Where to start with Tom Waits

[riverrat]

Not sure if there are any Tom Waits fans here, but I thought I'd check. Which of his many discs rise to the top of the heap for you?

[gnhrtg]

Not sure if there are any Tom Waits fans here, but I thought I'd check. Which of his many discs rise to the top of the heap for you?

You have a big fan here Over the last couple of years, I've heard about a dozen of his concerts, spanning three decades, and he's great live. This has made me an even bigger fan. On his better albums - initially I would compile a best of disc from each of set of 3-4 albums of his and thoroughly enjoy every spin of those discs. As I got to hear the concerts however, I also started enjoying most of the tunes I had left out of those compilations. I will also say that I like Alice, Mule Variations, and Blood Money just fine (need to give Real Gone some more time though I can already, and easily, say that Hoist That Rag and Don't Go Into that Barn rock). One thing on these four only, Alice is the neat and tidy one of the bunch and Real Gone is the roughest.There really is a lot of good stuff from his earlier albums - I do remember that the best of, Used Songs, did a decent job of representing Waits's work within that period (1973-1980).

I'm looking at his discography now and I see that though I have Bone Machine, I haven't heard either its predecessor or successor, Night on Earth and Black Rider. Better check those out soon. Though again, I've lately been returning to his concert recordings, acquired via dime but before then through the help of some helpful contacts, much more than to his albums proper.

[robviti]

tom waits thread

[HolyStitt]

Have you heard anything by him yet?

Waits has had at least 3 different distinctive periods in his career. The way I see it he has had the 1970's sound: influenced by Jazz and the Beat Generation, the 1980's until the until "Real Gone" sound: influenced by his previous influences, Captain Beefheart, Harry Partch, and the New York jazz sound involving the Lurie Brothers, and the "Real Gone" sound: influenced by all his previous influences, hip hop, and percussive vocal effects.

Here are my recommendations:

If you can only start with two CDs:

Small Change- I think this is a pretty good representation of his 1970's sound, with nice variety between the different sounds of the period.

Rain Dogs-My all time favorite 1980's era CD.

If you decide to start with five:

Real Gone-With this CD he went in a new direction, so there is not any of his CDs that sound similar to this style.

Bone Machine-This was a pretty popular CD when it came out. Nice variety, with a lot of soul.

Nighthawks at the Dinner-Moves between a jazz influenced sound and beat poetry.

[Shawn]

Ya can't go wrong with this one!

[HolyStitt]

Ya can't go wrong with this one!

"Diamonds On My Windshield," was the first Waits song I had ever heard. It was on a Rhino Records The Beat Generation box set. I was thinking who and what is this!

[Kreilly]

Not sure if there are any Tom Waits fans here, but I thought I'd check. Which of his many discs rise to the top of the heap for you?

Heart of Saturday Night and Small Change are indispensable early Waits. The trilogy of Raindogs, Swordfishtrombones, and Frank's Wild Years is must-have 80s Waits. Bone Machine, Mule Variations, and Real Gone are essential post 1990 releases. Pick one from each group and start there. I like all of his stuff.

Kevin

[Dmitry]

In a nut-shell, everything and anything recorded from 1973 to 1983 is a keeper.

[AllenLowe]

"I've heard about a dozen of his concerts"

well, than it's about time for you to actually go to one -

[Alexander]

Bone Machine-This was a pretty popular CD when it came out. Nice variety, with a lot of soul.

It's scary as hell too! I always pull it out around Halloween. Some of the tracks are way creepy (but wonderful).

[riverrat]

Thank you very kindly for all the recommendations everyone. This gives me plenty to go on.