Tom Waits

[Skeletor]

I got a PM for Tom Waits recommendations, and I thought why not make a new topic about him - the man definitely deserves one. Don't remember seeing that many fans around here, so now's a good time to get to know one of the greatest storytellers and poets ever to exist! I know some of you are into Mark Lanegan, and comparisons between those two aren't far-fetched; if you like one, you'll likely enjoy the other one as well. Anyway, here's the PM I sent:

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Recommending Tom Waits can be a bit hard, as the guy has about ten brilliant albums, and the styles have varied a LOT in time. My favorite eras of his are the 70s and the 80s. Nonetheless, you can't go wrong with these:

1. Closing Time ('73)
-Tom's debut album, his voice isn't that raspy yet (not saying it's a good thing or a bad thing), all the compositions are brilliant

2. Rain Dogs ('85)
-a gem from the 80s, this is a must have! Even Winona Ryder says she can't leave home without it

3. Small Change ('76)
-many hail this as Tom's best work, another great album full of amazing storytelling

So there you go, start with those and you'll get a pretty good idea of what the man is about. You might also try the compilation albums, they're really well done: Used Songs has everything from '73-'80 (he was most prolific during those years, doing pretty much one album per year) and Beautiful Maladies has music from '83-'93 (that was the first Tom Waits album I bought, a very good introduction).

[Ignatius]

2. Rain Dogs ('85)
-a gem from the 80s, this is a must have! Even Winona Ryder says she can't leave home without it

Same thought process Winona seems to have in every shop she goes?

Seriously, I don't consider myself a fan since I only own Franks Wild Years. I bought the album 5 or 6 years ago, liked ok but didn't really appreciate it that much since I've haven't listened to the album in at least two years.

Now that you've started this thread, I may give him another try.

Thanx for the recommendations 
 

[Skeletor]

Well, Franks Wild Years is a bit mixed bag; there are some really good songs like Innocent When You Dream (78) and Cold Cold Ground, but then there's also lots of stuff I don't really "get". The cool thing about Tom Waits is that you've got three different eras; the 70s, the 80s and the 90s+00s, and they're all very different. Closing Time and Small Change are a good intro to his 70s music. Also, the 70s is what I believe most people think of as the "real" Tom Waits (if such a thing exists anyway).

[Izzy]

2. Rain Dogs ('85)
-a gem from the 80s, this is a must have! Even Winona Ryder says she can't leave home without it

...or a shop.....0____0

[journey]

I love Tom Waits.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Thanks Skeletor 

2. Rain Dogs ('85)
-a gem from the 80s, this is a must have! Even Winona Ryder says she can't leave home without it

3. Small Change ('76)
-many hail this as Tom's best work, another great album full of amazing storytelling

Lyrically, both these albums are great. He has a dry sense of humor that really tells a story.

But musically, I prefer Rain Dogs.  This album is fantastic!  Who knew Winona Ryder had such good taste 

I love the imagery in this song (9th and Hennepin from Rain Dogs):


Well it's Ninth and Hennepin
All the doughnuts have names that sound like prostitutes
And the moon's teeth marks are on the sky
Like a tarp thrown all over this
And the broken umbrellas like dead birds
And the steam comes out of the grill
Like the whole goddamn town's ready to blow


FYI:  Tom Waits has collaborated with Primus and The Replacements apparently.  He should do some impromptu jams with new GNR!

[comaknight]

Bourbon-soaked emotion, grizzled voice, evocative lyrics.  The man is a legend.  Seek out "The Early Years" for a dose of rasp-less young Waits on cuts that showed up on later albums.  He's doing 7 or 8 random shows this summer, but none near me.   

[Skeletor]

Nice to see some appreciation for old Tom!

I really love the storytelling aspect in his songs, a good example being "Invitation to the Blues": there's a guy in a diner, noticing the worn-out waitress and speculating what a tough life she's had. He's able to imagine the amount of drama and bad breaks the woman has endured, and what an utter case of blues her whole life has been. Yet, in the end he's so intrigued that he decides to stay with her and see what happens:

"but there's a Continental Trailways leaving
local bus tonight good evening
you can have my seat
I'm stickin round here for awhile
get me a room at the Squire
and the fillin station's hiring
I can eat here every night
what the hell have I got to lose
got a crazy sensation
go or stay and I've got to choose
and I'll accept your invitation
to the blues"

[directionality]

I just bought two tickets for the August 9th concert at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago! My god, this year is turning out to be a great year for concerts... went to see GNR four times in NYC, and now I'm going to see Waits. Ohh yeah.

[Slashead]

I recommend Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years. That's a fine trilogy (same themes and atmospheres).