As a Tom Waits fan my heart skipped a beat

Heart Attack and Vine beautifully summarizes itself at one point: "It's too early for the circus; it's too late for the bars." Always makes me wonder if Tom knew how much inspiration he was about to find in carnival imagery and sounds for the rest of his career.

Widow's Grove on Orphans has extraordinary lyrics. Tennessee Williams comes to mind as the song apparently switches narrators. It's extremely poetic. If you got the first edition CD package, with each CD in it's own folder, like a 78 record book, you saw the faded old newspaper text with odd facts. This was repeated when the seven LP box set was released, but then all much larger. Those graphics came from me. I gave them, all collected in an old photo album from the 1880's, to Tom after a show at the paramount theater in Oakland. Left for him at the stage door, with my phone number. He called a couple days later, and i still have that message. That was seven years before Orphans. The spring of Orphans, Tom called again, to say he wanted to use the text in his Orphans CD. how could I say no? Orphans then came out in the fall. When I saw how he dressed the CD sleeves, the only thing I thought was, "My work on this planet is done." Andre in San Francisco...

Tom Waits marathon it is then, off we go

Tom Waits is the only artist with above 40 years carrier and still doing fresh, original music of highest quality. One of a kind. You more than hear his songs, you see, smell places he describes.

@clitcrusader4897

5 жыл бұрын

He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.

@clitcrusader4897

5 жыл бұрын

He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.

The Brit’s are always more enamored with Waits troubadour Asylum years than his later underground more eclectic sound. I think this stems from their fascination with early Americana and the romanticism of driving down the great American highways west. I love that Tom too but I really hooked into him when I discovered Swordfishtrombone and the strange wonderful music that grew in its wake. It took me a few listens to understand that music, I was young and it was very foreign to me, but once I did I deep dived into a vast repertoire of European circus music & Jazz fusion where Howling Wolf met with Edgar Varese and tried to play the music of Tin Pan Alley on an old broken kazoo... in other words, magic!

Accidentally missed out the lyrics to 'What's He Building in There,' but you can still hear me speak them!

@fannytoothnana6853

5 жыл бұрын

deep cuts that’s ok dad 👌

@dillonbeardon7257

5 жыл бұрын

deep cuts you mentioned that you are making a Guide To The Fall. I could have sworn you did that before. Tell me if I am right or wrong

@sunandablanc

5 жыл бұрын

No worries! This was fucking great, Oliver. I've been a massive Waits fan since the 80s, know his work back and forth, and am rather persnicketty in my opinions ... and yet I can't find a thing you said to disagree with. (Oh, I was waiting for it, but it never came.) I consider this man the most important American songwriter since WW2 aside Dylan. Thanks for this and all the work you do. Since you asked, a few favorites from Orphans: Altar Boy (that demented crooner delivery!), A Little Drop of Poison, Buzz Fedderjohn, Road to Peace, Children's Story ("Okay, there's your story, night-night"), Diamonds In Your Mind. Oh! Just one side note. About Bad As Me: I think of it as the Tom Waits Sampler. As though he took everything he had done throughout his career and boiled it down to a bite-sized taster platter. Wierdly, though the most recent outing of such a long and varied career, it serves as a suitable introduction to his work. If you like it, you're bound to like all the main courses, whether Real Gone or Bone Machine or Rain Dogs or The Heart of Saturday Night.

@spiderhunt4

5 жыл бұрын

Almost makes it more eerie that way 👀

@rufust.firefly6744

5 жыл бұрын

Best orphans song is Lucinda

Swordfishtrombones will never be surpassed. Pure brilliance!

Closing Time is my favourite. It's just so beautiful. Feels innocent. Like hearing parents talk about their son after he's sent to jail for murder.

God Rain Dogs is such a freaking Tour de Force

late to the party again but who cares when im glued to ur words a story teller like no one else. ever u sir review of tom was brillant. gold star. i was. glued to the chair. cheers

Tom Waits has been the soundtrack to my life, kudos for your brilliant analysis.

As a youngster in Liverpool, I first came across Tom on the Old Grey Whistle Test. A chaotic noise with people playing odd instruments and stuff being hit. A man screaming lyrics that confused and then broke your heart. I’ve never been to the USA but Tom has taken me to the underside many times. I get it all. He explains it to working class Liverpool boy and I thank him for sharing his perfectly unusual gift with me and the world.

Dirt in the Ground has always been my favorite and Tom Traubert’s Blues makes me cry

The thing, for me, Tom Waits is that it isn't just the way he writes - he talks like that too. Listen to interviews, and his responses sound like Tom Waits lyrics. I think he must also think that way, which is amazing. I'm not sure if it is a fantastic or terrifying way to live, but it is absolutely amazing.

My favourite Tom Waits record is Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt. I mean Black Rider. No doubt. I mean Frank's Wild Years. No doubt. I mean Bone Machine. No doubt. I mean Swordfishtrombone. No doubt et cetera. I saw The Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri rendition of Black Rider round about year 2000 in Helsinki and it was loads of fun but I already considered Black Rider one of Waits' best work so it didn't really change my opinion of it.

@sean.3909

4 жыл бұрын

Rain Dogs/Bone Machine is arguably the best

I'm passing this on: Years ago Tom Waits enters my taxi in New York City. I asked him what he was reading at the time. He said, " Breece D'J Pancake"

@michaelturner7628

3 жыл бұрын

That's very interesting! I saw a list of his favourite books on Far Out and Pancake was on there. Hang on, lemme find it...

Sonic youth!!

Guide to Neil Young would be awesome!

@miguelhernandez4975

5 жыл бұрын

His 80s material would be VERY hard to get through

@CipherSerpico

5 жыл бұрын

Except for Bob Dylan, he has more great albums than any other artist.

Been listening to Waits since the early 90's, and I have to say he is one of my favorite music artists of all time. This video is brilliant because the only way to truly consume Tom, is to trudge through his amazing discography, album by album. I can say, truthfully, that each Waits album has a special place in my heart, and special memories in my mind. The man is a living legend, Cheers!

best intro on youtube

Amazing video, dude!

I've wanted this for so long thank you Mr Cuts!

Congrats on your 100th video!

Blue Valentine, for me, is one of Waits’s essential albums.

Thank you so much for posting this video. I've been meaning to get into Tom Waits for a while. Love your content!

Years ago, a coworker made a copy of one of his TW cd's and gave it to me . Id never heard of TW before . Well, I listened to it and loved it . It was Bone Machine. I've been a fan since .

Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night have always been my favorite records of his.

Ugh, I finally have time to watch this! So glad you did the, Oliver! Bless your heart! Best music channel on KZread, period. 🙏🏼✌🏼

Tom Waits is probably my favorite artist of all time so I'm so glad you did this guide! I can't pick between Rain Dogs and Bone Machine as my favorite Waits record but I obviously think that both album are amazing. Great vid man can't wait for the next one!

I discovered Waits as a teenager after hearing "Goin Out West" in Fight Club. 20 odd years later, still love the old maverick.

*grabs popcorn* I'm ready for this

I've been so excited for this one, one of my favourite artists. Thanks Oliver!

Thank you so much for this. Tom Waits is such a great musician and I'm glad my parents listened to him as much as they did. Off to grab myself a can of beens and enjoy the hell out of this!

I have been trying to get more into Waits for ages. This definetly lit a fire, cheers Oliver!

Bravo! Another masterpiece! Can't wait for the next episode. Would love to hear your take on Lou Reed!

Excellent as usual. Thanks Deep Cuts

blue valentines small change, perfect strangers.

I truly believe that Invitation To The Blues is the greatest piece of lyricism ever written.

@starmantv9962

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I literally heard that song for the first time like 2 days ago and I don’t even know how many times I’ve listened to it since.

Thank you so much for putting in all the work for this! Tom Waits is an interesting and cryptic character to say the least and you perfectly tackled it and gave me an even more clear picture of this genius. Always loved him but got a better understanding of his process and the architecture of his albums. Cheers

Finally! oliverGasm Been waiting for this once 💖

Thank you so much for making these fantastic videos. A few guides I would love to see: -Miles Davis -Bob Dylan -The Fall -Neil Young -The Beatles -Death -Frank Zappa Thanks!

I hadn't heard anything from Tom Waits before I learned about him through this video, and about a year later he is one of my favourite artists, so thank you!

@stevenfitzsimmons3840

3 ай бұрын

And such a back catalogue to explore. 👍🏻

I’m a big fan of Tom Waits and this guide really did him justice thank you for your hard work deep cuts keep it up

Wonderful video! It is a pleasure listening to your articulate opinions and feeling your passion for Waits. As for Orphans: I've always loved Bawlers the most. I just can't get enough of Waits' emotional piano ballads, which of the many he does I think he does best. "If I have to go" never fails to make my chest ache. Anyway, keep up the great work man. Cheers!

Wow! This is pure gold! Instant sub and like!

Great video, hopefully this'll help more people discover one of the most extensive and yet overlooked discographies in music.

Small Change is still my favorite. I heard it in a record store in 1977 and it was the first 8 track I bought for my first car

Fantastic video - best i've seen on the man

Okay this officially the superior music channel.

Very finely done, sir! Many original and finely tuned observations.

Love Tom Waits so much. I really hope he puts out at least one more album before he retires. This video is fantastic, a lot of great information here and delivered extremely well as always

Thank you so much for this !

I'm gonna take it with me when I go. Played that at my wife's funeral. There's a Waits song for every occasion.

Thank you Oliver, this is the video I've been waiting for since your Nick Cave guide!

I love Tom Waits, and really appreciate this video!

What a wonderful video, Tom Waits is one of my favourite artists of all time so this was a joy to listen to. I like all his albums but particularly love his later career, everything from swordfish onwards is brilliant and bone machine and Alice are my favourites

YEEEEAAAAAAAAHH I've been waiting for this one.

Brilliant. Thank you.

Great video Martha is an amazing track on closing time. I have listened to Tom here and there throughout the years. Someone gave me Blue Valentine about a decade ago. Loved that record and was slightly familiar with others. A few months ago, it was pouring rain while I was about to start work. I put on Rain Dogs. Ever since I've been on a binge. Awesome recaps on the records.

Thank you so much for this! I have most of Wait's later LPs ( Alice, Black Rider, Mule Variations etc) and he's made such a impact for my musical tastes in my life.

Thanks for the video. I have been a fan of Tom Waits (his music and acting) for years, but never knew too much about him. There have been some of his songs and albums I have liked more than others, but now I am wanting to go back through those other albums because of the history and listen to those that I have overlooked.

Another great outing. Thanks.

I fell in love cronologically with his music, which I am absolutely grateful because I got to be surprised and amazed in awe with every next record that I have stepped on, it's really one of my favorite artists and it doesn't even have a "mediocre" release.

Great video Oliver! keep it up !

Guide to Miles Davis next?

@ymbertbonaventuredickens8878

5 жыл бұрын

Eliza-Victoria Batrin first 1000 hours long video in youtube

@lizucavictoria

5 жыл бұрын

Ymbert Bonaventure Dickens 😂😂

@groofay

5 жыл бұрын

And we'd probably have to wait two years for it to be made.

@lizucavictoria

5 жыл бұрын

Groofay du Breton I'm sure it'd be worth it

@groofay

5 жыл бұрын

Eliza-Victoria Batrin I would never doubt that.

Great vid once again!!!

My discovery of Waits was the film Big Time. I was amazed & blown away!! I've been a fan every since. I am still going back & discovering. Thanks for the guide!!

I love your channel. I'm going to listen to Tom Waits' discography again. Greetings from Peru

Mule Variations = easily my favourite Waits album. It is just so captivating and fascinating and simply brilliant (most of the way through). But I also wanted to bring up again --- because I know some people have mentioned this already --- I am REEEEALLY hoping you add COIL to your list of artist discographies to cover here! I honestly couldn't think of a more interesting discography from any artist.

@seventeenseconds1698

5 жыл бұрын

The Finkie Absolutely fantastic album.

@Xx_Eric_was_Here_xX

5 жыл бұрын

i second a Coil guide.. easily my favorite band of all time, i'd love to see more people getting into them

@seventeenseconds1698

5 жыл бұрын

Eric Yeah I know Coil. Very haunting listening to them now after they’re both sadly no longer with us. Made some amazing stuff and remained very consistent until their demise.

@WakeyWakeyThuggerShakey

5 жыл бұрын

"Come On Up To The House" is the best song on that record, by far!

@ancalabond8703

5 жыл бұрын

I know I ain't deep cuts but y'all can have this The official Maxine certified guide for exploring Coil's Discography The general method in which Coil albums are best heard is late at night or in a dark room, without distraction, with the best headphones you have. As they are a highly atmospheric band who explore texture and sonic depth very heavily, they are best heard with much attention. the less visually aware of your surroundings you are the better. Alternatively, listen in spiritual places, or late at night outside. They function very well in these situations too, although my preferred environment is definitely the first. Coil's career can be roughly fit into 3 distinct albeit broad styles. The industrial leanings of their releases 1983 - 1990 The nocturnal dark ambient leanings of 1991 - 2000 And the more surreal and spiritual dark ambient leanings of 2000 - 2005 Albums with implications to the broader scope and context of their career will have asterisks, which will be addressed in full at the bottom of this document. Starter Tier (meant to establish you with the 3 major styles/eras of their discography): Horse Rotorvator (1986)* Musick to Play in the Dark Vol 1 & 2 (1999 - 2000) The Ape of Naples (2005)** Exploring More-tier (Meant to introduce you to releases which better explore and fill out these 3 eras): Black Antlers (2004) Love's Secret Domain (1991)*** And the Ambulance Died in His Arms (2003)**** Astral Disaster (1999) The Remote Viewer (2002) Scatology (1984)***** Unnatural History I (1990) Live Four (2003) Branching Out-Tier (A collection of some of their more idiosyncratic or difficult essentials, as well as live albums which function better with a more expansive understanding of their discography): Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil (2000) Time Machines (1998) Moon's Milk (In Four Phases) (2002) Live Two (2003) Live At Dublin, City Hall (2004)****** ANS (2004) ELpH Vs Coil: Worship the Glitch (1995) The rest of their discography (there's loads to explore from here. Dozens of live recordings, EPs, Studio recordings and compilations. This is just a rough guideline to getting into them, there's far more to see and hear!) * their first album with tinges of dark ambient, you can see them beginning to move into new territory. ** a compilation assembled after the death of Jhonn Balance. One of the few albums with immense contextual weight which functions as an introductory piece into an artist's discography. While being entirely compiled of material recorded and written before his death, the atmosphere of mortality and spirituality drench the album in a very abstract and beautiful manner. *** Love's Secret Domain was the first album that saw Coil truly stepping away from their industrial roots and moving in somewhere else. Somewhere else being acid house. **** commonly considered to be their best live album, Balance's instability is palpable. Beautiful material. ***** their first studio release. ****** their final live recording. One of the most haunting and inescapable albums you will ever hear. Join @Coilposting if you have any questions, here's a download link to a large chunk of their discography. mega.nz/#F!J64DSAJA!ThhNyRlDCqwhyFDppR5yRg

This was thoroughly interesting to watch, great work! Tom Waits is staple listening for me after my mum introduced his stuff to me as a kid haha

Thank you for this guide! I was so interested in Waits himself that I decided to do some internet research on his life after your video. Thanks!

Well done overview of this long career that I've been devoted to since the release of Foreign Affair. I was haunting one of my favorite record stores back then and that album was playing, it stopped me in my tracks and compelled me to listen. I've been a junkie for him ever since. Your favorites and mine are the same and I dare anyone with a heart beating to listen to Kentucky Avenue and not tear up by the time it's over. A masterful storyteller and commentator on the human condition, both ordinary and bizarre.

Mmmm, Small Change is Waits’s first masterpiece? For me, The Heart Of Saturday Night is.

@alexstrixner1156

5 жыл бұрын

Heart Of Saturday Night is his best work

You're great with adjectives. And Tom Waits is great and worthy of any level of attention.

This video is fantastic! I'm writing on Tom waits' rejection of typical authenticity narratives in popular music culture and you're helping me straighten out my thoughts so much!

My guy! I’m so happy you did this video! I spent almost a year of my life going through Tom’s discography for no other reason than I thought he was absolutely fantastic.

@TheNukeGeneral

5 жыл бұрын

I did the same thing.

Thank you for this! Being a child of the 80ies, I grew up with Waits' music and he is one of the few artists that stayed with me ever since then. Swordfish is a masterpiece, but I have always been a Raindogs - guy myself. I also especially liked the love you give Franks wild years - this album holds a special place in my heart, since there are going some really cherished personal memories with this. And I'm with you with Christmas Card being maybe his best song of all time. This track never fails to give me mayor goosebumps. Thrilled, that the next guide will be about PJ. One of my alltime favourite artists. So stoked for that. Thank you again!

*very* weird timing I literally *just* started listening to him last month, love some of his stuff Thanks for this very informative video!

Thanks for doing this!

Correction - I believe Waits met wife Brennan while working on the 1980 movie 'One From The Heart', not 'Paradise Alley'.

Holy Shit! What a good time to release this guide. I just discovered The Black Rider 2 days ago and have absolutely fallen in love with it. I think I've listened to that album 4 times already.

Great Video - Thanks for this

One of the absolute best.

I adore your description of “Swordfishtrombones”, man. It’s so spot on!

Outstanding guide. Thanks.

Man, you're good at this. Big Waits fan. Great video. Nice.

A classic video this is what made me a Tom Waits fan.

Such a majestic video. Hats off to you. Much appreciated in the time you put into this. 5 out of 5 Thank you

The trilogy of albums- Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Frank's Wild Years-are just amazing. I love all of his albums, but those three are my favourite.

Great introduction. Well done.

Well done! excellent summaries and nice details...First thing I ever heard of Tom's was Diamonds on my Windshield..I was addicted. I know that route he was driving. But what sticks with me now about Tom is first time I heard Georgia Lee..it stunned me. This song can make a grown man cry. The man is a poet with a special magic.

Great Job... going in depth fast thanks

Brilliant video. For me Tom Waits has been an artist I wanted to get into for a long time, but never really knew where to start or how to approach his work. This video will help a lot with that. thanks so much! I'm off to do some listening.

You sir are a poet! Thank you

One night, I returned from work, lighted a joint and wondered what I was gonna listen to. My uncle gave me some time ago some CDs he wanted to get rid of, inside was many Tom Waits records. There wasn't his first one, Closing Time tho, so I booted Spotify and played it so I can follow him through his discography. The first song, Ol' 55, blew me away and became my favorite Tom Waits song to this day, and the ambiance of Closing Time is simply wonderful feels so pure and vulnerable... I can get enough of this record and I am still looking for this chill, sad and lovely mood in all the others records. I am more an Asylum fan, doesn't really dig Swordfishtrombone and what what came after. But, I am still discovering his albums and the next one I am listening to his Mule Variations, and based on what you said it doubled my curiosity! I listen to the Black Rider only one time, and it's the only time I will listen to it in my life, it was clear for me even not halfway through the record. Except for November and Just the Right Bullets

I rarely comment on KZread videos, but this was such an excellent encapsulation of my favourite musician, I just had too. You’ve earned yourself a subscription. Favourite Waits records are: Mule Variations Rain Dogs Bone Machine But it all depends on my mood. I could listen to any of his albums on any given day. The only one I’ve never been able to penetrate is The Black Rider. Perhaps for the same reasons you state in the video. I just find it to be really hard work and I get no real enjoyment from it.

@sean.3909

4 жыл бұрын

Bone Machine is probably my favorite record ever. Rain Dogs is close though

@Momcat_maggiefelinefan

2 жыл бұрын

Hi from Canada, Kris! Your three fave Tom Waits works are the same as mine. Coincidence? I think not. I have every one of Tom’s works, even have Big Time on dvd. Both my (now adult) kids are big fans too. As is my daughter-in- law. If I don’t listen to Tom daily, I can barely function! My fave song … Murder in The Red Barn. Rage on, Mr.Waits! 🇨🇦 🖖 🇨🇦

@boneytony5041

Жыл бұрын

Come on along with the black rider, you’ll have a gay old time

Was really happy to see this pop up just as I finished making dinner, had anticipated it. Tom Waits is an artist that I hold very dearly to my heart as he was one of my earliest gateways to weird, abstract and simply different music. I remember a school project when I was maybe 12 or 13 where my class got assigned our own artists that we had to make a presentation of and we each got a song we had to listen to and analyze. I think I got Aretha Franklin but my best friend got Tom Waits which we both had no idea who he was. So we all sat down with our headphones to listen to our songs and I'm looking over to my friend who's got this weird look on his face. Then he calls me over and says "you have to listen to this". So I do and put the headphones on and immediately I think I hear an organ or an accordion-led intro until the "junkyard"-percussion begins and that one-of-a-kind-voice starts singing. Afterwards I learn that I had just heard a song called "Rain Dogs" and needless to say my life was changed at that moment. Now just about ten years later Rain Dogs is one of my absolute favorite albums and Tom Waits one of my absolute favorite artists. Thank you for this video, gonna listen to Rain Dogs now in solitude with a bottle of wine.

I love your content dude!!

German and Tom Waits lover for 37 years now here, loved your great guide...