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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 2, 2007 9:18:04 GMT -5
I love him. It's pretty clear Kevin Murphy loves him. I've just started listening to all his albums chronologically for fun again. Think I have to go with Swordfishtrombones as my favourite with Dirt In The Ground from Bone Machine as my favourite song. Anyone else on the board a fan?
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Post by samtaco on Aug 2, 2007 9:21:02 GMT -5
Yeah he's awesome. I have his Blood Money album which is not always the best to listen to with your Grandparents.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Aug 2, 2007 15:51:45 GMT -5
Tom Waits is cool but I never kept up with his albums. If I could start over I would.
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Post by angilasman on Aug 2, 2007 16:46:32 GMT -5
I don't own any albums, but I think he's pretty dang cool from all the live performances I've seen on TV and the few CDs I've rented.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Aug 2, 2007 18:02:00 GMT -5
I dig some Tom Waits.
I don't know enough of his stuff to offer an informed opinion, but I've always liked what I've heard.
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 2, 2007 19:50:08 GMT -5
Personally I love the experimental stuff, post Swordfishtrombones (1983) but his earlier straight singer songwriter barroom blues stuff is also great. the only period I have a bit of trouble with is his late 70's albums, Foreign Affair and the like. Too many strings and musical style numbers. The blues and the pirate sea shanty style stuff for me. he's one of very few artists who's 80's output is better than his 70's!
You should all check out some more. I recommend:
Closing Time (debut, listen to how clean his voice is!)
The Heart of Saturday Night (a bit more bluesy second album)
Nighthawks at the Diner (Live set in a diner. Very sort of beatniky blues and very funny, voice now that gruff way everyone knows and Kevin murphy does so well.) One From the Heart Soundtrack (from the 1982 Coppola flop film. Waits wrote the album and then Coppola appears to have shaped themovie around it. Duet with Crystal Gayle.)
The 80's trilogy - Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, Frank's Wild Years (could be one of the finest runs of albums by anyone ever! The start of the experimentation, the one most believe is his opus and the first to be based ona stage show(he does that alot afterwards). Also the lyrics have evolved incredibly)
Bone Machine (In some ways his darkest (opens with Earth Died Screaming and Dirt In Tje Ground) Has I Don't Want To Grow Up that the Ramones covered on it.)
Mule Variations (like a best of as it seems to cover all the styles up to it. Might be a good place to start)
Alice/Blood Money (two albums released together. Blood Money is angry as hell while Alice, based on another stage play is quite a sad album. Very difficult listens but ultimately some of his finest work)
Apart from Foreign Affairs all his albums get alot of love and the period I've basically skipped (Small Change, Foreign Affairs, Blue Valentine and Heartattack and Vine) is still worth checking out. As is Big Time (a live album) and Orphans (3cd set of leftovers rarities and new stuff that came out last year). It's safe to say that last album proper Real Gone is not the best place to start. it's pretty harsh and not one of his best. There are other rarities and stuff but they can be hard to find.
Hope this helps anyone wanting to explore the man's music a little further. obviously it's all just my very humble opinion, but there really is some wonderful stuff here.
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Post by Emperor Cupcake on Aug 2, 2007 22:14:32 GMT -5
Yeah, I really like him too. I've only got two or three of his CD's, though. I need to get more.
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Post by Chuck on Aug 3, 2007 5:10:34 GMT -5
Frank's Wild Years is my favorite, for some reason.
Blue Valentines is incredible (Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis will tear your heart out.)
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Post by Father Mannix on Aug 3, 2007 8:11:30 GMT -5
Yeah, I like Tom Waits, but his music is the kind of thing I need to be in a very specific mood for. That mood varies from record to record, but I think that method of listening works well for Tom Waits. I'd probably listen to his stuff more if a buddy of mine wasn't a huge Tom Waits fan and constantly (and I do mean constantly) playing his music.
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Post by mrsphyllistorgo on Aug 5, 2007 18:28:46 GMT -5
I like his cover of "You're Beautiful When You Dream." ( I think it's a cover...) He used to be a really good looking guy when he was younger, before he dragged his face over thirty years of whiskey and cigarettes.
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 6, 2007 6:09:20 GMT -5
I like his cover of "You're Beautiful When You Dream." ( I think it's a cover...) He used to be a really good looking guy when he was younger, before he dragged his face over thirty years of whiskey and cigarettes. Much like his voice then! What song's that? Off the top of my head I can only think of Innocent When You Dream from Frank's Wild Years, to the point i now can't get the tune out of my head. What was it on?
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Post by Hugh Beaumont on Aug 6, 2007 21:07:53 GMT -5
Any recommendations for someone wanting to start listening to him? The only song I've ever heard from him was one from the Shrek 2 soundtrack, I believe.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Aug 6, 2007 21:14:02 GMT -5
Any recommendations for someone wanting to start listening to him? Did you miss trumpysmagicsnout's post above?
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 7, 2007 8:36:32 GMT -5
Frank's Wild Years is my favorite, for some reason. Blue Valentines is incredible (Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis will tear your heart out.) Just listened to Blue Valentines and Small Change again and while I still maintain the late 70's is my least favourite Waits period both albums are very good with some fantastic material. "Christmas Card...", "Romeo Is Bleeding", "Blue Valentine" and "Step Right up" are all songs I let pass by me and I was so wrong to do that!
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 7, 2007 8:41:15 GMT -5
Any recommendations for someone wanting to start listening to him? The only song I've ever heard from him was one from the Shrek 2 soundtrack, I believe. It depends what type of stuff you're into. i started with his experimental stuff as I like that type of music and then went into the easier listening stuff. Closing Time is maybe his most straight album, while Rain Dogs is probably the strongest set of material both experimental and straight. I'd probably go for that and then either make your way backwards or forwards depending on what you think of it. there's great stuff throughout his career so pretty much any album is worthwhile.
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