brilliant! I support all of your recommendations. Don't forget about "Small Change". For the uninitiated, I suggest they check out the three Cd "Orphans". For the connoisseur, try to find the live Cd of Tom''s performances from 1977. I found it in a charity shop for one pound two weeks ago, and it is essential.
Thomas, I have sixteen plus Cds by him, many of them on vinyl which I didn't get rid of in the Great Vinyl Cull, back in the 1990s. Another overlooked gem is "One From The Heart" from 1982, which is exquisite. Tom and Crystal Gayle are wonderful. The original vinyl is selling for obscene prices now. Even so, that live 1977 set is utterly magnificent.
A brilliant choice for your daughter's high school graduation! Like you, I was too cool for FS until I listened to "Only The Lonely". Then I finally heard what the fuss was all about. When Miles, Tom, BB King, Iggy and Amy W speak of FS with such high regard, you know he had to be good. Tom could do a wonderful version of "One For My Baby". He would also make a superb stand-up comedian. After his set in 1985, he introduced the band to the adoring crowd and announced himself as Perry Como! A class act through and through.
My discovery of Waits was the film Big Time. I was amazed & blown away!! I've been a fan every since. I am still going back & discovering. Thanks for the guide!!
What a wonderful video, Tom Waits is one of my favourite artists of all time so this was a joy to listen to. I like all his albums but particularly love his later career, everything from swordfish onwards is brilliant and bone machine and Alice are my favourites
Tom Waits fans!: I highly recommend listening to a podcast called "down in the hole". I'm somebody who loves Tom and listens/collect everything I can find, there's a great book called "Tom Waits on Tom Waits", and this video was well done too, but if you're looking to dissect things further check out that podcast. (I went fishing and that's all I listened to while out there and learned a whole lot. It was a really enjoyable listen. I snagged a lot of catfish... but got a few decent rainbow trout..) I just wanted to pass that along. Keep up the good work here and cheers everybody
I fell in love cronologically with his music, which I am absolutely grateful because I got to be surprised and amazed in awe with every next record that I have stepped on, it's really one of my favorite artists and it doesn't even have a "mediocre" release.
Well done overview of this long career that I've been devoted to since the release of Foreign Affair. I was haunting one of my favorite record stores back then and that album was playing, it stopped me in my tracks and compelled me to listen. I've been a junkie for him ever since. Your favorites and mine are the same and I dare anyone with a heart beating to listen to Kentucky Avenue and not tear up by the time it's over. A masterful storyteller and commentator on the human condition, both ordinary and bizarre.
Well done! excellent summaries and nice details...First thing I ever heard of Tom's was Diamonds on my Windshield..I was addicted. I know that route he was driving. But what sticks with me now about Tom is first time I heard Georgia Lee..it stunned me. This song can make a grown man cry. The man is a poet with a special magic.
Was really happy to see this pop up just as I finished making dinner, had anticipated it. Tom Waits is an artist that I hold very dearly to my heart as he was one of my earliest gateways to weird, abstract and simply different music. I remember a school project when I was maybe 12 or 13 where my class got assigned our own artists that we had to make a presentation of and we each got a song we had to listen to and analyze. I think I got Aretha Franklin but my best friend got Tom Waits which we both had no idea who he was. So we all sat down with our headphones to listen to our songs and I'm looking over to my friend who's got this weird look on his face. Then he calls me over and says "you have to listen to this". So I do and put the headphones on and immediately I think I hear an organ or an accordion-led intro until the "junkyard"-percussion begins and that one-of-a-kind-voice starts singing. Afterwards I learn that I had just heard a song called "Rain Dogs" and needless to say my life was changed at that moment. Now just about ten years later Rain Dogs is one of my absolute favorite albums and Tom Waits one of my absolute favorite artists. Thank you for this video, gonna listen to Rain Dogs now in solitude with a bottle of wine.
This video is fantastic! I'm writing on Tom waits' rejection of typical authenticity narratives in popular music culture and you're helping me straighten out my thoughts so much!
Love Tom Waits so much. I really hope he puts out at least one more album before he retires. This video is fantastic, a lot of great information here and delivered extremely well as always
Two of my favorite tracks on Orphans are two that were also featured on the soundtrack to "Dead Man Walking" and they are of course "Walk Away" and "The Fall of Troy"; both of which I think are brilliant. I absolutely loved this video. Tom Waits is one of my favorite artists and this was an illuminating insight into his body of work.
Thanks for the video. I have been a fan of Tom Waits (his music and acting) for years, but never knew too much about him. There have been some of his songs and albums I have liked more than others, but now I am wanting to go back through those other albums because of the history and listen to those that I have overlooked.
Can't forget about Marc Ribot helping create n expand the clunk of Tom waits sound he never let go of.Hell Marc Ribot could use a Guide to!tying in with John Zorn!
The trilogy of albums- Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years-are just amazing. I love all of his albums, but those three are my favourite.
Dog Door was actually a collaboration with Sparklehorse, and first appeared on the album It’s a Wonderful Life in 2001. I don’t know who contributed what to that track, exactly, but I wouldn’t assume Casey to have been involved.
Turned onto "Small Change" back in high school. '77. Game over. I bought it, everything before it and everything since. Saw him live twice. "Mule" tour and "Glitter and Doom". EPIC.
been listening to waits since the late 70s when he went on the Don Lane show in Australia . Really only got into him when he released Sword Fish. I once listened to that album..exclusively..for a whole month..still not sick of it. Excellent summary, i was waiting to get mad, thinking some young dude gonna try and tell me about Tom..you did him justice. couple things..Ribot it pronounced "Ree bo". Dog Door was a Sparklehorse song which tom sang on in 2001...you need to check them out.
Well, today, we are february 27 of 2021. So time has passed. But I only heard your post yesterday. Thank you so much for this. It's awesome. I agree with almost everything you say. My favorite record is Swordfishtrombone, not only Tom's record, but my fav of all time. from the first period, I absolute love In the heart of saturday night. My third fav is Bad as me. Writing here orders me to write short, there is so much to say about him.... I'm writing now a short novel based on some of his tracks. Sorry as I am french, you won't be able to read it, but I will think of you doing this.
If I was on a desert island and could only have one record, it would be Rain Dogs! A friend who I was camping with in a tent-we were stuck in there for a while because of a skunk prowling around-and he put on Night Hawks @ the Diner on cassette tape and a crappy portable player and I’ve been hooked ever since! I had heard the song, Romeo’s Bleeding prior to this but really had no idea who he was! His more challenging work took me a while to appreciate but I’m a painter and would start listening to Rain Dogs late at night while painting and it conjures up such vivid imagery that I really embraced all of it, even Black Rider. Just unmatched in the history of music and by far the best storyteller/lyricist I’ve ever heard.
Love Waits, as good as Bad as Me is, Mule Variations is the bees knees for me. Along with Bone Machine and Rain Dogs. Blue Valentine was the first album I brought in the year of release, quickly caught up with the others and brought every album since on day of release, just love the guy. Like Captain Beefheart but much, much better. Not one bad album, very few can say that.
Brilliant video. For me Tom Waits has been an artist I wanted to get into for a long time, but never really knew where to start or how to approach his work. This video will help a lot with that. thanks so much! I'm off to do some listening.
I was reading about Moondog the other day. I think his life would be a perfect subject for a video like this. He was a very, very interesting musician.
As a Tom Waits fan my heart skipped a beat
Heart Attack and Vine beautifully summarizes itself at one point: "It's too early for the circus; it's too late for the bars." Always makes me wonder if Tom knew how much inspiration he was about to find in carnival imagery and sounds for the rest of his career.
That's awesome
Tom Waits is the only artist with above 40 years carrier and still doing fresh, original music of highest quality. One of a kind. You more than hear his songs, you see, smell places he describes.
He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.
He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.
As a youngster in Liverpool, I first came across Tom on the Old Grey Whistle Test. A chaotic noise with people playing odd instruments and stuff being hit. A man screaming lyrics that confused and then broke your heart.
I’ve never been to the USA but Tom has taken me to the underside many times. I get it all. He explains it to working class Liverpool boy and I thank him for sharing his perfectly unusual gift with me and the world.
Widow's Grove on Orphans has extraordinary lyrics. Tennessee Williams comes to mind as the song apparently switches narrators. It's extremely poetic. If you got the first edition CD package, with each CD in it's own folder, like a 78 record book, you saw the faded old newspaper text with odd facts. This was repeated when the seven LP box set was released, but then all much larger. Those graphics came from me. I gave them, all collected in an old photo album from the 1880's, to Tom after a show at the paramount theater in Oakland. Left for him at the stage door, with my phone number. He called a couple days later, and i still have that message. That was seven years before Orphans. The spring of Orphans, Tom called again, to say he wanted to use the text in his Orphans CD. how could I say no? Orphans then came out in the fall. When I saw how he dressed the CD sleeves, the only thing I thought was, "My work on this planet is done." Andre in San Francisco...
Tom Waits marathon it is then, off we go
Swordfishtrombones will never be surpassed. Pure brilliance!
The Brit’s are always more enamored with Waits troubadour Asylum years than his later underground more eclectic sound. I think this stems from their fascination with early Americana and the romanticism of driving down the great American highways west. I love that Tom too but I really hooked into him when I discovered Swordfishtrombone and the strange wonderful music that grew in its wake. It took me a few listens to understand that music, I was young and it was very foreign to me, but once I did I deep dived into a vast repertoire of European circus music & Jazz fusion where Howling Wolf met with Edgar Varese and tried to play the music of Tin Pan Alley on an old broken kazoo... in other words, magic!
Accidentally missed out the lyrics to 'What's He Building in There,' but you can still hear me speak them!
deep cuts that’s ok dad 👌
deep cuts you mentioned that you are making a Guide To The Fall. I could have sworn you did that before. Tell me if I am right or wrong
No worries! This was fucking great, Oliver. I've been a massive Waits fan since the 80s, know his work back and forth, and am rather persnicketty in my opinions ... and yet I can't find a thing you said to disagree with. (Oh, I was waiting for it, but it never came.) I consider this man the most important American songwriter since WW2 aside Dylan. Thanks for this and all the work you do.
Since you asked, a few favorites from Orphans: Altar Boy (that demented crooner delivery!), A Little Drop of Poison, Buzz Fedderjohn, Road to Peace, Children's Story ("Okay, there's your story, night-night"), Diamonds In Your Mind.
Oh! Just one side note. About Bad As Me: I think of it as the Tom Waits Sampler. As though he took everything he had done throughout his career and boiled it down to a bite-sized taster platter. Wierdly, though the most recent outing of such a long and varied career, it serves as a suitable introduction to his work. If you like it, you're bound to like all the main courses, whether Real Gone or Bone Machine or Rain Dogs or The Heart of Saturday Night.
Almost makes it more eerie that way 👀
Best orphans song is Lucinda
"If you don't love "Down By Law", frankly you don't have a heart.". Love it!....fantastic commentary. I fell in love with Tom Waits in 1984, saw him twice, and have listened to everything he had done over his career over that time. You always find more. Pure genius. Great post. Thank you.
Closing Time is my favourite. It's just so beautiful. Feels innocent. Like hearing parents talk about their son after he's sent to jail for murder.
My favourite Tom Waits record is Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt. I mean Black Rider. No doubt. I mean Frank's Wild Years. No doubt. I mean Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt et cetera.
I saw The Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri rendition of Black Rider round about year 2000 in Helsinki and it was loads of fun but I already considered Black Rider one of Waits' best work so it didn't really change my opinion of it.
Rain Dogs/Bone Machine is arguably the best
The thing, for me, Tom Waits is that it isn't just the way he writes - he talks like that too. Listen to interviews, and his responses sound like Tom Waits lyrics. I think he must also think that way, which is amazing. I'm not sure if it is a fantastic or terrifying way to live, but it is absolutely amazing.
Tom Waits has been the soundtrack to my life, kudos for your brilliant analysis.
Been listening to Waits since the early 90's, and I have to say he is one of my favorite music artists of all time. This video is brilliant because the only way to truly consume Tom, is to trudge through his amazing discography, album by album. I can say, truthfully, that each Waits album has a special place in my heart, and special memories in my mind. The man is a living legend, Cheers!
God Rain Dogs is such a freaking Tour de Force
Thank you so much for making these fantastic videos. A few guides I would love to see:
-Miles Davis
-Bob Dylan
-The Fall
-Neil Young
-The Beatles
-Death
-Frank Zappa
Thanks!
I rarely comment on TH-cam videos, but this was such an excellent encapsulation of my favourite musician, I just had too.
You’ve earned yourself a subscription.
Favourite Waits records are:
Mule Variations
Rain Dogs
Bone Machine
But it all depends on my mood. I could listen to any of his albums on any given day.
The only one I’ve never been able to penetrate is The Black Rider. Perhaps for the same reasons you state in the video. I just find it to be really hard work and I get no real enjoyment from it.
Bone Machine is probably my favorite record ever. Rain Dogs is close though
Hi from Canada, Kris! Your three fave Tom Waits works are the same as mine. Coincidence? I think not. I have every one of Tom’s works, even have Big Time on dvd. Both my (now adult) kids are big fans too. As is my daughter-in- law. If I don’t listen to Tom daily, I can barely function! My fave song … Murder in The Red Barn. Rage on, Mr.Waits! 🇨🇦 🖖 🇨🇦
Come on along with the black rider, you’ll have a gay old time
I truly believe that Invitation To The Blues is the greatest piece of lyricism ever written.
Yeah I literally heard that song for the first time like 2 days ago and I don’t even know how many times I’ve listened to it since.
Tom Waits is probably my favorite artist of all time so I'm so glad you did this guide! I can't pick between Rain Dogs and Bone Machine as my favorite Waits record but I obviously think that both album are amazing. Great vid man can't wait for the next one!
Guide to Neil Young would be awesome!
His 80s material would be VERY hard to get through
Except for Bob Dylan, he has more great albums than any other artist.
I'm passing this on: Years ago Tom Waits enters my taxi in New York City. I asked him what he was reading at the time. He said, " Breece D'J Pancake"
That's very interesting! I saw a list of his favourite books on Far Out and Pancake was on there. Hang on, lemme find it...
Mule Variations = easily my favourite Waits album. It is just so captivating and fascinating and simply brilliant (most of the way through).
But I also wanted to bring up again --- because I know some people have mentioned this already --- I am REEEEALLY hoping you add COIL to your list of artist discographies to cover here! I honestly couldn't think of a more interesting discography from any artist.
The Finkie
Absolutely fantastic album.
i second a Coil guide.. easily my favorite band of all time, i'd love to see more people getting into them
Eric
Yeah I know Coil. Very haunting listening to them now after they’re both sadly no longer with us. Made some amazing stuff and remained very consistent until their demise.
"Come On Up To The House" is the best song on that record, by far!
I know I ain't deep cuts but y'all can have this
The official Maxine certified guide for exploring Coil's Discography
The general method in which Coil albums are best heard is late at night or in a dark room, without distraction, with the best headphones you have. As they are a highly atmospheric band who explore texture and sonic depth very heavily, they are best heard with much attention. the less visually aware of your surroundings you are the better. Alternatively, listen in spiritual places, or late at night outside. They function very well in these situations too, although my preferred environment is definitely the first.
Coil's career can be roughly fit into 3 distinct albeit broad styles.
The industrial leanings of their releases 1983 - 1990
The nocturnal dark ambient leanings of 1991 - 2000
And the more surreal and spiritual dark ambient leanings of 2000 - 2005
Albums with implications to the broader scope and context of their career will have asterisks, which will be addressed in full at the bottom of this document.
Starter Tier (meant to establish you with the 3 major styles/eras of their discography):
Horse Rotorvator (1986)*
Musick to Play in the Dark Vol 1 & 2 (1999 - 2000)
The Ape of Naples (2005)**
Exploring More-tier (Meant to introduce you to releases which better explore and fill out these 3 eras):
Black Antlers (2004)
Love's Secret Domain (1991)***
And the Ambulance Died in His Arms (2003)****
Astral Disaster (1999)
The Remote Viewer (2002)
Scatology (1984)*****
Unnatural History I (1990)
Live Four (2003)
Branching Out-Tier (A collection of some of their more idiosyncratic or difficult essentials, as well as live albums which function better with a more expansive understanding of their discography):
Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil (2000)
Time Machines (1998)
Moon's Milk (In Four Phases) (2002)
Live Two (2003)
Live At Dublin, City Hall (2004)******
ANS (2004)
ELpH Vs Coil: Worship the Glitch (1995)
The rest of their discography (there's loads to explore from here. Dozens of live recordings, EPs, Studio recordings and compilations. This is just a rough guideline to getting into them, there's far more to see and hear!)
* their first album with tinges of dark ambient, you can see them beginning to move into new territory.
** a compilation assembled after the death of Jhonn Balance. One of the few albums with immense contextual weight which functions as an introductory piece into an artist's discography. While being entirely compiled of material recorded and written before his death, the atmosphere of mortality and spirituality drench the album in a very abstract and beautiful manner.
*** Love's Secret Domain was the first album that saw Coil truly stepping away from their industrial roots and moving in somewhere else. Somewhere else being acid house.
**** commonly considered to be their best live album, Balance's instability is palpable. Beautiful material.
***** their first studio release.
****** their final live recording. One of the most haunting and inescapable albums you will ever hear.
Join @Coilposting if you have any questions, here's a download link to a large chunk of their discography.
mega.nz/#F!J64DSAJA!ThhNyRlDCqwhyFDppR5yRg
late to the party again but who cares when im glued to ur words a story teller like no one else. ever u sir review of tom was brillant. gold star. i was. glued to the chair. cheers
The rendition of "Ruby's Arms" on Big Time, with that heartwrenching mournful muted trumpet is, in my opinion, the saddest song ever recorded, and it's not even close.
I hadn't heard anything from Tom Waits before I learned about him through this video, and about a year later he is one of my favourite artists, so thank you!
And such a back catalogue to explore. 👍🏻
Years ago, a coworker made a copy of one of his TW cd's and gave it to me . Id never heard of TW before . Well, I listened to it and loved it . It was Bone Machine.
I've been a fan since .
Great guide. Thanks for this. A couple of things - your own lyricism in talking about this music is wonderful. Hope you're writing. I agree with most of your assessment, although I, personally, still have a deep affection for both the film and the soundtrack of 'One from the heart.' Lastly, anyone wanting to get a sense of the live Tom Waits should listen to the 'VH1 Storytellers' album - it's hilariously entertaining, with his anecdotes and such - here's just one - 'My wife says I write two kinds of song: Grand weepers and grim reapers - this next one is a bit of both.' A truly unique voice from the man who said, "There's no such thing as the devil. It's just God when he's drunk." :)
I did see the _Black Rider_ play, which is probably why I really enjoy the album. Altough some of the songs were re-arranged, so after the play, the arrangement on the record sometimes don't make a lot of narrative sense to me.
Your pronounciation of _Der Freischütz_ was pretty close btw. :D
___
In the context of _Blood Money_ , the play it's based on, _Woyzeck_ ("voi" as in voice and "tsek") is in turn based on a fragmented short novel by the author Georg Büchner. It's a satire of sorts of Prussian/German society during the 1830s and 40s, the time of pauperism and starvation in much of Europe. Many German schoolkids will know this book from school. If you're interested, there's a film version starring Klaus Kinski.
The story, roughly, follows a poor conscript in the armed forces, who gets mistreated by his "superiors" at every turn. A doctor uses him for medical experiments, his officers berate him, and his wife Marie cheats on Woyzeck with another soldier. I believe many of the darkest, most cynical songs on the album reflect the world-view of those "superiors" of Woyzeck, as they display this sort of nihilism in the dialogue as well.
The Herzog movie is quite good. I directed a production of it and its my favorite play I've ever worked on.
Alban Berg’s opera, Wozzeck, is a most terrifying and haunting musical experience. Arguably the finest opera of the 20th century, equal with the best of Janacek, Britten and Prokofiev.
Blue Valentine, for me, is one of Waits’s essential albums.
German and Tom Waits lover for 37 years now here, loved your great guide...
Mmmm, Small Change is Waits’s first masterpiece? For me, The Heart Of Saturday Night is.
Heart Of Saturday Night is his best work
best intro on youtube
Nighthawks introduced me to Tom Waits, so it is still my favourite. (Sorry swordfish.) I could not turn off this video, although I must work tomorrow, You are mesmerizing,. You have given me a newfound respect for art critics. Bravo, wonderful, and so on. Good for you.
My guy! I’m so happy you did this video! I spent almost a year of my life going through Tom’s discography for no other reason than I thought he was absolutely fantastic.
I did the same thing.
I have been trying to get more into Waits for ages. This definetly lit a fire, cheers Oliver!
Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night have always been my favorite records of his.
Small Change is still my favorite. I heard it in a record store in 1977 and it was the first 8 track I bought for my first car
Guide to Miles Davis next?
Eliza-Victoria Batrin first 1000 hours long video in youtube
Ymbert Bonaventure Dickens 😂😂
And we'd probably have to wait two years for it to be made.
Groofay du Breton I'm sure it'd be worth it
Eliza-Victoria Batrin I would never doubt that.
*grabs popcorn* I'm ready for this
One night, I returned from work, lighted a joint and wondered what I was gonna listen to. My uncle gave me some time ago some CDs he wanted to get rid of, inside was many Tom Waits records. There wasn't his first one, Closing Time tho, so I booted Spotify and played it so I can follow him through his discography. The first song, Ol' 55, blew me away and became my favorite Tom Waits song to this day, and the ambiance of Closing Time is simply wonderful feels so pure and vulnerable... I can get enough of this record and I am still looking for this chill, sad and lovely mood in all the others records. I am more an Asylum fan, doesn't really dig Swordfishtrombone and what what came after. But, I am still discovering his albums and the next one I am listening to his Mule Variations, and based on what you said it doubled my curiosity!
I listen to the Black Rider only one time, and it's the only time I will listen to it in my life, it was clear for me even not halfway through the record. Except for November and Just the Right Bullets
Dirt in the Ground has always been my favorite and Tom Traubert’s Blues makes me cry
Thanks for this...always wanted to dwell into Waits’s discography but didn’t know where to start..
I think rain dogs is a good start personally.
fuzzydunlop45 yep. Great start.
Chronologically worked for me
VB MUTT i always see you round great TH-cam channels
koekoek36 I’m a virus really..
Thank you so much for this. Tom Waits is such a great musician and I'm glad my parents listened to him as much as they did.
Off to grab myself a can of beens and enjoy the hell out of this!
Great video, hopefully this'll help more people discover one of the most extensive and yet overlooked discographies in music.
I love One From the Heart. The movie and the soundtrack. It has so many beautiful songs. I don't know why it's reviled. BTW, great video. I was skeptical, but you summed Tom up really well.
Great video Martha is an amazing track on closing time. I have listened to Tom here and there throughout the years. Someone gave me Blue Valentine about a decade ago. Loved that record and was slightly familiar with others. A few months ago, it was pouring rain while I was about to start work. I put on Rain Dogs. Ever since I've been on a binge. Awesome recaps on the records.
I thought I heard Tom 1st in High School (graduated 1972) I was immediately turned on and, others listened to Zeppelin and the likee! Still listening and digging him 35 plus later!
This eloquent overview of one of our greatest artists is one major proof that it is really worthwhile to search TH-cam for meaningful content. Your work is a true gem. Thanks. Btw, wouldn’t it be interesting to play Georgia Lee in church and watch the faces?
It would give the pastor or priest a task, that's for sure.
Congrats on your 100th video!
Been following Waits since the Island Trilogy in the mid-80s. Nice overview here. Commentary is very well written and the host has a nice delivery.
Love Tom Waites and enjoyed this analysis of his discography. I think you don’t give The Black Rider enough credit though. I love the hybrid of dark Germanic fairy tale with the vintage carnival undertone. “November” with its whispy intro which I think is a saw being played, is a beautiful melancholic reverie, along with “That’s the way” and “The briar and the Rose”. The “Carnival” overture reminds me of a life changing visit to a calliope and band organ museum when I was a kid. The wedding dance with the boots on the wooden floor percussion is another gem, and one with such a cinematic feel to it. Probably one of my favorites of all is “Just the Right Bullets” which walks a line between humor, vintage western cinema and something legitimately creepy.
I never tire of listening to Waites, and this one to me is in my top 5 Waites releases. I regret I’ve never seen “The Black Rider” performed live, but have seen several filmed portions of the stage production. It looks like an amazing production, however watching it made me miss Waites’ vocals.
Great video. Mule Variations is my favorite; I always likes Waits, and I got into Vinyl; One day I decided to drop acid and was having a grand ole time playing record for my friends. I decided to put on Mule Variations(I had never really listened to it all the way through). Well, long story short, whats he building in there is an absolute favorite of me and everyone else present that night. We play it at the bars every time we can and its sort of a running joke spoken between us. That song played for what felt like an eternity while we were tripping, and we loved every minute of it.
Wonderful video! It is a pleasure listening to your articulate opinions and feeling your passion for Waits. As for Orphans: I've always loved Bawlers the most. I just can't get enough of Waits' emotional piano ballads, which of the many he does I think he does best. "If I have to go" never fails to make my chest ache. Anyway, keep up the great work man. Cheers!
Sonic youth!!
Okay this officially the superior music channel.
Bravo! Another masterpiece! Can't wait for the next episode. Would love to hear your take on Lou Reed!
You're great with adjectives. And Tom Waits is great and worthy of any level of attention.
Oh yesss, just finished reading Barney Hoskin's 'Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits' which is a great in-depth book I'd highly recommend for people who want to go deeper into Waits
I've wanted this for so long thank you Mr Cuts!
Amazing video, dude!
Thank you for this guide! I was so interested in Waits himself that I decided to do some internet research on his life after your video. Thanks!
*very* weird timing
I literally *just* started listening to him last month, love some of his stuff
Thanks for this very informative video!
Holy Shit! What a good time to release this guide. I just discovered The Black Rider 2 days ago and have absolutely fallen in love with it. I think I've listened to that album 4 times already.
Been meaning to do a deeper dive into Waits' material. My favorites of his are Nighthawks at the Diner and Bone Machine. If you're taking suggestions, I'd love a guide to Current 93.
Thom Avella Hey man, I dig your channel. Dude, you have great tastes in tunes! Bone Machine is my fav too, and you’re the only other person I’ve ever encountered who digs on Current 93. I double that motion! (But I doubt many folks have actually heard any of his records.. maybe some ppl in this audience of audiophiles.. ✌🏼)
Thomas, Been a TW fan since 1977, and saw the great man in
London during his "Rain Dogs" tour in 1985. Utterly brilliant!
I support all of your recommendations. Don't forget about
"Small Change".
For the uninitiated, I suggest they check out the three Cd "Orphans".
For the connoisseur, try to find the live Cd of Tom''s performances
from 1977. I found it in a charity shop for one pound two weeks
ago, and it is essential.
Thomas, I have sixteen plus Cds by him, many of them on vinyl
which I didn't get rid of in the Great Vinyl Cull, back in the 1990s.
Another overlooked gem is "One From The Heart" from 1982,
which is exquisite. Tom and Crystal Gayle are wonderful.
The original vinyl is selling for obscene prices now.
Even so, that live 1977 set is utterly magnificent.
Miles and Tom, what a dream date!
Miles wanted to do a session with Sinatra (one of Tom's idols),
but it never happened to their other commitments.
A brilliant choice for your daughter's high school graduation!
Like you, I was too cool for FS until I listened to "Only The Lonely".
Then I finally heard what the fuss was all about.
When Miles, Tom, BB King, Iggy and Amy W speak of FS with such
high regard, you know he had to be good.
Tom could do a wonderful version of "One For My Baby".
He would also make a superb stand-up comedian. After his set in
1985, he introduced the band to the adoring crowd and announced
himself as Perry Como! A class act through and through.
My discovery of Waits was the film Big Time. I was amazed & blown away!! I've been a fan every since. I am still going back & discovering. Thanks for the guide!!
What a wonderful video, Tom Waits is one of my favourite artists of all time so this was a joy to listen to. I like all his albums but particularly love his later career, everything from swordfish onwards is brilliant and bone machine and Alice are my favourites
Marc Ribot is pronounces like 'Marc Reebow'. You could easily do a guide on him too. He is the best ; )
A classic video this is what made me a Tom Waits fan.
Tom Waits fans!: I highly recommend listening to a podcast called "down in the hole". I'm somebody who loves Tom and listens/collect everything I can find, there's a great book called "Tom Waits on Tom Waits", and this video was well done too, but if you're looking to dissect things further check out that podcast. (I went fishing and that's all I listened to while out there and learned a whole lot. It was a really enjoyable listen. I snagged a lot of catfish... but got a few decent rainbow trout..) I just wanted to pass that along. Keep up the good work here and cheers everybody
I fell in love cronologically with his music, which I am absolutely grateful because I got to be surprised and amazed in awe with every next record that I have stepped on, it's really one of my favorite artists and it doesn't even have a "mediocre" release.
I’m a big fan of Tom Waits and this guide really did him justice thank you for your hard work deep cuts keep it up
I cried before, during and after reading Naked Lunch. That novel is fuuuuuucked up!
Well done overview of this long career that I've been devoted to since the release of Foreign Affair. I was haunting one of my favorite record stores back then and that album was playing, it stopped me in my tracks and compelled me to listen. I've been a junkie for him ever since. Your favorites and mine are the same and I dare anyone with a heart beating to listen to Kentucky Avenue and not tear up by the time it's over. A masterful storyteller and commentator on the human condition, both ordinary and bizarre.
Well done! excellent summaries and nice details...First thing I ever heard of Tom's was Diamonds on my Windshield..I was addicted. I know that route he was driving. But what sticks with me now about Tom is first time I heard Georgia Lee..it stunned me. This song can make a grown man cry. The man is a poet with a special magic.
When I was in Jr High, I was OBSESSED with Bone Machine. It is an absolute masterpiece.
Was really happy to see this pop up just as I finished making dinner, had anticipated it. Tom Waits is an artist that I hold very dearly to my heart as he was one of my earliest gateways to weird, abstract and simply different music. I remember a school project when I was maybe 12 or 13 where my class got assigned our own artists that we had to make a presentation of and we each got a song we had to listen to and analyze. I think I got Aretha Franklin but my best friend got Tom Waits which we both had no idea who he was. So we all sat down with our headphones to listen to our songs and I'm looking over to my friend who's got this weird look on his face. Then he calls me over and says "you have to listen to this". So I do and put the headphones on and immediately I think I hear an organ or an accordion-led intro until the "junkyard"-percussion begins and that one-of-a-kind-voice starts singing. Afterwards I learn that I had just heard a song called "Rain Dogs" and needless to say my life was changed at that moment. Now just about ten years later Rain Dogs is one of my absolute favorite albums and Tom Waits one of my absolute favorite artists. Thank you for this video, gonna listen to Rain Dogs now in solitude with a bottle of wine.
This video is fantastic! I'm writing on Tom waits' rejection of typical authenticity narratives in popular music culture and you're helping me straighten out my thoughts so much!
Tom's best; #1 Mule Variations; #2 Small Change and #3 Bad as Me …. Thank you Sir Tom Waits .. Thanks for the video Deep Cuts.
I discovered Waits from going through Bukowski's material. Now I'm neck-deep in both of their works
Ugh, I finally have time to watch this! So glad you did the, Oliver! Bless your heart! Best music channel on TH-cam, period. 🙏🏼✌🏼
Love Tom Waits so much. I really hope he puts out at least one more album before he retires. This video is fantastic, a lot of great information here and delivered extremely well as always
Two of my favorite tracks on Orphans are two that were also featured on the soundtrack to "Dead Man Walking" and they are of course "Walk Away" and "The Fall of Troy"; both of which I think are brilliant.
I absolutely loved this video. Tom Waits is one of my favorite artists and this was an illuminating insight into his body of work.
Guide to King Crimson?
Big up King Crimson
I mean just listen to everything chronologically thats how i did it
He did it two days ago and I'm annoyed that I have to buy music
Thanks for the video. I have been a fan of Tom Waits (his music and acting) for years, but never knew too much about him. There have been some of his songs and albums I have liked more than others, but now I am wanting to go back through those other albums because of the history and listen to those that I have overlooked.
Mule Variations is my favorite. I'm a fan of slow, bluesy, rootsy music.
I'm gonna take it with me when I go.
Played that at my wife's funeral.
There's a Waits song for every occasion.
I've been so excited for this one, one of my favourite artists. Thanks Oliver!
Can't forget about Marc Ribot helping create n expand the clunk of Tom waits sound he never let go of.Hell Marc Ribot could use a Guide to!tying in with John Zorn!
The trilogy of albums- Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years-are just amazing. I love all of his albums, but those three are my favourite.
Dog Door was actually a collaboration with Sparklehorse, and first appeared on the album It’s a Wonderful Life in 2001. I don’t know who contributed what to that track, exactly, but I wouldn’t assume Casey to have been involved.
Guide to miles davis or frank zappa would be awesome!
Turned onto "Small Change" back in high school. '77. Game over. I bought it, everything before it and everything since. Saw him live twice. "Mule" tour and "Glitter and Doom". EPIC.
fantastically informative and got me inspired to listen to some of this century's albums, which I don't know well...
been listening to waits since the late 70s when he went on the Don Lane show in Australia . Really only got into him when he released Sword Fish. I once listened to that album..exclusively..for a whole month..still not sick of it. Excellent summary, i was waiting to get mad, thinking some young dude gonna try and tell me about Tom..you did him justice. couple things..Ribot it pronounced "Ree bo". Dog Door was a Sparklehorse song which tom sang on in 2001...you need to check them out.
Well, today, we are february 27 of 2021. So time has passed. But I only heard your post yesterday. Thank you so much for this. It's awesome. I agree with almost everything you say. My favorite record is Swordfishtrombone, not only Tom's record, but my fav of all time. from the first period, I absolute love In the heart of saturday night. My third fav is Bad as me. Writing here orders me to write short, there is so much to say about him.... I'm writing now a short novel based on some of his tracks. Sorry as I am french, you won't be able to read it, but I will think of you doing this.
If I was on a desert island and could only have one record, it would be Rain Dogs! A friend who I was camping with in a tent-we were stuck in there for a while because of a skunk prowling around-and he put on Night Hawks @ the Diner on cassette tape and a crappy portable player and I’ve been hooked ever since! I had heard the song, Romeo’s Bleeding prior to this but really had no idea who he was! His more challenging work took me a while to appreciate but I’m a painter and would start listening to Rain Dogs late at night while painting and it conjures up such vivid imagery that I really embraced all of it, even Black Rider. Just unmatched in the history of music and by far the best storyteller/lyricist I’ve ever heard.
Love Waits, as good as Bad as Me is, Mule Variations is the bees knees for me. Along with Bone Machine and Rain Dogs. Blue Valentine was the first album I brought in the year of release, quickly caught up with the others and brought every album since on day of release, just love the guy. Like Captain Beefheart but much, much better. Not one bad album, very few can say that.
Brilliant video. For me Tom Waits has been an artist I wanted to get into for a long time, but never really knew where to start or how to approach his work. This video will help a lot with that. thanks so much! I'm off to do some listening.
I was reading about Moondog the other day. I think his life would be a perfect subject for a video like this. He was a very, very interesting musician.