A Guide to TOM WAITS
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- čas přidán 12. 08. 2018
- Time for a guide to the legendary American songwriter Tom Waits. What a career!
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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.
That's awesome
As a Tom Waits fan my heart skipped a beat
"If you don't love "Down By Law", frankly you don't have a heart.". Love it!....fantastic commentary. I fell in love with Tom Waits in 1984, saw him twice, and have listened to everything he had done over his career over that time. You always find more. Pure genius. Great post. Thank you.
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
Swordfishtrombones will never be surpassed. Pure brilliance!
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!
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.
He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.
He's the definition of a musician having their own genre.
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
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.
Accidentally missed out the lyrics to 'What's He Building in There,' but you can still hear me speak them!
deep cuts that’s ok dad 👌
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
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.
Almost makes it more eerie that way 👀
Best orphans song is Lucinda
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.
Rain Dogs/Bone Machine is arguably the best
God Rain Dogs is such a freaking Tour de Force
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.
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
Sonic youth!!
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"
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...
Guide to Neil Young would be awesome!
His 80s material would be VERY hard to get through
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!
Blue Valentine, for me, is one of Waits’s essential albums.
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 .
best intro on youtube
I truly believe that Invitation To The Blues is the greatest piece of lyricism ever written.
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.
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!
Congrats on your 100th video!
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!
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.
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
Amazing video, dude!
Great guide. Thanks for this. A couple of things - your own lyricism in talking about this music is wonderful. Hope you're writing. I agree with most of your assessment, although I, personally, still have a deep affection for both the film and the soundtrack of 'One from the heart.' Lastly, anyone wanting to get a sense of the live Tom Waits should listen to the 'VH1 Storytellers' album - it's hilariously entertaining, with his anecdotes and such - here's just one - 'My wife says I write two kinds of song: Grand weepers and grim reapers - this next one is a bit of both.' A truly unique voice from the man who said, "There's no such thing as the devil. It's just God when he's drunk." :)
Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night have always been my favorite records of his.
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!
And such a back catalogue to explore. 👍🏻
I rarely comment on CZcams 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.
Bone Machine is probably my favorite record ever. Rain Dogs is close though
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! 🇨🇦 🖖 🇨🇦
Come on along with the black rider, you’ll have a gay old time
I discovered Waits as a teenager after hearing "Goin Out West" in Fight Club. 20 odd years later, still love the old maverick.
Mmmm, Small Change is Waits’s first masterpiece? For me, The Heart Of Saturday Night is.
Heart Of Saturday Night is his best work
I've wanted this for so long thank you Mr Cuts!
Ugh, I finally have time to watch this! So glad you did the, Oliver! Bless your heart! Best music channel on CZcams, period. 🙏🏼✌🏼
Thank you so much for posting this video. I've been meaning to get into Tom Waits for a while. Love your content!
I did see the _Black Rider_ play, which is probably why I really enjoy the album. Altough some of the songs were re-arranged, so after the play, the arrangement on the record sometimes don't make a lot of narrative sense to me.
Your pronounciation of _Der Freischütz_ was pretty close btw. :D
___
In the context of _Blood Money_ , the play it's based on, _Woyzeck_ ("voi" as in voice and "tsek") is in turn based on a fragmented short novel by the author Georg Büchner. It's a satire of sorts of Prussian/German society during the 1830s and 40s, the time of pauperism and starvation in much of Europe. Many German schoolkids will know this book from school. If you're interested, there's a film version starring Klaus Kinski.
The story, roughly, follows a poor conscript in the armed forces, who gets mistreated by his "superiors" at every turn. A doctor uses him for medical experiments, his officers berate him, and his wife Marie cheats on Woyzeck with another soldier. I believe many of the darkest, most cynical songs on the album reflect the world-view of those "superiors" of Woyzeck, as they display this sort of nihilism in the dialogue as well.
The Herzog movie is quite good. I directed a production of it and its my favorite play I've ever worked on.
Alban Berg’s opera, Wozzeck, is a most terrifying and haunting musical experience. Arguably the finest opera of the 20th century, equal with the best of Janacek, Britten and Prokofiev.
Guide to Miles Davis next?
Eliza-Victoria Batrin first 1000 hours long video in youtube
Ymbert Bonaventure Dickens 😂😂
And we'd probably have to wait two years for it to be made.
Groofay du Breton I'm sure it'd be worth it
Eliza-Victoria Batrin I would never doubt that.
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.
The Finkie
Absolutely fantastic album.
i second a Coil guide.. easily my favorite band of all time, i'd love to see more people getting into them
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.
"Come On Up To The House" is the best song on that record, by far!
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
You're great with adjectives. And Tom Waits is great and worthy of any level of attention.
blue valentines small change, perfect strangers.
I have been trying to get more into Waits for ages. This definetly lit a fire, cheers 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!
Bravo! Another masterpiece! Can't wait for the next episode. Would love to hear your take on Lou Reed!
I thought I heard Tom 1st in High School (graduated 1972) I was immediately turned on and, others listened to Zeppelin and the likee! Still listening and digging him 35 plus later!
*grabs popcorn* I'm ready for this
Correction - I believe Waits met wife Brennan while working on the 1980 movie 'One From The Heart', not 'Paradise Alley'.
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!
Great video, hopefully this'll help more people discover one of the most extensive and yet overlooked discographies in music.
Thanks for this...always wanted to dwell into Waits’s discography but didn’t know where to start..
I think rain dogs is a good start personally.
fuzzydunlop45 yep. Great start.
Chronologically worked for me
VB MUTT i always see you round great CZcams channels
koekoek36 I’m a virus really..
Marc Ribot is pronounces like 'Marc Reebow'. You could easily do a guide on him too. He is the best ; )
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
Nighthawks introduced me to Tom Waits, so it is still my favourite. (Sorry swordfish.) I could not turn off this video, although I must work tomorrow, You are mesmerizing,. You have given me a newfound respect for art critics. Bravo, wonderful, and so on. Good for you.
I've been so excited for this one, one of my favourite artists. Thanks Oliver!
Guide to King Crimson?
Big up King Crimson
I mean just listen to everything chronologically thats how i did it
He did it two days ago and I'm annoyed that I have to buy music
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
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.
Dog Door off Orphans is a Waits feature on the Sparklehorse album ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. Gi guess Tom liked it so much he released it himself. Great record to check out
Wow! This is pure gold! Instant sub and like!
Excellent as usual. Thanks Deep Cuts
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
Finally! oliverGasm
Been waiting for this once 💖
Guide to miles davis or frank zappa would be awesome!
Been following Waits since the Island Trilogy in the mid-80s. Nice overview here. Commentary is very well written and the host has a nice delivery.
I cried before, during and after reading Naked Lunch. That novel is fuuuuuucked up!
*very* weird timing
I literally *just* started listening to him last month, love some of his stuff
Thanks for this very informative video!
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
Very finely done, sir! Many original and finely tuned observations.
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
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
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.
I did the same thing.
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!
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.
Fantastic video - best i've seen on the man
Oh yesss, just finished reading Barney Hoskin's 'Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits' which is a great in-depth book I'd highly recommend for people who want to go deeper into Waits
Thank you Oliver, this is the video I've been waiting for since your Nick Cave guide!
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!
Great video. Mule Variations is my favorite; I always likes Waits, and I got into Vinyl; One day I decided to drop acid and was having a grand ole time playing record for my friends. I decided to put on Mule Variations(I had never really listened to it all the way through). Well, long story short, whats he building in there is an absolute favorite of me and everyone else present that night. We play it at the bars every time we can and its sort of a running joke spoken between us. That song played for what felt like an eternity while we were tripping, and we loved every minute of it.
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!
Okay this officially the superior music channel.
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.
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.
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.
This eloquent overview of one of our greatest artists is one major proof that it is really worthwhile to search CZcams for meaningful content. Your work is a true gem. Thanks. Btw, wouldn’t it be interesting to play Georgia Lee in church and watch the faces?
It would give the pastor or priest a task, that's for sure.
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.
I love your channel. I'm going to listen to Tom Waits' discography again. Greetings from Peru
I discovered Waits from going through Bukowski's material. Now I'm neck-deep in both of their works
Great video Oliver! keep it up !
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.
I love One From the Heart. The movie and the soundtrack. It has so many beautiful songs. I don't know why it's reviled. BTW, great video. I was skeptical, but you summed Tom up really well.
German and Tom Waits lover for 37 years now here, loved your great guide...
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.
Been meaning to do a deeper dive into Waits' material. My favorites of his are Nighthawks at the Diner and Bone Machine. If you're taking suggestions, I'd love a guide to Current 93.
Thom Avella Hey man, I dig your channel. Dude, you have great tastes in tunes! Bone Machine is my fav too, and you’re the only other person I’ve ever encountered who digs on Current 93. I double that motion! (But I doubt many folks have actually heard any of his records.. maybe some ppl in this audience of audiophiles.. ✌🏼)
Thomas, Been a TW fan since 1977, and saw the great man in
London during his "Rain Dogs" tour in 1985. Utterly brilliant!
I support all of your recommendations. Don't forget about
"Small Change".
For the uninitiated, I suggest they check out the three Cd "Orphans".
For the connoisseur, try to find the live Cd of Tom''s performances
from 1977. I found it in a charity shop for one pound two weeks
ago, and it is essential.
Thomas, I have sixteen plus Cds by him, many of them on vinyl
which I didn't get rid of in the Great Vinyl Cull, back in the 1990s.
Another overlooked gem is "One From The Heart" from 1982,
which is exquisite. Tom and Crystal Gayle are wonderful.
The original vinyl is selling for obscene prices now.
Even so, that live 1977 set is utterly magnificent.
Miles and Tom, what a dream date!
Miles wanted to do a session with Sinatra (one of Tom's idols),
but it never happened to their other commitments.
A brilliant choice for your daughter's high school graduation!
Like you, I was too cool for FS until I listened to "Only The Lonely".
Then I finally heard what the fuss was all about.
When Miles, Tom, BB King, Iggy and Amy W speak of FS with such
high regard, you know he had to be good.
Tom could do a wonderful version of "One For My Baby".
He would also make a superb stand-up comedian. After his set in
1985, he introduced the band to the adoring crowd and announced
himself as Perry Como! A class act through and through.
Love Tom Waites and enjoyed this analysis of his discography. I think you don’t give The Black Rider enough credit though. I love the hybrid of dark Germanic fairy tale with the vintage carnival undertone. “November” with its whispy intro which I think is a saw being played, is a beautiful melancholic reverie, along with “That’s the way” and “The briar and the Rose”. The “Carnival” overture reminds me of a life changing visit to a calliope and band organ museum when I was a kid. The wedding dance with the boots on the wooden floor percussion is another gem, and one with such a cinematic feel to it. Probably one of my favorites of all is “Just the Right Bullets” which walks a line between humor, vintage western cinema and something legitimately creepy.
I never tire of listening to Waites, and this one to me is in my top 5 Waites releases. I regret I’ve never seen “The Black Rider” performed live, but have seen several filmed portions of the stage production. It looks like an amazing production, however watching it made me miss Waites’ vocals.
YEEEEAAAAAAAAHH I've been waiting for this one.
Turned onto "Small Change" back in high school. '77. Game over. I bought it, everything before it and everything since. Saw him live twice. "Mule" tour and "Glitter and Doom". EPIC.