Can ye recommend some Tom Waits albums? (1 Viewer)

[Froog]

for someone who doesn't know where to start?

 

[Mitchum]

The trilogy of Raindogs, Swordfishtrombones and Frank's Wild Years.

 

[drkdrk]

Heart of a saturday night and closing time are my top two

 

[egg_]

Closing Time, if you fancy some downbeat, jazz-influenced, amazingly-written songs. John-out-of-Stoat thinks the title track off Blue Valentine is the best song Tom ever wrote, so maybe that either

Swordfishtrombones or Frank's Wild Years if you want the weird stuff. Or Bone Machine

 

[Boozin]

Closing Time, Swordfishtrombones and Mule Variations are my fav.

 

[BonsaiSuperstar]

get to know the jazzy/piano Tom waits first.so get any albums pre 1983.
even thou post 1983 with swordfishtrombones might be his best its better to get to know his earlier stuff first. the later stuff is better then.
i would start with Closing Time and the heart of saturday night

 

[Unicron]

Closing Time, if you fancy some downbeat, jazz-influenced, amazingly-written songs. John-out-of-Stoat thinks the title track off Blue Valentine is the best song Tom ever wrote, so maybe that either

Swordfishtrombones or Frank's Wild Years if you want the weird stuff. Or Bone Machine

Listen to egg, he speaks sense.

I've got an awful soft spot for Heartattack and Vine though. Jersey Girl, On The Nickle and Roby's Arms are some of my favourite Tom songs.

I found an old copy of Closing Time on Vinyl in Lyon a couple of weeks ago for €12. They also had an old A-House 10" in stock. I didn't buy that.

 

[nEiLo]

BONE MACHINE.

 

[Jill Hives]

Am I the only one who likes Blood Money?

 

[Lolo]

get to know the jazzy/piano Tom waits first.so get any albums pre 1983.
even thou post 1983 with swordfishtrombones might be his best its better to get to know his earlier stuff first. the later stuff is better then.
i would start with Closing Time and the heart of saturday night

I disagree, I did it the other way round, I don't think I'd really have got into the early stuff without hearing the later mad stuff first.

 

[travispickle]

I Pretty much agree with all 0f the above - might even be best to start with a compilation if you wanna get a feel for his stuff. "Asylum Years" is a good start for the early piano-led songs. As already mentioned, albums like Blue Valentine, Heart-attack and Vine, Closing Time, Swordfishtrombones are all fantastic too.
Happy listening!

 

[Anthony]

I only have Blue Valentine. I like it.

 

[egg_]

On The Nickle

Heard that song for the first time recently, now have a soft spot for it myself

 

[Goodbye]

If you feel like splashing out, get orphans. 3 discs covers all his styles.

 

[Pedronimus]

I'd start with Closing Time. He didn't sing in the gruff voice on that. And its instantly enjoyable. It took me ages to warm to the barky voice.

 

[Flux]

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[ratmonkey]

Am I the only one who likes Blood Money?

Nope, but The Black Rider is the best of them, methinks.

 

[Boozin]

I'd start with Closing Time. He didn't sing in the gruff voice on that. And its instantly enjoyable. It took me ages to warm to the barky voice.

I love the later gruff voice way more than i do the earlier stuff. Although i do think you have to listen to the earlier albums to apreciate it more

 

[Wilbert]

Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones and Franks Wild Years are probably the best.

I love One From The Heart too. It has Waits singing about half the songs and Crystal Gayle singing the other half. Absolutely fantastic and if you are more of a Closing Time Waits fan than a Bone Machine one you'll love it.

Since Bone Machine, I've found it hard to really care about his albums.

 

[Scientician 0.8]

I have live versions of On The Nickel and The Fall Of Troy that are some of the most amazing recordings I've ever heard. Track down his live stuff, his playing is great but the stories and banter between or during songs is class too.