Discovering Tom Waits

[NJ Joe]

Credit for his songwriting genius also belongs to his wife Kathleen Brennan, who has been his collaborator since the 1980s. As I understand it, she got him sober and helped him re-invent himself musically, which is why he's had such a long run of success.

Introducing him to the music of Captain Beefheart wasn't too shabby either.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Any opinions on the Orphans collection? 3 CDs of stuff he couldn't find a place for elsewhere. How does it stand up against his best work?

[Rinaldo]

It's weird. I love the guy. I love his attitude, his writing, his imagery, his almost everything.. except for the music itself. There are a few songs I do enjoy but I remember going through all those classic albums and quickly losing interest every single time. Guess we're not meant for each other.. *sobs*

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Guess we're not meant for each other.. *sobs*

Have you tried listening to other performers do his music? You might like it better that way. Some people are put off by his voice or manner of performance.

Meanwhile, I just got Mule Variations.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Have you tried listening to other performers do his music? You might like it better that way. Some people are put off by his voice or manner of performance.

With reference to the above, here are a few examples I've enjoyed. It's particularly interesting to hear women interpret his songs, as their voices are so far away from Waits' own growly, boozy delivery. It gives a new perspective on things.

First up, Neko Case's understated, organ-backed version of "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgTPo4zRI2Q

Dutch singer Clara Bakker's stylish take on "Temptation" is about as far from the screechy falsetto of the original as you can get:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTUrnhK178E

Norwegian jazz singer Solveig Slettahjell does "Take It With Me" at the Oslo Jazz Festival:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q60YUnpbbHQ

The young progressive bluegrass artist Sarah Jarosz leads a rousing rendition of "Come On Up to the House":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbzASqc9Zqo

And finally, a Canadian band I'd never heard of, the Silver Hearts, and their hypnotic take on "Diamonds and Gold":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcT8Ntp_5xg

[Daverz]

Youn Sun Nah covers Jockey Full of Bourbon

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqzLixXp4xU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgWefgUxH2Y

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

And here's all 5 versions of "Way Down in the Hole," as used in The Wire, seasons 1-5 in order. The Waits original is in Season 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR9_wbTrInI

[TheGSMoeller]

Don't forget the most famous cover, but certainly not the best, is Rod Stewert's Downtown Train.

Also for those new to Waits.....his 2002 album Blood Money is music for Büchner's play Woyzeck. This staged play was directed by Robert Wilson (who also directed Glass' opera Einstein on the Beach). Wilson and Waits also worked on The Black Rider and Alice.

[Rinaldo]

Thanks for the tips, I checked a few of them and liked what I've heard. Might be the way to go.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Don't forget the most famous cover, but certainly not the best, is Rod Stewert's Downtown Train.

Eurgh...don't remind me 

Also for those new to Waits.....his 2002 album Blood Money is music for Büchner's play Woyzeck. This staged play was directed by Robert Wilson (who also directed Glass' opera Einstein on the Beach). Wilson and Waits also worked on The Black Rider and Alice.

There's a certain amount of classical influence in his works, in addition to everything else. I think The Black Rider has some relation to Weber's Der Freischütz, though I'm not sure what. Also the above-mentioned collaboration with Gavin Bryars, and his citing of Harry Partch as an influence.

I was listening to the song "Please Wake Me Up," from Frank's Wild Years, and thinking it sounded like something composed by Anton Webern. Really a startling little song.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Here's an interesting essay on Waits, by the distinguished historian Simon Schama:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/dec/09/popandrock

I don't agree with everything he says (why does he pick on Prokofiev of all people?), but it's a well-written inquiry into what makes Waits special and addictive.

[Jubal Slate]

I had a Waits phase a while back, and now this thread has me thinking about him again. The albums I enjoyed the most were...

Swordfishtrombones
Rain Dogs
Bone Machine
The Black Rider

So, yeah, sort of that middle period. After that it seemed like he was stuck on repeat but maybe I wasn't listening closely enough.

Beatniks+Louis Armstrong+Howlin' Wolf+Captain Beefheart

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Beatniks+Louis Armstrong+Howlin' Wolf+Captain Beefheart

+ the whole cabaret/ vaudeville/ Kurt Weill thing.

[Jubal Slate]

+ the whole cabaret/ vaudeville/ Kurt Weill thing.

'

YES!

[Daverz]

+ the whole cabaret/ vaudeville/ Kurt Weill thing.

+ burlesque.

[NJ Joe]

Don't forget the most famous cover

Around these parts it's this:   

https://www.youtube.com/v/xRXhDQXhdXE

[TheGSMoeller]

One of best songs, All The World Is Green, followed by an entertaining interview with Letterman...

https://www.youtube.com/v/33lOH7MPZQI

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Speaking of covers - Scarlett Johansson of all people did a whole album of them. Reviews were scathing. However, I doubt it could be as bad as that album of Pat Boone singing heavy metal.

Here's another cute one. Canadian chanteuse Anna Atkinson accordionates her way through "Innocent When You Dream":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3cA5yCKUZg

[Sergeant Rock]

Speaking of covers - Scarlett Johansson of all people did a whole album of them. Reviews were scathing. However, I doubt it could be as bad as that album of Pat Boone singing heavy metal.

Amazon DE has clips.

http://www.amazon.de/Anywhere-I-Lay-My-Head/dp/B001713CMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1429962928&sr=1-1&keywords=Scarlett+Johansson

She can't sing...but then Tom can't either so I don't think that's necessarily a negative comment 

Sarge

[Daverz]

Youn Sun Nah covers Jockey Full of Bourbon

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqzLixXp4xU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgWefgUxH2Y

Wonderful as this Jazz version is, Youtube follows it up with a more trad blues performance by Joe Bonamassa.  You can actually understand the story, and I was impressed with his guitar picking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8lOSERcJFE