I have had the album* Bone Machine * since 1993. I listen to it often and marvel at how Tom Waits could make such a damn near perfect album. Yet for some reason, I have never acquired another album by him, though I know he has many. If you’re a Tom Waits fan, can you recommend another album or two of his that I should get next? I’ve waited too long to get more of his stuff.
Thanks.
Get Heart Attack and Vine and Rain Dogs.
I’ll admit to being more partial to the earlier Waits material, but highly recommend any of the following:
Heart of Saturday Night
Small Change
Foreign Affairs
Nighthawks At The Diner
Blue Valentine
You can’t go wrong with any of them
I’m with flickster. After Rain Dogs, there’s no album I like. Sorry, Tom.
Not sure how this is “with flickster,” who recommended 5 Waits albums, and none of them Rain Dogs.
I’ve heard people say that Bone Machine is weird even for Waits, but I think it is over the moon brilliant. I was wondering what of his stuff is closest to that, lyrically/thematically if not instrumentally.
I have a differing opinion from everyone that’s posted so far, for what it’s worth. My favorite is also Bone Machine and I like the Kurt Weil-ish Weimar-y odd stuff more than the earlier, more blues-oriented stuff. With this in mind, my personal next favorites are the Black Rider, Swordfishtrombone and Franks Wild Years.
BTW, I think he/she meant chronologically after Raindogs-- i.e. earlier rather than later work.
Yeah, that would make sense. I really know nothing about Waits except that Bone Machine rocks, so I guess I got whooshed by that reference. Sorry, Frank, for misinterpreting you.
If you can find it (though occassionally it shows up back on TV), Waits did an episode of Austin City Limits which is just insanely good. It dates, IIRC, from the late 1970s, and the fact that this has never been released on video (even though the folks at ACL admit that it’s their most requested video) is a crime of the highest order.
Foreign Affairs for “Cinny’s Waltz”, “Muriel”, “I Never Talk to Strangers” (a duet with Bette Midler), and the title song.
If you’re partial to Bone Machine, then I’d say any of Tom’s 1980s trilogy of Swordfishtombones, Rain Dogs and Frank’s Wild Years would be the logical next ones to listen to. All great albums IMHO; I’d have trouble picking a favorite.
As for stuff after Bone Machine, I think The Black Rider goes just a little too far into the Kurt-Weill-on-acid vein.
But really, the man has never put out a bad album.
As others have sort of stated, Waits’ oevure tends to be split between “drunk balladeer at the piano” and “screaming hobo banging on trash cans.” You’re more into the latter, so definitely check out Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, The Black Rider, and Mule Variations.
As others have sort of stated, Waits’ oevure tends to be split between “drunk balladeer at the piano” and “screaming hobo banging on trash cans.” You’re more into the latter, so definitely check out Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, The Black Rider, and Mule Variations.
As others have sort of stated, Waits’ oevure tends to be split between “drunk balladeer at the piano” and “screaming hobo banging on trash cans.” You’re more into the latter, so definitely check out Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, The Black Rider, and Mule Variations.
As others have sort. . oh, feck, someone beat me to it!
That is what I meant. All of the albums named by flickster are super!
As others have sort of stated, Waits’ oevure tends to be split between…
…ah, never mind. I’m about one post past the cut off line for it to be funny.
Anyway, I like Tom Waits’s music best from when he wrote with Kathleen Brennan. Maybe she’s really the genius behind everything from Swordfishtrombones on, but I think it’s more because she turned him on to different kinds of music.
Rain Dogs is definitely one to get, though it’s not as weird as Bone Machine. I also happen to really like Alice. It’s more ballady than Bone Machine, but it does have it’s moments of craziness.
I think Mule Variations also has a lot of songs that wouldn’t be out of place on Bone Machine.
I believe I’ve recommended this before, but I can’t say it often enough. Tom Waits collaborated with bluesman John Hammond on a disc called *Wicked Grin * that is one of my favorite albums of all time. Waits produced the disc but doesn’t sing; Hammond covers Waits songs. It is wonderful and great in every way.