Talk Tom Waits

Subject: Talk Tom Waits
From: olddude
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 11:43 PM

Just listening to DW Ditty's version of "invitation to the Blues" by Tom Waits. Gave me goose bumps. If you haven't heard ditty do it, you miss quite a lot he is amazing. I think Waits did an incredible number of great songs. To me perhaps the best modern blues guy around but that is personal opinion. What other tunes do you like from Waits. And where are the blues dudes? We have a lot of folk threads but the blues guys are lacking here lately what's up?

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Neil D
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 11:54 PM

"Time" and "On The Nickel" are two of my favorites.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: open mike
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 02:19 AM

San Diego Serenade...the one that Nanci Griffith did..
never saw the morning til i stayed up all night..it is filled
with dichotomies....and contradictions....never saw my
hometown 'til i stayed away too long...it sounds like this:


Tom Waits: San Diego Serenade



I never saw the morning til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody, until I needed a song.

I never saw the white line, til I was leaving you behind
I never knew I needed you til I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke i love you til I cursed you in vain,
I never felt my heartstrings until I nearly went insane.

I never saw the east coast til I move to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off your breast
I never saw your heart til someone tried to steal,
Tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 04:17 AM

Too many to mention but "Martha" "In The Neighbourhood" "What's He Building In There?" "Downtown Train" "THe Road To Peace" spring to mind.
Any reviews of his recent Scottish appearances ?

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Stu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 04:37 AM

I'm still here

Innocent When You Dream

Tom Traubert's Blues

Kommeinezuspadt

I'll Be Gone

etc etc

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: oldhippie
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 07:27 AM

What's He Building In There? is a classic.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 07:49 AM

What's he building in there
Innocent when you dream
God's Away on business
Chcoclate Jesus
Jockey full of bourbon
Rain dogs
Dead and Lovely
My favorite color is red
Gunstreet girl
OUr world was green
Make it rain
Everything goes to hell
There's more but I'll stop there lol

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: dwditty
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 08:55 AM

Thanks, Olddude!

The entire Nighthawks AT the Diner album (I always play it from start to finish to get the feel of the live show)

It would be harder to come up with a list of Waits songs that I don't like, than a list of favorites. I have pretty much his entire recorded output, and listen often. I have recently picked up a few gems off the Early Years Cds...Ice Cream Man...When You Ain't Got Nobody. I play alot of his stuff at a weekly jam, and the band always seems to dig right in to Wait's groove.

People often comment that they like his older stuff, but not the new. I have to admit, I was the same...until I really gave his newer stuff a listen...it is all good. Suggestion: If you have a painting project, you ears are just sitting there doing nothing, so it is a great time to really give new music a listen.

Of course, there is also some great YouTube clips...just search Tom Waits. Some of the interviews are hilarious.

One of my daughters lives in CAlifornia. SHe was in a music store in Santa Monica when she called me on the cell and said she was standing right nest to Tom Waits. SHe said he smelled, which, with Waits, seems to fit the persona rather than offend.

dw

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:06 AM

Someone mentioned Road to Peace that is a great song to. The video for What's he building in there is great you can find it on youtube. Waits is unreal I love all of his stuff.
Cold Cold Ground
Misery is the river of the world
Hang on St.Christopher
Hold on
Singapore
Oh man I could go on forever with this one whoever put this one up THANK YOU!

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:41 AM

His recent songs may not sound like his old style, but he is still writing some powerful stuff.   A couple of years ago he wrote a song called "Day After Tomorrow" - a letter home from a soldier. Joan Baez just recorded it on her new CD, also called "Day After Tomorrow." It is beyond a doubt, one of the most moving anti-war songs I've ever heard.   I saw Joan Baez sing it in concert recently and it had me in tears.   Just an incredible writer.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: bankley
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:42 AM

Colleen Peterson did the opening part of a Waits tour in the Southern US (late 70's)... her guitar player, Rick, told me that Tom liked to play poker..... and always kept a suitcase packed and a pair of pointy toed shoes...ready near the hotel room door... "just in case"

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: bankley
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:45 AM

ps.. he does some fine music and dream sequence acting/playing in Roberto Benini's latest film... "Tiger in the Snow"

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Guldhamstern
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:04 AM

Don't forget to give Kathleen Brennan some credits. Much of the Tom Waits stuff is co-written with her.

Some songs I love:
Swordfishtrombone
Yesterday Is Here
I'll Be Gone
Pony
Falling Down

And a whole bunch more.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: olddude
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:06 AM

I remember a few years ago he was on Letterman and was singing into a bull horn. It was great also ... one of the most creative people around.   I wished I had seen him in concert but I never have

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:13 AM

Like people have said, just too many to mention, but I do have some fave albums. The whole of Nighthawks is just amazing. I don't think anyone has mentioned 'Bone Machine' yet either; if you haven't got it, go and get it!! However, it may make you question how good 'Mule Variations' is, which although I like, sounded far too much like 'Bone Machine' for me. 'What's He Building in There' is more or less the same song as 'The Ocean Doesn't Want Me Today'. However, minor, minor issue, the guy is a genius.

Black Rider is also worth getting if you don't have it, music he did for (I think) a William Burroughs play ("it ain't no sin to take off your skin and dance around your bones!!").

I think Swordfish/ Rain Dogs/ Franks Wild Years and teh associated live album 'Big Time' are just incredible. The stories in between are a highpoint for me too (the soldier and the girl and the bullet being a great example), and when he breaks into Train Song on Big Time: "Well I broke down in East St Louis, on the Kansas City Line...." I just fall to bits everytime.

"..and if you think that you can tell a bigger tale, I swear to god you'd have to tella lie!!"

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:48 AM

Jim

Both the Guardian, Observer and Sunday Times reviews of his recent Edinburgh gig were ecstatic.

Incidentally, whilst I have the following albums:

Mule variations
Heart of Saturday night
Real gone
Alice
Blood Money
Asylum years

I wouldn't claim to have a comprehensive knowledge of his stuff.

Are there any other "must have" albums that I should know about.

R

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:20 AM

Yes (IMHO) at least:

Closing Time
Nighthawks at the Diner
Swordfishtrombone
Raindogs
Big Time
Bone Machine

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:42 AM

Why did Tom only play Edinburgh on his recent UK visit? I demand that Asgard tell us.

---

Please note that anonymous posting is no longer allowed at Mudcat. Use a consistent name [in the 'from' box] when you post, or your messages risk being deleted. If you're anonymous, you're not in a position to "demand" anything.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: G-Force
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:43 AM

'The House where Nobody Lives' is a great song.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Watt Tyler
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 12:08 PM

The Day After Tomorrow
Time
Jersey Girl
On The Nickel
Soldier's Things
Annie's Back In Town
Lost In The Harbour
Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis
Burma Shave
Tom Traubert's Blues
God's Away On Business
Alice
Lullaby
Hold On
Picture In A Frame
Take It With Me
Flower's Grave
Broken Bicycles
Big Joe & Phantom 309 (Cover)

and the best of all ........ Kentucky Avenue

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 12:10 PM

My son, who has a band in San Diego, has always been a fan of Tom Waits. One of his high school teachers had collaborated with Waits on some of his earlier albums and knew him well. My son's group recently drove down to Phoenix to hear a Waits concert and said the audience was "blown away."

Years earlier, around 1971, I had an employee in my store who was a college student at San Diego State. She and her dad were good friends of Sam Hinton's and I had been privileged to join in a little song fest with Sam and her dad, a West Virgina-born master carpenter and excellent guitarist. She was involved in the San Diego coffee house scene in the 1960's and saw a lot of Tom Waits in the days when he was living among the "street people" and working in a National City pizza parlor. She said he smelled "like a goat" back then, but was fascinated with the music he was creating. He is definitely one of a kind.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Rain Dog
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 12:37 PM

I saw Waits in Edinburgh and Dublin on the recent tour. The Dublin gigs were in a tent in Phoenix Park. The tent does kind of suit him. I think he is a very good live performer and that he puts on a very good show, simple but good. Not one for special effects Mr Waits.

Someone asked why only Edinburgh? He tends not to plan his tours too far ahead so when he does decide to tour it is a case of finding what venues are available.He also tends to prefer sit down venues.

For info on Waits it is worth checking out

Tom Waits Library

and

The Eyeball Kid

If you get the chance to see Waits take it. I don't think you will be disappointed. Tickets might be a bit expensive, especially in Europe, but he is worth it.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: olddude
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 02:37 PM

I heard his GB tour was sold out in less than an hour

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Nick
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 03:10 PM

I love lots of his music and play some of his earlier things as they are easier to translate into how I sing and play. I have quite a lot of his albums but some I find less accessible than others - perhaps I'll return ad listen again to a few prompted by this.

I sing and play:

San Diego Serenade
Fumbling with the Blues
Heart of Saturday Night
Please Call Me Baby
Ol 55
Drunk on the Moon
I hope That I don't fall in love with you

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 03:13 PM

Dion did a masterful recording of San Diego Serenade... one of the best things he's ever done, in my opinion. I have it on cassette. I'll have to see if it is on CD. I don't remember that being the title, though.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Arkie
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 05:28 PM

Georgia Lee

Also liked Waits version of Two Sisters.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: olddude
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 06:01 PM

San Diego Serenade
listening to it right now
I forgot that one .. thank you

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: dwditty
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:23 PM

Here is the most comprehensive site for TOM WAITS LYRICS & CHORDS that I have found.

dw

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: olddude
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:35 PM

Wow,
Thanks DW ... that is awesome. By the way, How about doing cold cold ground
noone would do it better than you bro

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:42 PM

I have always thought Cold Cold Ground would br a great song to do a version of too.
Another cool song is Starving in the Belly of the Whale I love that song.

I do a version of one of his and I can't think of the name of it. It is off of Raindogs the chorus is

"Just let me fall out of the window with confetti in my hair
Deal out jacks or better on a blanket by the stairs
I'll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past
so send me off to bed forevermore."

Does anyone remember the name of that one?

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: dwditty
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:01 PM

Tango Til They're Sore

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:04 PM

Yes that's it
They drive along the pipeline they tango til they're sore they take apart thier nghtmares and they leave them by the door.

Thank you

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Mudlark
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 06:04 PM

Thanks for a great thread...love Tom Waits. Heart of Sat. Nite a longtime fav, Small Change Got Rained on by his Own 38, best rendition of And the band played W. Matilda ever, and so many others. He was wonderful in a Jim Jarm. film too, Down by Law...he did a great late night DJ riff....

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: old salty
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 04:25 AM

The briar and the rose ! Its a lovely song
                                                 salty X

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 01:59 AM

Widow's Grove
Cold Water
The whole Alice cd
The entire Mule Variations
Pasties and a g-string
I am also wearing orphans out

I just had to put an update up here. Judging by my last one I was really listening to Blood Money alot. That was after Rain Dogs melted in my CD player lol.

Something that is always in my truck

Tom Waits cds
and an ipod with Waits on it.

Alot of artists come and go but Waits is something I cannot do without.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: mandotim
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:23 AM

Try this for an interpretation of a Tom Waits song. It's very dodgy quality, done live and unamplified in a crowded bar, but the artistry of Cloudstreet is amazing, on one of Waits' best songs (imho).
Tim

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:35 AM

I am also wearing orphans out

JT, you may want think about rephrasing that... ;-)

Kentucky Avenue has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: Jayto
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 11:58 AM

LOL OMG I didn't even see that when I posted it lol. I am laughin my ass off.

OK how about

I am really digging me some Orphans right now:)

Subject: RE: Talk Tom Waits
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 12:27 PM

Thanks for that link dwditty.
I like a lot of Tom's songs, but I'll choose three that I've tried to learn: I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You, New Coat Of Paint and Drunk On The Moon.