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blue cadet3
- FB Fan -
USA
146 Posts |
 Posted - 03/01/2004 : 18:12:22
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| I've always heard so much about tom waits but don't have one of his albums. What are some good songs or albums to start out with of tom's collection to pop this cherry? |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 18:15:45
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There have been many topics about the man, did you try a search? Well, anyway, my favorite has always been Closing Time.
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"Music does not drag me down. Music lifts me up." - Frank Black |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 18:33:38
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You know, you are gonna get about 10 different opinions on what to start on. Just pick one of these albums... eventually you want to buy them all anyway:
Closing Time
Heart of Saturday Night
Rain Dogs
Bone Machine
Mule Variations (my first Tom Waits album; it got me hooked)
Or if you want to do a compilation deal, Beautiful Maladies is a good one.
His first few albums (Closing time, HOST, Small Change, Blue Valentine) lean more toward the jazzy/blues genres (something you'd hear at a downtown bar at 2 a.m.). He starts to get "experimental" around Swordfishtrombones. Mule Variations is a great mix of gospel, blues, rock, railroad tunes, and civil war sounding tunes. Also Alice and Blood Money are his two latest albums - both are very good. Alice is more jazz influenced, and Blood Money is more dark and dissonant.
It's hard describing Tom Waits, so go buy any of these albums I mentioned and see for yourself how amazing he is.
 Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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interloper
= Cult of Ray =
440 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 18:40:20
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Rain Dogs gets my vote.
Hand held shower nozzles are the demon enemy of the patriarch and should be destroyed. |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 19:28:42
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mule variations or rain dogs would be the best to start with. i like alice a lot too
-miked |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 19:30:22
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i love blue valentine - but i'm a jazz guy
-brian
 - "I joined the Cult of Frank / And they tried to cut off my nuts and make me put in a blue jumpsuit"
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 19:54:15
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I'm no hardcore TW fan, but Rain Dogs is a fantastic album. Speaking of that, you should see "Down By Law", the Jim Jarmusch film co-starring Tom. I think that film is the reason I still love Rain Dogs most.
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 20:12:36
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I really want to see that movie. They don't have it at any of the rental places over here but they have it for sale at borders for like $40. Is it worth paying that much for?
I haven't been a fan for all that long and only have like 6 of his albums, but I guess I would say start at the beginning and go to the end. Right now I just have some of his later ones and Closing Time, but I'm gonna try and get his earlier albums before I get any more later ones. Anyways, I think that's always the best thing to do with artists you're just getting into. I personally love the jazzy piano bar songs, but Rain Dogs is of course fantastic and has a much wider variety of styles than Closing Time and I guess most of his early stuff which I haven't heard much of. Sorry for getting off on a rant here.
ˇViva los Católicos! |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 23:25:28
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Best Buy.com has Down by Law for 34.99 (w/ free shipping), but... that's freaking expensive for a DVD. I never pay anymore than 18 dollars for a DVD, but I'd pay 21 for this movie. 35 bucks seems a little steep though. It's a great movie nonetheless.
Has anyone heard of or seen "coffee and cigarettes"? it's also a jarmusch film with Tom Waits. I don't know if it's been released.
Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 04:53:48
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Like most everyone else says, Rain Dogs I´d consider his best, well the Rain Dogs trilogy really, with Swordfishtrombones and Frank´s Wild Years too. The first of his I heard was the Black Rider so that has a special place in my heart too - you gotta love a record w/ William Burroughs on record.
Pretty much all of his records are of some interest, except maybe Foreign Affair. Blood Money too - he sounds like a Tom Waits tribute band on that one.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
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ivandivel
= Cult of Ray =
394 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 05:59:36
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| Rain dogs is beatyfull. I dig Black Rider too though. The russian dance track always blows my mind. |
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Bartholomew
= Cult of Ray =
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 07:15:09
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| “Frank’s Wild Year” tops my list. But the best album of his to get if you can only get one is “Mule Variations”. It’s the only one with a balanced mix of both old (traditional) and new (crazy shit) styles. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 08:29:39
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quote:
Originally posted by ProverbialCereal
Best Buy.com has Down by Law for 34.99 (w/ free shipping), but... that's freaking expensive for a DVD. I never pay anymore than 18 dollars for a DVD, but I'd pay 21 for this movie. 35 bucks seems a little steep though. It's a great movie nonetheless.
Has anyone heard of or seen "coffee and cigarettes"? it's also a jarmusch film with Tom Waits. I don't know if it's been released.
Haven't seen "Coffee and Cigarettes," though I'm looking for it. I just saw the first episode of "Fishing With John"-- John Lurie BSes with Jim Jarmusch as they go shark fishing off Long Island. It's hilarious in a weird way that only they could pull off. All the episodes of it are on one DVD. The reason I bring this up is that one of the episodes features Lurie and Tom Waits.
deepdiscountdvd has "Down By Law" for $29 including shipping:
http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=HVD000425 |
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SpudBoy
= Cult of Ray =
Equatorial Guinea
649 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 17:09:15
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Yep - I highly recommend Fishing With John. The Tom Waits episode is great - any musician willing to stuff a live fish down his pants for something to do when drifting off the coast of Thailand is alright with me.
"The Andamon Sea, the Andamon Sea....oogly-boogly, the Andamon Sea."
Man I need a drink just thinking about it.
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i_bleed
- FB Fan -
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 18:12:20
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I'd recommend getting Tom Waits, "Beautiful Maladies" CD. It's sort of a "Best of" type of album...
"when you look at the sky in a poetic kind of way..." |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 18:30:06
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Except Beautiful Maladies is only from his Island years (his old record label). It's definitely a good compilation though. It almost seems like it could be an album.
Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 18:38:41
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Spudboy, you forgot, there's one more "oogly boogly"... 
I just saw the "Fishing with John" episodes are available on DVD. That show was amazing.
bluecadet3, all I can do re: your question is repeat what the others have said - Small Change, Rain Dogs, Mule Variations, any really, all good places to start. I can't remember how I first ran into his music, but it clicked on a visceral level.
If you can find "Night on Earth" instead of "Down by Law", you can get a taste of Tom Waits' music that way too. Good movie, and it also has Roberto Benigni (he's in Down by Law too, and is funnier than sh*t).
There was talk here on the forum several months ago about Tom and Jarmusch and "Coffee and Cigarettes", etc. - I don't think anybody knew what was up - imdb.com says "to be released 2003". Arrrgh. I'd love to see a new movie from him.
On a related note, if you have a monthly movie addiction, you might be well-served to try the netflix thing - it's 20 bucks a month, unlimited time for each movie, it's like a revolving account, and free shipping. Nope, I don't work for 'em, I've just been seriously thinkin' about trying it out myself.
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 20:12:42
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My girlfriend has netflix and we rented "Down by Law" from it. 20 bucks a month ain't bad. Rent 5 movies a month and it's already cheaper than Blockbuster.
Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 20:28:52
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Alright, I'm sold. Thanks Derek!
Another Tom Waits-ish group is The Tiger Lilies. (http://www.tigerlillies.com/2003/index.php) We had the great luck to see them perform in the f*cking brilliant play "Shockheaded Peter" (http://www.shockheadedpeter.com/). They're wonderfully twisted fun, and great musicians. If you like the quirkier/darker side of Waits, you'll probably really get into their stuff too.
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
Edited by - apl4eris on 03/02/2004 20:30:40 |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2004 : 21:49:41
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For the big Tom Waits fan, the soundtrack from the movie One From the Heart was just rereleased with two bonus tracks. Yes! I have only listened to it twice, but it's good. He has some duets with Crystal Gale.
Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
895 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 05:28:15
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I've got all of Tom Waits albums....I'd have to say that the ones I listen to most often are in order of popularity but not necessarily the best are:
Frank's Wild Years (Great on a walkman on a rainy day walk)
Small Change
Bone Machine
Black Rider
Closing Time (Great Dinner Music)
Heart of Saturday Night
Mule Variations
Rain Dogs
'Night on Earth' Soundtrack
Alice
Blue Valentine
Bone Machine (can either really impress or repel your friends)
Blood Money
....the rest I only listen to once in a long while
Here is my suggestion if you are just getting into Tom Waits; buy one of those Asylum Years compilations i've been seeing in the stores recently (its seems to be a great collection of his 70s stuff) and maybe buy Bone Machine or Rain Dogs.
....by the wy, 'One From The Heart' was also released on a double dvd in the last three weeks or so.
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offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 07:58:23
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| Yes, I agree with you guys that Tom Waits is definitely an artist whose music becomes a part of your life. I am just wondering why there are so few mentions of Swordfishtrombones? Maybe it is just because it was my first Tom Waits experience but still I think Underground and Shore Leave are among his best songs. Frank's wild years is also brilliant. So if you're exploring Tom Waits, don't forget Swordfishtrombones |
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Frog in the Sand
-+ Le premiere frog +-
France
2715 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 09:13:46
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Yeah, buy what you want but DON'T FORGET SWORDFISHTROMBONES. It is, and will remain, my favorite TW album. (Aaaah, '16 Shells' - what a song!!!)
Btw, Rain Dogs is f***ingly good too.
 "Welcome back to the 10th grade!" |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 12:04:59
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In The Neighborhood!! That song's stuck in my head a lot
ˇViva los Católicos! |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 12:06:18
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I love that song. Sounds like a Civil War song.
Join the Devil's Workshop / Looking for idle hands to work second shift |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2004 : 10:22:33
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Two faves are Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs, but most of his other albums are terrific. I only heard 'recent'albums Mule Variations, Blood Money and Alice one time each, maybe, but I'd like to give 'em another listen....a friend is a big fan, and has nigh-on all his stuff.
CARL.
 "ME TOO!"
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blue cadet3
- FB Fan -
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2004 : 08:11:48
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| Thanks for all the help. I've heard a couple of songs so far and they are very interesting. I'm not sure which cd to get yet but, it seems a lot of people suggested starting with Rain Dogs. |
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paintmeister
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2004 : 19:41:59
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| I stopped by the CD shop on the way home with two choices in mind, either Rain Dogs or The Best of Van Morrison. I couldn't decide so I got both. I have never heard any Waits before. You folks are always talking about him so I had to check him out. |
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i_bleed
- FB Fan -
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2004 : 11:14:58
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I'd suggest maybe starting with "Beautiful Maladies", then if you like, fan out from there...
"when you look at the sky in a poetic kind of way..." |
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paintmeister
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 13:37:05
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quote:
Originally posted by ProverbialCereal
You know, you are gonna get about 10 different opinions on what to start on. Just pick one of these albums... eventually you want to buy them all anyway:
Why do you have to be so right? I started with Raindogs, now I have Swordfishtrombones and Small Change,too. I think my next move is either Closing Time or Bone Machine.
Is Black Rider good? I spotted it in a used bin.
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 14:20:33
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I'd get Closing time just because it's his first album and it's very good. Bone Machine is also very good and probably his "weirdest" album ever along with Black Rider, which I don't own an actual copy of.
By-the-way, I believe that Coffee and Cigarettes movie is coming out May 14, but I think it's the same segment with Tom Waits and Iggy Pop that was recorded in 1991 or '92. You can download the Waits segment off Soulseek as well as the Roberto Benigni one and the one with the guy and the girl at the cafe in Memphis (I don't know who they are).
ˇViva los Católicos! |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 16:05:33
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Woohooo! Thanks for the heads up on "Coffee and Cigarettes" Nimrod! Here's a trailer for all you fans. All sorts in this 'un.:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/coffee_and_cigarettes/
I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That's what I aspire to basically. - Tom Waits |
Edited by - apl4eris on 05/01/2004 16:06:36 |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 16:39:32
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| all i have is bone machine and black rider, but my dad has a lot of the others, but i'm too lazy to listen to 'em. my mum leaves blue valentine and closing time in the car though, so sometimes i stick them on. |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 19:00:54
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My favorites are Blue Valentine and Heart of Saturday Night. Bone Machine is way good too.
 "Join the Cult of Derek/Lest you incur his Tubbycizing wrath" |
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ProverbialCereal
- FB TabMaster -
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 22:45:58
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Tom freaking Waits is freaking recording a new freaking al-freaking-bum right now.
http://www.anti.com/news.php
Join the Cult of ... to be continued |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 06:46:08
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Holy shit, I've been waiting on some news for this. Thanks!!!
Hopefully a tour to follow. I hate it that he doesn't tour anymore.
ˇViva los Católicos! |
Edited by - NimrodsSon on 05/02/2004 06:46:52 |
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Tom Waits
