I have put a lot of folks to sleep with The Twa Sisters and all 463 verses of Matty Groves, especially a drinking crowd....unless it's in that last boozy stage of everyone needing a good cry....

I persist because I love these old songs, they make me feel connected, all umpteen verses, to a time when information was passed on verbally rather than electronically.

As far as listening....definitely Tom Waits. I know I am not the only person in the world to love this guy's style and material...I'm just the only person in MY world who does...