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Tom Waits

Discussion in 'Music Forum' started by Blaine Ryan, Dec 24, 2018.

  1. Blaine Ryan

    .

    My all-time favorite songwriter/musician.

    Blue Valentine is a holiday staple 'round the old Ryan mansion, mostly due to this song:

     
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  2. jdr2187

    jdr2187

    Was there really no Tom Waits thread?!?

    Blue Valentine is great. I’ve recently been listening to Closing Time a lot. It’s always been near the bottom of the stack for me when it comes to Waits, but I’ve recently found a new appreciation for it for whatever reason.

    Did you check out his performance in the Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix? His performance/story was easily my favorite part.
     
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  3. Blaine Ryan

    .

    Blasphemy, I know.

    Closing Time is probably my least favorite Waits album (not counting the soundtracks), but there's still a lot to like about it. "Ol' 55" and "Grapefruit Moon" are great songs.

    And I haven't yet! Definitely need to check that out.

    Also, happy holidays, man!
     
  4. Blaine Ryan

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    This is one of the greatest things I've ever seen:

     
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  5. Blaine Ryan

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    I wonder if we'll ever get a new album...
     
  6. jdr2187

    jdr2187

    Happy holidays to you as well!

    And I hope every year is the year we get a new album, but I’m like you, I’m beginning to wonder if it will ever happen again.
     
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  7. angel paste

    grey hairs, get out of me zoots! Prestigious

    I think we will get a new album eventually, i’m definitely not expecting it at any point but when it comes we shall rejoice. I liked Bad As Me but I don’t want that to be his last album.

    Franks Wild Years is easily one of my favorite albums of all time.
     
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  8. jdr2187

    jdr2187

    Seeing Tom Waits live has been and will continue to be the number 1 thing on my bucket list. At this point I’ve pretty much accepted it will never happen :(
     
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  9. Doomsday

    strange days are here to stay Prestigious

    Not familiar with Waits outside of Heart of Saturday Night but I listened to Rain Dogs and absolutely loved it, Swordfishtrombones is pretty awesome so far as well. Damn! Constantly sleeping on things
     
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  10. Blaine Ryan

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    Same.

    I listened to his VH1 Storytellers set earlier -- pretty much my ideal Waits show, in terms of setting. The guy is a world class entertainer.

    The full thing is up on YouTube, if anyone hasn't heard it:

     
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  11. Blaine Ryan

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    I love this version of "Train Song" from Big Time:

     
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  12. SpyKi

    You must fix your heart Supporter

    Closing Time is actually my favourite of his just because his singing voice works more for me on that one, lol. His gruffer vocals have grown on me a lot though, I used to hate his music because I couldn't deal with the vocals.
     
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  13. Doomsday

    strange days are here to stay Prestigious

    I remember a friend showing me some songs of his when we were in grade 10, and I completely did not enjoy it at all and I'm going back now and just... kind of falling in love with his stuff.
     
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  14. angrycandy

    I’m drama in these khaki towns Supporter

    I agree with Joey Diaz on a lot of things...but not Tom Waits

    really hope we get at least one more album
     
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  15. Steeeve Perry

    Trusted

    My favourite songwriter. Thanks for starting the thread.
    PS I have recently decided San Diego Serenade might be his best song.
     
  16. jdr2187

    jdr2187

    My favorite Waits song has always been and will likely always be Day After Tomorrow.
     
  17. stijn_p

    Regular Supporter

    One of my favorite musicians. Hang Down Your Head is my favorite song of all time.
     
  18. Blaine Ryan

    .

    Man, the Real Gone remaster is just terrible.

    They completely nuked the whole "transistor radio with bad reception" aesthetic the original album had, and stripped out all of the magic and mystery of it in the process.

    It's the only version available on Apple Music, too. Which is a huge bummer.
     
  19. angel paste

    grey hairs, get out of me zoots! Prestigious

    ah shit that’s the only way i’ve listened to it, gotta download the original. Love that album!
     
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  20. jdr2187

    jdr2187

    I’ve heard all the Asylum albums that got remastered this year were awful too. I actually picked up a copy of Closing Time from Vinyl Me Please, but have been in no hurry to listen to it bc of all the crap I’ve read about how awful it is. Pretty disappointing.
     
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  21. Steeeve Perry

    Trusted

    That's super disappointing to hear. I would never want a Bone Machine remaster. That album is recorded PERFECTLY.
     
  22. Steeeve Perry

    Trusted

    So a while back I tried making a top 100 Tom Waits playlist, in order of my favourite to 100th favourite... I jotted down my top 50. Just found it:

    1 San Diego Serenade
    2 Tom Traubert's Blues
    3 Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
    4 Time
    5 Jersey Girl
    6 Downtown Train
    7 Anywhere I Lay My Head
    8 Who Are You
    9 Ol' 55
    10 Hold On
    11 Cold, Cold Ground
    12 Blind Love
    13 16 Shells from a 30.6
    14 The Heart of Saturday Night
    15 Hang Down Your Head
    16 Come on Up to the House
    17 Train Song
    18 Dirt In The Ground
    19 Tango Till They're Sore
    20 I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
    21 Make It Rain
    22 Bottom of the World
    23 Goin Out West
    24 Alice
    25 Shiver Me Timbers
    26 Hoist That Rag
    27 Way Down in the Hole
    28 Innocent When You Dream
    29 Earth Died Screaming
    30 Lucky Day
    31 Invitation To The Blues
    32 Jesus Gonna Be Here
    33 Take It With Me
    34 I Don't Wanna Grow Up
    35 Jockey Full of Bourbon
    36 Martha
    37 Walking Spanish
    38 A Little Rain
    39 Whistle Down The Wind
    40 Kentucky Avenue
    41 On the Nickel
    42 Hell Broke Luce
    43 Clap Hands
    44 Johnsburgh Illinois
    45 Step Right Up
    46 Yesterday Is Here
    47 The Day After Tomorrow
    48 Shore Leave
    49 Rain Dogs
    50 Swordfishtrombone
     
  23. zmtr

    Trusted

    Same here. Closing Time is actually one of my favorite records of all time. Nothing else have ever really stuck for me.
     
  24. Blaine Ryan

    .

    I would recommend giving the later records another go (Waits is an acquired taste, and it can take some time for him to really click) but if nothing else you should definitely check out The Heart of Saturday Night if you haven't already, especially if it's the voice that's the dealbreaker for you.

    A couple samples:


     
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  25. Matt Chylak

    I can always be better, so I'll always try. Supporter

    This song’s great! It’s weird, I’ve listened to a few Waits albums (and own Rain Dogs) but have never gotten deep into his music.
     
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