Tom Waits

Tom Waits is an enigma. Capable of the most beautiful and most sublime melodies he is also capable of stretching the limits of his music to such a degree that he distorts reality.

Over the years, however, I have discovered that Waits is worth the bother.

For biographies and discographies on Tom Waits, try the following links.

Tom Waits
Tom Waits

ALBUMS

Closing Time ****1/2

This was Waits' first album and oozes charm and beauty.

I never get tired of hearing some of these songs. Indeed it is one of the most laid back albums that I possess.

Waits fuses jazz, soul and pop with plenty of hints of the boozy, cigarette ridden voice that emerges in later albums.

This is my favourite Waits album due to its accessibility. It also has two of my favourite Waits' songs in "Ol' 55" his paean to Americana and the superb "Martha".

"Martha" is arguably the best song he ever wrote with its lost opportunity angst, haunting melody and wonderful lyrics.

This song was a few years ago murdered by Meatloaf but I noticed that recently British and ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler nominated this song as the one he would like to have played at his funeral.

Elsewhere there are so many highs and so few lows.

Tom Waits - Full Album Listing

ALBUM	Year Released
Closing Time	1973	*
Heart of Saturday night	1974
Nighthawks at the Diner	1975
Small Change	1976	*
Foreign Affairs	1977
Blue Valentine	1978
Heartbreak and Vine	1980
Bounced Checks	1981		Compilation
One From the Heart	1982		Soundtrack
Swordfishtrombone	1983	*
Anthology	1984		Compilation
Asylum Years	1984	*	Compilation
Rain Dogs	1985	*
Frank's Wild Years	1987	*
Big Time	1988
The Early Years	1991		Compilation
The Early Years Vol 2	1992		Compilation
Night on Earth	1992		Soundtrack
Bone Machine	1992
Black Rider	1993
Beautiful Maladies - The Island Years	1998	*	Compilation
Mule Variations	1999
Alice	2002
Blood Money	2002
Real Gone	2004

My Tom Waits Favourites Volume One

I am putting together compilation CDs of my favourite Waits tracks. Here is the first.

Track Title Time Album Taken From

1 In the Neighbourhood 3:04 Sworfishtrombone

2 Downtown Train 3:50 Rain Dogs

3 Tom Traubert's Blues 6:40 Small Change

4 Hang Down Your Head 2:32 Rain Dogs

5 Time 3:54 Rain Dogs

6 Rainbirds 3:05 Sworfishtrombone

7 Ol 55 3:58 Closing Time

8 (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night 3:52 Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night

9 More Than Rain 3:39 Frank's Wild Years

10 Just Another Sucker on the Vine 1:42 Sworfishtrombone

11 Cold Cold Ground 4:04 Frank's Wild Years

12 I Wish I Was in New Orleans 4:50 Small Change

13 Martha 4:25 Closing Time

14 Johnsburg, Illinois 1:30 Sworfishtrombone

15 Grapefruit Moon 4:46 Closing Time

16 Soldier's Things 3:15 Sworfishtrombone

17 Ruby's Arms 5:36 Heartbreak and Vine

18 Innocent When You Dream 4:14 Frank's Wild Years

19 Closing Time 4:20 Closing Time

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