Once I went to see Tom Waits in Edinburgh with my dad and in the afternoon before the show we went into a music shop. Someone was in there and the someone was Tom Waits. We lurked around the shelves until we crossed paths. He said hello because he's polite and maybe I was slightly staring. I said hello and introduced my dad and said how much we were looking forward to the show tonight. He said thanks. He was looking forward to it too. We shook hands and walked out extra normally... went round the corner and then jumped in the air shouting OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I don't get a chance to tell this story very often, so there you go. I love Tom's voice. I love his songs. I enjoyed reading your piece.
Love Tom Waits. For years. Interestingly, I just learned that Heath Ledger based some of his body language moves as the Joker on Tom Waits, or at least that’s the theory. Quirkiness, individuality, for good or evil!
Oh man. I was introduced to Tom Waits by Uncut Magazine in 2002, with their best of the year compilation CD (which went on to become one of my most-listened to albums ever). They chose "All the World is Green," from Blood Money, which also went on to become one of my favourite albums ever.
Don't exactly know why, but while reading this here post I started thinking about "Earth Died Screaming," which is another classic. Tom Waits!
So, wait. There’s a book about Baltimore that the blurbs compare to The Wire, and it’s written by a “David Simmons”? Okay, buddy, come out with your hands up:
It's funny how many people have covered Tom Waits. Most people have heard his songs sung by other people without knowing Waits was the writer and original performer.
Once I went to see Tom Waits in Edinburgh with my dad and in the afternoon before the show we went into a music shop. Someone was in there and the someone was Tom Waits. We lurked around the shelves until we crossed paths. He said hello because he's polite and maybe I was slightly staring. I said hello and introduced my dad and said how much we were looking forward to the show tonight. He said thanks. He was looking forward to it too. We shook hands and walked out extra normally... went round the corner and then jumped in the air shouting OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I don't get a chance to tell this story very often, so there you go. I love Tom's voice. I love his songs. I enjoyed reading your piece.
WHAT! That's awesome.
Tom Waits just seems like a remarkably well adjusted weirdo, haha. His talk show interviews are always delightful as well.
REAL GONE is one of the greatest albums of all time for me
Strongly agree!
Really glad your son likes Waits! I think his music speaks to the unruly toddler in us all!
Ha, so true!
Love Tom Waits. For years. Interestingly, I just learned that Heath Ledger based some of his body language moves as the Joker on Tom Waits, or at least that’s the theory. Quirkiness, individuality, for good or evil!
Ah, interesting! Had never heard that, and I just wrote about Batman today!
Oh man. I was introduced to Tom Waits by Uncut Magazine in 2002, with their best of the year compilation CD (which went on to become one of my most-listened to albums ever). They chose "All the World is Green," from Blood Money, which also went on to become one of my favourite albums ever.
Don't exactly know why, but while reading this here post I started thinking about "Earth Died Screaming," which is another classic. Tom Waits!
One of the best! The funny thing about Tom Waits is that everyone's personal favorite Waits song is brilliant in its own way.
I share your Tom Waits love. My god, what a human he is!
So, wait. There’s a book about Baltimore that the blurbs compare to The Wire, and it’s written by a “David Simmons”? Okay, buddy, come out with your hands up:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Simon
This is the funniest thing about it to me. The author also lives in Baltimore!
Tom Waits did it in his own great originality-, but the Johnny Cash cover of "Down There by the Train" on the American Recordings is worth a look.
JC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTT8O_LslzQ
TW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxIG2msJ7ow
It's funny how many people have covered Tom Waits. Most people have heard his songs sung by other people without knowing Waits was the writer and original performer.
“Jersey Girl” might be the all-time great steal from one great artist by another.
Good catch!
So right on that. Back when "The Wire" was first out no one did.