New Tom Waits

Good news, Diccus!

I'll buy it, too.

I don't know much about Waits, tho a friend went to see him about 4 years ago. She siad his performance was mesmerizing and very surreal. I don't know where to begin with his stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Wolf:
I don't know much about Waits, tho a friend went to see him about 4 years ago. She siad his performance was mesmerizing and very surreal. I don't know where to begin with his stuff.

Wolf

It's a tricky one with Tom. I think he is a bit like Marmite, you either love or hate (sorry, do you get marmite in L.A.?)

For me there are 2 kinds of Tom Waits, the early bar room bluesy, glass half empty, maudlin stories of unfulfillment and from Swordfishtrombones onwards a more cachophanous sound with quite abstract sounds from everything and the kitchen sink going on and Tom hollaring in the foreground. I'm making this sound terribly simplistic and its not. Tonight i've been watching a dvd of his performance at the Bridge benefit and some of his earlier songs are turned into a more twitchy free form style which is ok but i'd prefer him sat at a piano singing 'Martha' and 'Kentucky Avenue' which can make me blub like a baby.

Early stuff i'd probably start with the compilation 'Asylum Years', though 'Blue Valentine' and 'Heart of Saturday Night' were early albums that turned me on to Tom. Later stuff i'd probably start with 'Swordfishtrombones' or 'Rain dogs'. Others may think differently. Your friend is right he is surreal and mesmerizing live and to a degree on record. If you get a chance have a look on his website at the sheer volume of his songs that have been covered by other artists is incredible. After watching his concert tonight he still dresses like a hobo and the royalties ain't going to Prada or Versace.

Dip your feet in the water wolf, but beware there may be sharks lurking in the depths.

Take care

Diccus

Marmite? Got me Diccus.

Glad to see a new Tom Waits release is coming.

Matt

This is my favorites:



He is like a chameleon, a true original.

(BTW what is Marmite?)

Best Regards
Fredrik

I've got to toss in votes for:

1.) Nighthawks at the Diner

2.) Blue Valentines

The list could go on, but I'm sure others will have suggestions as well.

All the best,
Bill

Depends if you like the bar room drunk or the lunatic in a scap yard! The early stuff is mainly bar room drunk stuff and (IMHO) better late at night. I'd probably suggest Heart of the Saturday Night or Small Change both should be reasonably cheap. I also like Alice, Mule Variations, Real Gone.

Full details on new releases (and old) can be found here http://www.anti.com/catalog.php?id=69.

Steve

diccus

btw i don't like it !

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:


diccus

btw i don't like it !

For some reason yeast extract doesn't sound too appetizing. Thanks for letting us know.

Matt

I once knew an Australian and he used to eat something called Vegemite (or something like that). His mother used to send it from Perth!

I never tasted it, and glad I didn't!

Best Regards
Fredrik

I found it!

quote:

Originally posted by costello:
I found it!

i think that's pretty much like Marmite

diccus

If you are keen you can join the Marmite forum here . There is also ILoveMarmite.Com. And the recipe for marmite (copy) is:

MarVeg

1/2 tsp molasses
1 Tbs rice syrup
1 tsp Better Than Bouillon (bouillon paste), vegetable flavor
2 Tbs nutritional yeast flakes (or 1 Tbs powder)

Mix all ingredients well.
Store in a small jar in fridge.

NOTE: If Better Than Bouillon is not available, use miso.

And finally there is this:

"I was in the local KwikSave supermarket looking for some cheap bargains, when I start down an aisle and see this strange guy. He is dressed in a shabby black suit, black hat and mumbling to himself.I avert my eyes as I get near him but then he drops a jar on the floor, which rolls over to me.
I bend down, pick it up and hand it to him. It was then that I recognised
him. Tom Waits in Dover . I just could not believe it. I was speechless you
know. I handed him the jar. It was a jar of Marmite and he had an armful of
them, he had cleared all the stock off the shelf.
I plucked up the courage to say something and asked him why he wanted all
the marmite ? He mumbled a reply, something along the lines of it was hard
to get back home. I asked if he had ever tried ordering on the internet.
He just looked me in the eye, raised his left eyebrow and said " The internet?
Fu*k the internet ". The he shuffled off down the aisle." Raindogstoo

Which ever way you look at it listening to Tom Waits is a damn sight better than being forced to eat the stuff!

Steve

I like this summing up of Tom's voice in Wikipedia

Waits has a distinctive voice, sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car."

Class

diccus

some cracking bargains on Tom stuff here

Those out there who have not come across YouTube can see some Tom Waits here. Chocolate Jesus. Make It Rain Make it Rain and Jockey Full of Bourbon

There's quite a bit more if you search through.

Steve

Also you can have a bit of fun at Music Map. This claims to show artists who you will probably like if you like (in this case) Tom Waits.
Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the prompt. Just been watching some of the other clips of Tom Waits on David Letterman, not a show I normally watch. As a guest he is just like he is between songs on Nighthawkes At The Diner. Obviously a great raconteur, as well as an amazing artist. Never has an interviewer had so little work to do!

Regards

Nic

Yeah i liked the response to Mike Douglas question

MD - "Tom would you describe yourself as a singer or a poet?"

TW - "I'm a Methodist"

The man is a star.............. A smoking Glenda Jackson looked on bemused.

diccus

This also seems to be due out in November. A good autumn for Tom fans

new dvd

diccus

Thanks for the info diccus.

Regards
Matt

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
This also seems to be due out in November. A good autumn for Tom fans

new dvd

diccus

This is possibly a documentary. The publishers are http://www.chromedreams.co.uk/ who seem to specialise in DVD's with unseen footage, interviews etc.
Steve

However there is a new Waits biography to be published by Omnibus Press. According to Amazon.com the release of The many lives of Tom Waits is scheduled for November 1.



Steve

dvd cheaper here

diccus

The new book I mentioned seems to have vanished from some sites since I wrote. Pub date is still 1st Octoner (for the US).

My favorite Tom Waits from recent years is actually "Wicked Grin" by John Hammond with Tom Waits's band. Sort of a Waits lite. It covers lots of songs from the 70's to some of the more challenging recent stuff. This is the best place to get an overview, and if you stopped here, you would get a pretty good flavor of 30 years of TW. I have some of TW's new stuff and it is interesting but hard to listen to. Wicked Grin is one of my favorite cd's ever.

Another Tom Waits I love is Nighthawks at the Diner. I have had the lp for years. If it is too maudlin for you, play it on 45 rpm. You think I am pulling your leg, but at 45, it absolutely rocks! And it is lots of fun to do at a party. I think TW would approve, too.