Jon, I am so, so sorry to hear about your dad. Take care of yourself, OK?
I could squeeze you until you popped like warm champagne, and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more.
Fuffy ,'Storyteller'
Buffista Music III: The Search for Bach
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Rio - Jan 28, 2006 6:44:33 pm PST #2067 of 10003
Are you ready to be strong?
Hayden - Jan 29, 2006 10:42:03 am PST #2068 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
Thanks, all!
Corwood, the BBC did an hour-long RT documentary a year or two ago. Did you see it? I can have a look, I may have still it on tape somewhere - a PAL VHS, but still. They looked at the SOTL tour in some detail, IIRC.
I would love to see that, Fiona.
Can anyone recommend a release to start with?
Go with Swordfishtrombones. It's a great introduction to his weird later period.
Frankenbuddha - Jan 29, 2006 1:13:52 pm PST #2069 of 10003
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Go with Swordfishtrombones. It's a great introduction to his weird later period.
I'll second this, but add if you want to here where he came from, SMALL CHANGE is probably his early masterpiece.
DavidS - Jan 29, 2006 1:27:58 pm PST #2070 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
SMALL CHANGE is probably his early masterpiece.
Definitely. That's where he really mastered all his songwriting strengths. I think this is the record that most influenced the Pogues - there's a direct line between "Tom Traubert's Blues" and "Fairytale of New York." (Cait O'Riordan's pre-Pogues band Pride of the Cross did a single titled "Tommy's Blue Valentine" in tribute to TW. For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Cait's the relatively recent ex-Mrs. Elvis Costello who he ditched for Diana Krall. Oof, casting off a Pogue for Ms. Smooth Jazz. Declan, you rotter.)
Frankenbuddha - Jan 29, 2006 1:35:55 pm PST #2071 of 10003
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
"Tom Traubert's Blues"
Which I've seen him do live (Frank's tour, heh). My favorite on that is "Invitation to the Blues" (followed closely by "Step Right Up"), but, man, that is a hella good song.
Declan, you rotter
This is the kind of statement that makes me want to kiss you Hec, even though we're both straight males.
DavidS - Jan 29, 2006 1:38:16 pm PST #2072 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Sue - Jan 29, 2006 1:59:40 pm PST #2073 of 10003
hip deep in pie
I thought he and cait were way over before DK appeared on the scene.
Swordfishtrombones and Small Change were my intro to Tom Waits. When I finally heard Closing Time (though I do love it), I couldn't believe it was the same man.
Scrappy - Jan 29, 2006 2:46:32 pm PST #2074 of 10003
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
I thought Cait dumped him, actually. Don't know where I heard that.
Spidra Webster - Jan 29, 2006 4:56:31 pm PST #2075 of 10003
I wish I could just go somewhere to get flensed but none of the whaling ships near me take Medicare.
That was my impression, too. That Cait dumped him. Not that I haven't lost a little of my respect for him for marrying DK.
I'm not a big fan of Tom Waits' earlier stuff (although I haven't revisited it and probably need to). I think Swordfishtrombones is an excellent start point. I think Rain Dogs is good too.
Hayden - Jan 29, 2006 5:10:35 pm PST #2076 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
In truth, Rain Dogs is my favorite of his albums. I'm also inordinately fond of Bone Machine.