Way down in a POLL: ILM's top 50 Tom Waits tracks

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1634304166/tw_400.jpg

It's a Waitsian afternoon here in London, the rain is lashin and the dogs are howlin. What better time to start revealing your favourite fifty Waitsian tunes? Quick run through of the albums first, then on to the main event. So pour yourself a bourbon, pull up a dwarf and get comfortable.

I've used number of votes to break ties by the way.

18. Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards (1 point, 1 vote)
17= Heartattack and Vine (4 points, 1 vote)
17= One From the Heart (4 points, 1 vote)
15. Alice (4 points, 3 votes)
14. Blood Money (5 points, 1 vote, 1 first place)
13= Real Gone (6 points, 2 votes)
13= Black Rider (6 points, 2 votes)
11. Closing Time (6 points, 3 votes)

10. The Heart of Saturday Night (7 points, 3 votes)
9. Big Time (8 points, 3 votes)
8. Mule Variations (13 points, 8 votes, 1 first place)
7. Blue Valentines (14 points, 4 votes, 1 first place)
6. Nighthawks at the Diner (15 points, 6 votes, 1 first place)

5. Small change (1976)
19 points, 6 votes, 1 first place

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tomwaits-smallchange-gal.jpg

4. Bone Machine (1992)
22 points, 10 votes

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OXGRaGeUL.Image._.jpg

Frank's Wild Years (1987)
44 points, 12 votes, 4 first place

http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2010-06/1276778574_51vpmby1kll._ss500_.jpg

Sorry, number 3 obviously.

2. Swordfishtrombones (1983)
46 points, 15 votes, 4 first place

http://losslessjazz.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Tom-Waits-Swordfishtrombones-1990-FLAC.jpg

My word, what on earth could be number one?

1. Rain Dogs (1985)
76 points, 19 votes, 7 first place

http://johannasvisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/rain-dogs.jpg

Whaaaa?!?!

I know, shocking.

Liking the love for Small Change despite not having voted for it or anything on it.

50. Diamonds on My Windshield (The Heart of Saturday Night 1974)
38 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sdk-ZnrHkw

happy that i helped Blue Valentine and Nighthawks do respectably. never really understood the popularity of Bone Machine, though.

I liked Bone Machine at the time but never want to listen to it now.

40 years from his debut album to Bad As Me... I think this kid has staying power.

i don't have enough of an appetite for his music to enjoy all of it, but it certainly seems like there's a case to be made that nobody's been more consistent over such a long career.

I don't know - I think he's been mainly dire since the Wilson musicals. Heckuva 20 year run before that.

49. Black Wings (Bone Machine, 1992
38 points, 5 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i3cEdaM6y4

I put this one up higher, but what a song to kick off a poll with!

Always thought there was something a bit Nick Cavey about that one.

I don't know - I think he's been mainly dire since the Wilson musicals. Heckuva 20 year run before that.

― EZ Snappin, Monday, October 14, 2013 9:38 AM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

hey your mileage may vary -- i just mean in terms of popular acclaim, most of those recent albums are pretty well regarded by critics, and there's really no consensus fallow period

That's true. He doesn't have a dead decade like say, Dylan did.

Tom Waits & The Dead would've been a fun disaster collaboration

Might have worked in the early 70s, as long as they only played old folk and blues tunes. But I'm imagining them in '87, with the Waits of Big Time and the Dead of "Touch of Grey" and I want to punch everyone involved.

58. Anywhere I Lay My Head (Rain Dogs, 1985)
40 points, 3 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUPRQDewJpA

Gah, 48.

If there's one thing this poll is gonna prove is that there are a lot of crazy YouTube guys out there compiling Tom Waits songs.

"Anywhere I Lay My Head" is amazing, a little disappointed it's not higher. Waits always kills with closing tracks.

One of my favourite tracks lyrically coming up.

47. Swordfishtrombone (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
40 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDGhJtEsmj8

46. Hold On (Mule Variations,, 1999)
41 points, 4 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkpaKx1UUUw

Be thankful I spared you the Hold On/Walking Dead montage vid that someone has made.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/acced5d84899e8e09b76b8bc9f2cf4df/tumblr_mfz1p8hx871r1mtsdo1_500.gif

it's so hard to dance that way, when it's cold and there's no music

Don't remember that scene from Down By Law.

45. Make It Rain (Real Gone, 2004)
42 points, 4 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR5SHuJDlUQ

Do take the time to watch that clip, it's a terrific performance.

You think you might start a spotify list, chap?

Not a bad idea, I'll get on it this evening.

45. Make It Rain (Real Gone, 2004)
42 points, 4 votes, 1 first place

Interesting. That is a great song. I like that album, but didn't vote for anything off it. The only one I came close to voting for was "Hoist That Rag" but it didn't make the cut.

Real Gone is quite unfairly overlooked, it's easily his best post 80s album for me.

But I like insane junkyard hobo Waits.

44. All the World is Green (Blood Money, 2002)
43 points, 3 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GIAawSTisE

Not a tune I was familiar with previously. Though it was a bit slight at first, but it's growing on me.

That's my first place vote (and I put Blood Money in first place in the albums too). It's the only one that doesn't have too many songs.

Love this song. I voted for it, though fairly low. I'm realizing how slanted my votes were towards older stuff. This is probably the newest song I voted for.

43. I'll Be Gone (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
46 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAVl3PjTwbk

Now that's a tune.

42. I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You (Closing Time, 1973)
48 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRyYayGtRBo

41. Trouble's Braids (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
49 points, 3 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nSA1gZ96eo

50. Diamonds On My Windshield
49. Black Wings
48. Anywhere I lay My Head
47. Swordfishtrombone
46. Hold On
45. Make It Rain
44. All the World is Green
43. I'll Be Gone
42. I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
41. Trouble's Braids

And that's yer lot for today.

Glad to see Black Wings in there. It's the only standout for me on Bone Machine.

Pleasantly surprised to see "Trouble's Braids" place. Always loved it but never got the sense that it had fervent fans. All props to whomever gave it their #1 vote.

How do you make a spotify playlist into a url these days? Can only find Facebook and Twitter sharing options. I don't have pro.

Right-click on your playlist in the menu on the left, and go to to Highlight HTTP?

Copy HTTP Link, I mean.

Thanks, got it.

http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ

40. Invitation to the Blues (Small Change,, 1976)
49 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CELo-AmUKiU

39. Ol 55 (Closing Time,1973)
50 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXunos4IXDU

XP - Great song, didn't vote for it

Ol 55 sounds pretty bland to me, but there you go.

I was talking about Invitation, Ol '55 is a bit flat, yer right.

I'm not a fan of Closing Time at all really, nothing I love about Waits is in place yet.

38. In the Neighborhood (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
51 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLDA3GQpYJ4

I voted for "Ol' 55", but not because of the Closing Time version. It's all about the live recordings. For example, I love this 1975 performance from the essential boot Surfin' Minneapolis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9AwysXhUqs

37= Hang On St Christopher (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
51 points, 5 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBqFq0c1ANU

37= Shore Leave (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
51 points, 5 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yptr7t37cAg

I'm really pleased the next one made it.

35. What's He Building in There? (Mule Variations, 1999)
53 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLjwSpZ6Cs

It got a lot of low votes, all adds up. Think I may have subconsciously influenced people to put it on their ballots by referencing it in the nominations thread title.

This song the root of a thousand bad jokes between my friends. "What's taking Matthew so long in the bathroom? He's not building a playground for the children..."

In a weird way, it's always reminded me of this SNL bit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV7Qz640OeM

Sorry, gonna race through the rest a bit, haven't planned the afternoon very well.

love What's He Building but it got bumped from my ballot in favor of other oddball experiments.

34. Yesterday is Here (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
55 points, 4 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dnv5L59eSo

love What's He Building but it got bumped from my ballot in favor of other oddball experiments.

― money, chicken and other DNA (sleeve),

For me it's the best of his spoken word pieces. So creepy, and just a great short story.

33. Telephone Call From Instanbul (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
56 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8eRnks9bM

No one seems to have put the studio version on YT, by the way. That performance is really good anyway.

Gorgeous little song up next.

32. Kentucky Avenue (Blue Valentines, 1978)
57 points, 3 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvZK8Wl7RQ8

"Yesterday Is Here" is too low.

I'd never properly listened to the lyrics of Kentucky Ave before properly, they're pretty fucked up and amazing.

Last song of the day coming up in about ten. It's another great number.

31. Hang Down Your Head (Rain Dogs, 1985)
57 points, 5 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEY18eXO724

40. Invitation to the Blues
39. Ol' 55
38. In the Neighborhood
37= Hang on St Christopher
37= Shore Leave
35. What's He Building in There
34. Yesterday is Here
33. Telephone Call From Istanbul
32. Kentucky Avenue
31. Hang Down Your Head

http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ

Hasta manana! Feel free to like and comment.

Glad to see "Closing Time" getting some love around here. "Martha" might have been my number one if I had voted (i've been moving and everything has been out of sorts so I'm totally bummed I missed this). Not sure about "What's He Building In There", even though I enjoy the track as a goof. If there had to be a talking one, I would've preferred "9th and Hennepin".

I voted for 9th and hennepin.

if i had been around for the noms bit, i would've repped hard for "Hoist that Rag"

Yesterday Is Here was close to the top of my Poll, it has it's own particular sound that is almost as lovely as something like I Only Have Eyes For You.

I voted for "Martha". I'll be interested to see if it places.

Glad to see "Kentucky Avenue" made it, I had that high on my list. I love his ballads. That one always feels a little rougher than some but there's something especially stunning about it, especially what it builds to near the end.

I wonder which album will end up with the most songs on the list. Already a lot from Swordfishtrombones and Frank's Wild Years.

i like seeing all the swordfishtrombone love altho i didnt vote for any of those tracks

'invitation to the blues' was v high on my ballot

What only three votes for 'All the world is green'!? That's one of his most beautiful instrumentations post-00s.

Also 'in the neighborhood' is a bit low considering how well it did on the album poll, it beated 16 shells which just has to feature somewhere in the following days.

Early prediction for top five (heavy on the rain dogs):

1. Jockey Full of Bourbon
2. Clap Hands
3. Cold Cold Ground
4. Downtown Train
5. Time /or Martha

I was the #1 voter for Hang Down Your Head. Thought that would be way higher.

Foreign Affairs got shut out of the album poll - it's not a favourite, but it's weird to see a studio album in the first five years of a career not receive any votes at all. I think the only other studio album that missed out was Bad As Me?

I must have missed the albums vote part. I would have had Orphans at number 2 behind Rain Dogs

Thought 'in the neighbourhood' would get a few more votes. 'Invitation to the Blues' and 'I'll Be Gone' too. Altogether a rather random, but nevertheless decent, selection from Waits' catalogue.

I hhope neither 'Jockey' nor 'Shells' win. Both are boring

"Yesterday Is Here was close to the top of my Poll, it has it's own particular sound that is almost as lovely as something like I Only Have Eyes For You."

qft

30. Dirt in the Ground (Bone Machine, 1992)
57 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyXdj-CUvW0

29. Johnsburg, Illinois (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
60 points, 5 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEI-UCU-BM0

28. Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen) (Small Change, 1976)
61 points, 5 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkOMiA_uGso

Yay to the person that voted Johnsburg, Illinois as their Number One

Looking through my spreadsheet I see that one person voted for 'Waltzing Matilda' - didn't occur to me till just now that they almost certainly meant Tom Traubert. So that vote wasn't counted in its final position, apologies. It made the top 50 anyway.

xp

Me! I love it so much, think it's his single sweetest moment. So small.

like i am really fond of the big ballads or heartbreakers but J, I is something else.

Was listening to Telephone Call From Istanbul this morning and that fucking organ(?) towards the end is just such an amazing piece of late-breaking instrumentation. TOO LOW.

"Johnsburg, Illinois" was the last song cut from my ballot. Happy as hell to see it on here. Good taste, woof!

JI breaks my heart, kinda like Come On Up To The House does, but from a different angle.

27. Temptation (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
62 points, 5 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjW1ppfQECc

Great double bass solo in the live version of Telephone Call, which is from Big Time

The first Waits record I bought was Frank's Wild Years, off the back of a review in the press, I was only dimly aware of his music, but looking back I reckon Island records must have shilled his ass like crazy to make it work. I must have only been 15 or something and I was initially not at home to dissonant Optigan explorations, Rhumba and the megaphone wailing in Temptation. I was only willing to commit to the less demanding songs.
Naturally I came around when my tastes eventually caught up and now every note of Temptation is perfect.

The contributions of Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot, Ralph Carney et al to these songs cannot be understated, although I was never keen on Keith Richards when he turned up.

26. Cemetery Polka (Rain Dogs, 1985)
64 points, 4 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9bfsT3AvLU

How completely odd is this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLyt2EsQ0Q

25. Picture in a Frame (Mule Variations, 1999)
65 points, 4 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pwxD8quPCg

24. Downtown Train (Rain Dogs, 1985)
65 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhW76LAnTY

I really thought that'd be top 10, maybe the Rod Stewart factor went against it.

It's a decent song, but there are like ten better tracks on Rain Dogs alone!

I'm waiting to see where "Cold Water," from Mule Variations, pops up (if it does). I was just listening to that song last night - really great stuff.

A really fun one I didn't know before coming up next.

23. Step Right Up (Small Change, 1976)
65 points, 8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URp-Dbhr7EU&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DURp-Dbhr7EU&has_verified=1

22. Soldier's Things (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
67 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNwC8ETa0pg

Also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcsi5Cd4XrE

Surprised and delighted to see "Soldier's Things" here at all! I figured it would be outside the top 50.

yesss my high placing for Step Right Up has paid off. That song has so many great lines, but "the large print giveth and the small print taketh away" is all-time.

Paul Young didn't lack chutzpah when it came to covers did he? (Some lovely sounds in that version mind you!)

21. Alice (Alice, 2002)
68 points, 6 votes, 2 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEj-mrwwaxo

30. Dirt in the Ground
29. Johnsburg, Illinois
28. Tom Traubert's Blues
27. Temptation
26. Cemetery Polka
25. Picture in a Frame
24. Downtown Train
23. Step Right Up
22. Soldier's Things
21. Alice

http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ

I voted for "Alice", but the version I love is the one from the demos. The re-recordings that made up the Alice album was what made me stop buying his records on day of release. Utterly disappointing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr7J2GS3ar4

That demo is lovely, but I really like the woozy instrumentation on the album version as well.

Are the Alice and Blood Money albums generally disliked? I really enjoy both of them and probably would have voted for a bunch of tunes off of them, but I completely missed that this poll was happening.

That demo is really nice too, are there other demo tracks from those albums available?

Still think these are very random selections from the back catalogue. Not a complaint. Love Johnsburg, one of those Waits songs that makes me feel ever so slightly weepy. Surprised Downtown Train isn't higher. I know it's a very obvious song but the lyrics are fantastic and for me it's the archetypal Waits song.

I like a lot of Blood Money and Alice has great moments (as well as horrible moments too)

There is a whole set of the Alice demos floating around. They're the tracks he cut as guides for the actors and musicians when it was first performed in 1992.

I probably would like the Alice album more if I hadn't had the demos for half a decade before it came out. He recast them for the modern Waits sound and they lost most of their creepy magic. And what he did to poor "Tabletop Joe" is unforgivable.

I'll need to check them out

I didn't see the "Table Top Joe" demo on youtube so I stuck it on my tumblr.

Whoa I didn't vote for it because I'm not a fan but I thought ILM liked Downtown Train enough to at least be in the top 10. I am not dissapointed.

Alice was my number one vote and Temptation my #9. I don't know who else voted for it in first place but I salute you.

happy to see "Picture In A Frame" this high, didn't know how well regarded it was! i put it on the playlist at my wedding, one of my fav Waits ballads.

i think Rod Stewart should be forced to record all of these songs. especially "What's He Building In There."

Aw, I hate to think how he'd deal with the pathos of "Soldier's Things."

How many Waits songs has Rod sung? He's done three from our list so far - Downtown Train, Tom Traubert's Blues, Picture in a Frame.

Alice was my number one vote and Temptation my #9. I don't know who else voted for it in first place but I salute you.

I think Temptation was my number one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNUBhKHvYSk

Surprised Traubert so low

I voted for it, but it is like my 5th or 6th favorite tune on Small Change so it was skewed low.

It's the first Tom Waits song I ever heard - played on KZON while I was driving around Phoenix. Sentimentality totally influenced me ranking it #1.

Mine was the #1 vote for "Picture in a Frame."

I used to sing it every night to my daughter as a lullaby. That clinched the ranking.

Where would you daughter rank it?

Except!! I just looked back at my ballot and I cut off like the top 6 songs when I sent it ;_; massive fail

Oh shit, I thought you were only voting for fourteen songs!

What were your top six out of interest?

tom traubert's blues
Step Right Up
Jockey Full of Bourbon
Kentucky Avenue
All the world is green
9th & Hennepin

Ah well

Blue Valentine is my #1 album so i'm glad to finally see a song from it on here, although "Kentucky Avenue" is the song i have the most mixed feelings about. sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dxhwG3jPPY

20. Martha (Closing Time, 1973)
71 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Mse62NFl4

19. Blue Valentines (Blue Valentine, 1978)
73 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyjHqXlVn1U

(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night (The Heart of Saturday Night,1974)
78 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UHd7NVegE

Sorry, that's number 18.

17. Goin' Out West (Bone Machine, 1992)
78 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27LLPANAgzw

I couldn't even tell you how Goin Out West goes. Finally one of my main votes appears - Heart of Saturday Night, but I only voted it because of this wonderful rare bootleg I have with full instrumental backing. I don't know where I got it from or how but it's truly magical.

Goin' Out West is pretty bitching, you should give it a listen.

16. Train Song (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
79 points, 5 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1372DyU8H8

big time version with intro is a must

15. I Don't Wanna Grow Up (Bone Machine, 1992)
83 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqOm78Vvg3w

You guys just don't listen tot he same Waits as I do, I'm starting to think.

xpost

Although... I love this song! First ever Waits song I heard, maybe on Beavis and Butthead or something?

Oh hush, a good handful of songs from your ballot have placed already.

IDWGU is another one that makes me feel a bit sad somehow. The lyrics, again, are filled with pathos. I love Waits when he's critiquing the human condition.

"this guy can't write songs, but boy can he sing"

14. Way Down in the Hole (Frank's Wild Years,, 1987)
87 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZZu93VsNA

Temptation is a great one I didn't vote for - a real grower. He doesn't often do falsetto, does he? Isn't this based on an old Cole Porter song or did I imagine it?

The only bad thing about Way Down In The Hole is that the coda doesn't go on for long enough! I love the guitar solo on that one. ~Might have to learn it one day.

"I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is one of my favorite short songs.

Only just dawned on me that Way Down is a one-chord song.

I kinda dig the little false endings to Way Down.

13. Ruby's Arms (Heartattack and Vine, 1980)
88 points, 6 votes, 2 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmM7B-M3LVg

Compulsive Gamblers' cover of Way Down in the Hole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb_KSSYt6hA

A fine farewell to to the first phase of his career, Ruby's Arms.

The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (Small Change, 1976)
88 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPPtrqvHGEg

Not that I post here any more, but: One thing Wait's tearjerkers pull off better than anything outside of the opera is nail the point where heartache and grief -- as in bereavement from death -- intersect and become indistinguishable. And that's been the most consistent thing in his entire career, except for the phoney-baloney jazz-beatnick-bum moments that drive me nuts even when they sound great.

I'm surprised so many pre-Rain Dogs tracks have appeared!

check the radically different slurred spoken "the piano has been drinking" live that's on Spare Parts

v funny imo

Alfred, I am too.

Funniest Lyric and Saddest Lyric would have been interesting side polls.

11. Rain Dogs (Rain Dogs, 1985)
93 points, 7 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuQj0ZGE6c

actually i meant this one live in dublin '81 which i think is on bounced checks

Funniest Lyric and Saddest Lyric would have been interesting side polls.

― cops on horse (WilliamC), Thursday, 17 October 2013

yes!

20. Martha
19. Blue Valentines
18. (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
17. Goin' Out West
16. Train Song
15. I Don't Wanna Grow Up
14. Way Down in the Hole
13. Ruby's Arms
12. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
11. Rain Dogs

Rain Dogs is my first place! Yay!

Funniest Lyric and Saddest Lyric would have been interesting side polls.

― cops on horse (WilliamC), Thursday, 17 October 2013

Can we do this?

Love The Piano Has Been Drinking too.

That's a song that'll always remind me of being in my early 20s - barreling home pissed after a night out with the sun coming up. Bittersweet times - I lived to go out because life at home was so rough.

I take back what I said earlier about not feeling the choices in this poll. These last few seem to reveal I'm as populist as ever.

and she was lovely and fair as the roses of the summerrrr

http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ

i think it's great how much 70s music there's been in the poll. maybe there's stronger consensus on songs from the early albums because people might often know them from various comps, whereas most any Waits fan owns Rain Dogs etc. and has their favorites from it?

My top five are already accounted for.

Ten of the songs on my ballot are still not mentioned. I'm guessing six will wind up in the ILM top ten. I don't know why I think this.

I'm really upset that nothing from 'One From The Heart' has turned up....can't believe anything will be top 10??

I used to think Rain Dogs was my favourite album because it has such great highs, but in more recent evaluation I think Swordfish and even Franks are more consistent on the whole. RD has too many dull genre-exercises and I never liked Waits when he does, say, straight-up country, blues or rock'n'roll so there's a big stretch over the second side where I just tend to switch off or skip. Much more inclined to enjoy the Weillian bierkeller gargoyly stuff on SFT or the bad-trip Gothic Mingus stuff on FWY than load sof the stuff on RD.

10. Innocent When You Dream (78) (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
102 points, 8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6KkJ6-Ecxw

Speaking of gargoyly bierkellers, this was my number 6.

Something that isn't made enough of are Waits' production techniques. This is my favourite of his experiments.

9. Burma-Shave (Foreign Affairs, 1977)
105 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug7DZG1F6bs

Chap, could we get a recap of 50-10?

Burma Shave is HIGH, especially for a track off Foreign Affairs. I guess as a Brit part of the point of that song is lost on me, but I rather like FA, it's a pretty weird (if disjointed) record.

50. Diamonds on my Windshield
49. Black Wings
48. Anywhere I Lay My Head
47. Swordfishtrombone
46. Hold On
45. Make It Rain
44. All the World is Green
43. I'll Be Gone
42. I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
41. Trouble's Braids
40. Invitation to the Blues
39. Ol' 55
38= Hang on St Christopher
38= Shore Leave
36. In the Neighborhood
35. What's He Building in There
34. Yesterday is Here
33. Telephone Call From Instanbul
32. Kentucky Avenue
31. Hang Down Your Head
30. Dirt in the Ground
29. Johnsburg, Illinois
28. Tom Traubert's Blues
27. Temptation
26. Cemetery Polka
25. Picture in a Frame
24. Downtown Train
23. Step Right Up
22. Soldier's Things
21. Alice
20. Martha
19. Blue Valentines
18. The Heart of Saturday Night
17. Goin' Out West
16. Train Song
15. I Don't Wanna Grow Up
14. Way Down in the Hole
13. Ruby's Arms
12. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
11. Rain Dogs

8. Time (Rain Dogs, 1985)
110 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB4uGGquX4

I'm not that huge a fan of Time myself, it kind of goes on a bit.

Thanks for the recap!

I'm not a big "Time" fan, either.

Yeah, it's kind of superficially weary to my ears; like, I'm not sure I'm quite taken in by its illusion.

Is Time based on something else? It sounds like a 'reclaimed' song. So does 'In The Neighbourhood'. They both sounded immediately familiar on first hearing.

Quite a few of his songs have had that effect on me; he often uses fairly hokey structures, it's the texture and instrumentation that makes them interesting.

Then again he uses quite wacky structures at other times.

7. Singapore (Rain Dogs, 1985)
119 points, 12 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxB4GqYM0T4

xpost hokey's the word - I think it's pretty deliberate most of the time, like when he uses a Christmas or Disney motif it can be quite affecting and nostalgic.

Singapore is so much fun. I love the way he pronounces 'we're all as mad as HATTERS HERE'. My Waits-obsessed friend Mike does a great cover of it.

I love Singapore so much, as I do the next song.

6. Tango Til They're Sore (Rain Dogs, 1985)
123 points, 11 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Tn8w1w2_Y

another surprise. i do like this one though.

Amazing piano playing on it.

The next one is not from the trilogy, repeat, not from the trilogy.

5. Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis (Blue Valentine, 1978)
133 points, 11 votes, 2 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVo5mjK4eg

Some mad Blue Valentines love in this poll. It's the only one I have on vinyl, but I find the whole thing a bit corny to be honest.

I'm not being a very good Waits fan am I?

He's had such a variation of styles over the decades that I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who loves everything. I find a lot of his earlier work a bit schmaltzy myself too.

I always feel unfashionable for preferring sad drunk Tom to barking junkyard Tom.

I like Time but I'm never always sure of its position beside Hang Down Your Head, the latter is incredible IMO

Sometimes it makes perfect sense right behind it, sometimes not

I love the live boots of sad drunk Tom but often find the albums a bit too fussy. The tunes, though, are killer. He could write a barroom weeper like nobody else.

4. Cold Cold Ground (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)
156 points, 13 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmrGImjmUZk

The success of Cold Cold Ground has been the surprise of the poll for me. I like it fine, but it's never struck me as a massive standout. It was frontrunner for some time.

Cold Cold Ground was #3 on my ballot. I especially love the arrangement on Big Time. It's my dream to rework it into a tuff reggae rockers track at some point.

The Big Time version is on that Island Best-Of (my intro to Tom) and it's a highlight too.

3. 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)
172 points, 13 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XLdxxJEB80

My first place coming up at number 2...

2. Clap Hands (Rain Dogs, 1985)
178 points, 13 votes, 1 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMy1xOh6cw

Glad this did well

yes!

I dreamed I was in a club dancing to a ten minute dark house remix of Clap Hands once. It was awesome.

Wow, that one is a huge surprise to me.

And I Love Music's favourite Tom Waits tune by a considerable margin is...

1. Jockey Full of Bourbon (Rain Dogs, 1985)
223 points, 18 votes, 2 first place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vEBPYfy1GM

Never understood the love for Jockey or 16 Shells. Both are hoary blues songs and I just don't find them interesting. I absolutely love Clap Hands, but it never struck me as a big highlight. Overall, it's been an interesting and varied poll. Great to see that others appreciate Tom for quite different reasons to how I do (IMO).

Anyway, here's my ballot:

Albums
1 Swordfishtrombones
2 Franks Wild Years
3 Rain Dogs
4 Small Change
5 Bone Machine

Tracks
1 Rain Dogs
2 In The Neighborhood
3 Cold Cold Ground
4 Good Old World (Waltz)
5 The Heart Of A Saturday Night
6 Innocent When You Dream (78)
7 The Black Rider
8 Invitation To The Blues
9 Downtown Train
10 Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan...
11 I'll Be Gone
12 I Don't Wanna Grow Up
13 Town With No Cheer
14 The Piano Has Been Drinking
15 Hell Broke Luce
16 Don't Go Into That Barn
17 Lucky Day
18 Shore Leave
19 Johnsburg, Illinois
20 I Can't Wait To Get Off Work

I dreamed I was in a club dancing to a ten minute dark house remix of Clap Hands once. It was awesome.

― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, October 18, 2013 5:02 PM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I will do this after the reggae version of Cold Cold Ground.

I just want to pop in to say that there are a handful of songs that will make me cry if I even think about them, and Time is one of them. It's emotionally powerful! It's not for every day. I did not participate in this poll for a variety of reasons, but mostly because Tom Waits reminds me of a parade of men I've known, even my dad and other people's dads, and I don't have the energy to spare thinking about them. Tom Waits is very (sometimes cartoonishly) masculine!

#1 and #2 are both really fun to dance to, good work ILM.

My number 1 didn't show up!

thanks to Chap for doing this. Thanks Chap!

Rain Dogs? Number 11!

xpost -you're welcome!

Got a few things to do, will come back with the breakdowns in about half an hour.

My #1 was AWOL.

November
Cold Cold Ground
Trouble's Braids
Yesterday Is Here
Clap Hands
The Black Rider
Emotional Weather Report
Sixteen Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six
The One That Got Away
Singapore
Burma Shave
Alice
The Last Rose of Summer
Diamonds On My Windshield
Eggs and Sausage (In A Cadillac with Susan Michelson)
Temptation
Way Down in the Hole
Ol' 55
Warm Beer and Cold Women
Jockey Full of Bourbon

TOP 5 ALBUMS

Frank's Wild Years
Nighthawks at the Diner
The Black Rider
Swordfishtrombones
Rain Dogs

Thanks for running this chap!

Great poll, thanks to chap for running it! I was a little surprised at the sword/rain/franks dominance, and "Jockey" at #1 baffles me even more than "Clap Hands" at #2.

1. Cold Cold Ground
2. Trouble's Braids
3. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
4. Train Song
5. Way Down in the Hole
6. 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought-Six
7. Soldier's Things
8. Somewhere
9. Burma Shave
10. I never talk to strangers
11. Goin' Out West
12. Time
13. 9th & Hennepin
14. Rain Dogs
15. Telephone Call from Istanbul
16. Martha
17. Walking Spanish
18. Singapore
19. In the Neighborhood
20. Diamonds on my Windshield

Cemetery Polka
Innocent When You Dream (Barroom) (guess I'm the only one who prefers this version)
Jockey Full of Bourbon
Burma-Shave
In the Neighborhood
Train Song
Time
Rain Dogs
Dirt in the Ground
Tango Till They're Sore
Telephone Call from Istanbul
Cold Cold Ground
Clap Hands
Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
Earth Died Screaming
Singapore
Take It With Me
I'll Be Gone
Soldier's Things
Misery Is the River of the World

Although 15-20 could have been any number of other songs. Sorry for voting 75% Sword-Dogs-Franks, gotta be honest about it though.

I'm surprised BM tracks didn't chart so high.

i like jockey full of bourbon ok but never even considered voting for it

glad xmas card from a hooker placed highly

this is my ballot

albums:

nighthawks @ the diner
franks wild yrs
swordfishtrombones
big time
mule variations

tracks (most pts - least)

Christmas card from a hooker in minneapolis
Romeo is bleeding
invitation to the blues
fall of troy
innocent when you dream
flowers grave
please call me baby
goin out west
ill shoot the moon
16 shells from a 30 ought 6
world keeps turning
lord ive been changed
sins of my father
aint goin down to the well
day after tommorow
hold on
big in japan
chocolate jesus
no one knows im gone
earth died screaming

"fall of troy" is prob his song that hits me the hardest idk y exactly but its really simple & beautiful

Mine:

1 Temptation
2 Goin' Out West
3 Clap Hands
4 Jockey Full of Bourbon
5 Innocent When You Dream (78)
6 Blow Wind Blow
7 Cold Cold Ground
8 Black Wings
9 Rosie
10 Cemetary Polka
11 The Earth Died Screaming
12 Step Right Up
13 Gun Street Girl
14 Tango Till They're Sore
15 All Stripped Down
16 Tain't No Sin
17 16 Shells From A 30.6
18 Jesus Gonna Be Here
19 Dirt in the Ground
20 Murder in the Red Barn

50. Diamonds on my Windshield
49. Black Wings
48. Anywhere I Lay My Head
47. Swordfishtrombone
46. Hold On
45. Make It Rain
44. All the World is Green
43. I'll Be Gone
42. I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
41. Trouble's Braids
40. Invitation to the Blues
39. Ol' 55
38= Hang on St Christopher
38= Shore Leave
36. In the Neighborhood
35. What's He Building in There
34. Yesterday is Here
33. Telephone Call From Instanbul
32. Kentucky Avenue
31. Hang Down Your Head
30. Dirt in the Ground
29. Johnsburg, Illinois
28. Tom Traubert's Blues
27. Temptation
26. Cemetery Polka
25. Picture in a Frame
24. Downtown Train
23. Step Right Up
22. Soldier's Things
21. Alice
20. Martha
19. Blue Valentines
18. The Heart of Saturday Night
17. Goin' Out West
16. Train Song
15. I Don't Wanna Grow Up
14. Way Down in the Hole
13. Ruby's Arms
12. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
11. Rain Dogs
10. Innocent When You Dream (78)
9. Burma-Shave
8. Time
7. Singapore
6. Tango Til They're Sore
5. Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis
4. Cold Cold Ground
3. 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six
2. Clap Hands
1. Jockey Full of Bourbon

http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ

And number 51-99 (gets a bit too fiddly after that):

51 . Gun Street Girl (38 points, 3 votes)
52. November (38 , 2, 1 first)
53. Green Grass (38, 2)
54. San Diego Serenade (37, 4)
55. Somewhere (36, 4)
56. Earth Died Screaming (35, 6)
58= Take It with Me (35, 4)
58= Walking Spanish (35, 4)
59. Eggs and Sausage (34, 3)
60. Big in Japan (33, 5)
61. Black Rider (33, 4)
62. Town with No Cheer (33, 3)
63. Innocent When You Dream (Barroom) (31, 3)
64. Come on up to the House (30, 3, 1 first)
65. Romeo is Bleeding (30, 2)
66. I Never Talk to Strangers (29, 3)
67. Hoist That Rag (28, 3)
69= A Little Rain (27, 3)
69= 9th and Hennepin (27, 3)
70. Emotional Weather Report (27,2)
71. Heartattack and Vine (26, 5)
72. Misery is the River of the World (25,3)
74= Fall of Troy (25, 2)
74= Blind Love (25,2)
75. Can’t Wait to Get off Work (23, 2, 1 first)
78= Cold Water (23, 2)
78= Red Shoes by the Drug Store (23, 2)
78= Hell Broke Luce (23, 2)
79. This One’s from the Heart (22, 2, 1 first)
80. God’s Away on Business (22, 2)
81. Underground (20, 3)
83= Drunk on the Moon (20, 1, 1 first)
83= Sweet Little Bullet (20, 1, 1 first)
84. Jersey Girl (19, 2)
87= Good Old World (Waltz) (19, 1)
87= Gin Soaked Boy (19, 1)
87= Long Way Home (19, 1)
89= Jitterbug Boy (18, 1)
89= Lowside of the Road (18, 1)
90. Broken Bicycles (17, 2)
92= On the Nickel (17, 1)
92= Pony (17, 1)
93. Straight to the Top (Rhumba) (16, 2)
97= Waltzing Matilda (16, 1)
97= Flowers Grave (16, 1)
97= Heigh Ho (16, 1)
97= Widow’s Grove (16, 1)
99= Everything Goes to Hell (15, 2)
99= The World Keeps Turning (15, 2)

My work is done. Many thanks to all who voted and commented, I had fun!

thanks chap

Early prediction for top five (heavy on the rain dogs):

1. Jockey Full of Bourbon
2. Clap Hands
3. Cold Cold Ground
4. Downtown Train
5. Time /or Martha

Hey! I got the top three right!

great job chap!

Anyway here's my poll, overall happy with the top results excluding the lack of love gor Green Grass and Hoist that Rag

01 Alice
02 Green Grass
03 Clap Hands
04 Jockey Full of Bourbon
05 Burma Shave
06 All the world is green
07 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six
08 Red shoes by the drugstore
09 Temptation
10 Hoist that rag
11 Shore Leave
12 Earth Died Screaming
13 Blue Valentines
14 Cold Cold Ground
15 Martha
16 Step Right Up
17 Dirt in the Ground
18 I Hope that I Don't Fall in Love with You
19 Little Drop of Poison
20 Christmas card for a hooker in minneapolis

ALBUMS

Swordfishtrombones
Blue Valentine
Rain Dogs
Bone Machine
Alice

Thanks chap!

I love the live boots of sad drunk Tom but often find the albums a bit too fussy. The tunes, though, are killer. He could write a barroom weeper like nobody else.

So true. I have a bootleg with a version of "Christmas Card" that's fucking amazing.

Oo, forgot to post my ballot:

1. clap hands
2. take it with me
3. rain dogs
4. 16 shells
5. singapore
6. swordfishtrombone
7. tango til they're sore
8. underground
9. make it rain
10. alice
11. ghosts of saturday night
12. what's he building in there
13. just the right bullets
14. hang down your head
15. dirt in the ground
16. big in japan
17. san diego serenade
18. don't go into that barn
19. goin west
20. pasties and a g-string

It's ok for the poll runner to submit a ballot right? I put it together before the poll opened so I wouldn't be influenced by others' votes!

Great work Chap, my number one never made the cut nevertheless it is a beautiful, heart-warming track, so ner.

1. Come On Up To The House - Mule Variations

2. Yesterday Is Here - Frank's Wild Years

3. Singapore - Rain Dogs

4. Cemetery Polka - Rain Dogs

5. Jersey Girl - Heartattack & Vine

6. Johnsburg, Illinois - Swodrfishtrombones

7. In The Neighbourhood - Swordfishtrombones

8. Depot Depot - The Heart Of Saturday Night

9. Xmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis - Blue Valentine

10. God's Away On Business - Blood Money

11. Cold Water - Mule Variations

12. 16 Shells From A 30.6 (live) - Big Time

13. Hang On St Christopher - Frank's Wild Years

14. Big Black Mariah (live) - Big Time

15. Innocent When You Dream (bar-room) - Frank's Wild Years

16. Train Song (live) - Big Time

17. Tango Till They're Sore - Rain Dogs

18. Falling Down - Big Time

19. Just The Right Bullets - The Black Rider

20. The Briar & The Rose - The Black Rider

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5X4N2exOsU

Yeah, Come On Up is great.

wow only one other person voted for "Can't Wait To Get Off Work", it was my #1. such a perfect little portrait.

I also appear to be the only person who voted for "Pontiac" and "King Kong"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbiioBFkD_Q

my take on my ballot and his whole discography p much is that if i recompiled it in x amt of time (a year? idk) it could be like ~80% different. also how i viewed the st. etienne ballot poll

1. Swordfishtrombones
2. One From The Heart Soundtrack
3. Rain Dogs
4. Blue Valentines
5. Heart Of Saturday Night

1. This One's From The Heart
2. 16 Shells from a 3:16
3. Martha
4. A Town With No Cheer
5. Burma Shave
6. I Never Talk To Strangers
7. Heart Of Saturday Night
8. Broken Bicycles
9. Blue Valentine
10. A Soldiers Things
11. Step Right Up
12. Small Change
13. I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You
14. Ol'55
15. Somewhere
16. Grapefruit Moon
17. Muriel
18. Lonely
19. Clap Hands
20. Cold Cold Ground

I'll be honest I'm a bit of Waits dillettante (not so keen post Rain Dogs) but adore 'Swordfishtrombones' and think 'One From The Heart' is an overlooked gem...hate 'Tom Traubert's Blues' tho...

2. 16 Shells from a 3:16

Typo of the week. I wonder if there's a bible verse John Thirty-Ought-Six.

my fave album has always been the live nighthawks at the diner from 1975. it has such a phantastic jazzy night club atmosphre. how can it be that there is not one song which placed in the poll?

songs:
Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis
Clap Hands
Way Down In The Hole
Picture In A Frame
Time
Blue Valentines
I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
Gun Street Girl
16 Shells From A 30.6
Innocent When You Dream (78)
Anywhere I Lay My Head
Red Shoes By The Drugstore
Come On Up To The House
Downtown Train
I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You
Step Right Up
The Piano Bas Been Drinking
Big In Japan
Jockey Full Of Bourbon
What’s He Building In There?

albums:
Blue Valentine
Rain Dogs
Nighthawks At The Diner
Swordfishtrombones
Mule Variations

whoah yeah Gun Street Girl didn't place either!

tracks
1. tom traubert's blues (four sheets to the wind in copenhagen)
2. ruby's arms
3. christmas card from a hooker in minneapolis
4. train song
5. cold, cold ground
6. burma-shave
7. tango 'til they're sore
8. anywhere i lay my head
9. way down in the hole
10. kentucky avenue
11. blue valentines
12. jockey full of bourbon
13. take it with me
14. invitation to the blues
15. yesterday is here
16. innocent when you dream (barroom)
17. san diego serenade
18. world keeps turning
19. heartattack and vine
20. all the world is green

albums:
1. rain dogs
2. small change
3. franks wild years
4. swordfishtrombones
5. orphans

"Gun Street Girl" was always a standout to me, surprised it didn't make it

my fave album has always been the live nighthawks at the diner from 1975. it has such a phantastic jazzy night club atmosphre. how can it be that there is not one song which placed in the poll?

― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Friday, October 18, 2013 5:13 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i voted this #1 album, love it dearly; just didnt break out songs from it for the tracks poll, felt wrong

yeah same here, album was on my ballot but didn't vote for any songs. if i had more time to listen i wanted to at least revisit and pick out one, but i didn't.

Track ballot (1-6 were left off due to c&p fail):

tom traubert's blues
Step Right Up
Jockey Full of Bourbon
Kentucky Avenue
All the world is green
9th & Hennepin

Ruby's Arms
Burma Shave
Ol' 55
Heart of Saturday Night
Heigh Ho
Ice cream man
I hope that I don't fall in love with you
San Diego Serenade
Somewhere
What's he building?
Better off without a wife
16 Shells from a 30-06
Misery is the River of the World
Martha

Btw, if you havent heard the Blind Boys version of way down in the hole you're missing out. (I also like mia's version but I wont defend that one.)

Is the a poo thread for Tom Waits covers?

Thanks for running this. There will always be a place for it in the 9th and Hennepin of my heart.

My ballot:

1. Hang Down Your Head
2. Cold Cold Ground
3. Clap Hands
4. Gun Street Girl
5. Downtown Train
6. Hold On
7. Heartattack and Vine
8. Tango Till They’re Sore
9. Eyeball Kid
10. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
11. Jockey Full of Bourbon
12. Road To Peace
13. The Return of Jackie and Judy
14. Time
15. Blind Love
16. Underground
17. Til The Money Runs Out
18. Jersey Girl
19. Come On Up To the House
20. What’s He Building?

I avoided a lot of Raindogs stuff, except for Tango Till They're Sore, as I had a feeling a lot of tracks would have a pretty solid following. Disappointed that my #1, Drunk on the Moon, isn't so generally loved, but at least Xmas Card from a Hooker was top 10.

1. Picture in a Frame (25)
2. The Piano Has Been Drinking, Not Me (12)
3. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (15)
4. Dirt in the Ground (30)
5. Cemetery Polka (26)
*6. Pony
7. Anywhere I Lay My Head (48)
*8. Cold Water
*9. The Briar and the Rose
10. What’s He Building? (35)
11. Soldier’s Things (22)
12. Time
13. Step Right Up (23)
*14. The Fall of Troy
15. Johnsburg, Illinois (29)
*16. Day After Tomorrow
*17. Town with No Cheer
*18. A Little Rain
*19. Chocolate Jesus
20. Clap Hands

This poll has shown me that I need to take some time checking out his pre-Rain Dogs albums

Are you not even familiar with Swordfishtrombones?

tactical voting fail as my #1 fails to place!

("sweet little bullet")

really though my order was pretty arbitrary....looking forward to putting together a playlist of the later stuff!

jolly good poll, chap!

xpost

Forgot that was earlier, Swordfishtrombones then is my cut-off, although there are definitely older tunes that I recognize.

I've listened to all his albums at least once, (Orphans excluded), though some of the early ones only once.

so i just picked up franks wild years on vinyl. never really realised this, but it's definitely his least rocky and by far his most barrel-organy/jazzy one of the trilogy. think it might well be beating out swordfish as my fave of the three, which is strange because i never rated it that much. i can even handle the new york song.

Actually running this poll has made me re-evalute Frank's; it was always my least favourite of the trilogy, but I realise now it's stacked with good songs.

whoever said upthread that Blood money is his only album that doesn't have too many songs is OTM. i mean, i love tom waits but it's true - even his best albums could be chopped by two-three songs.

Here's my ballot. A better knowledge of his 00s albums and less of a will to avoid Raindogs loading would probably change it quite a bit. Disappointed not to see my #1, 4 and 20 anywhere in the top 50

1. Drunk on the moon
2. Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
3. Tango till they’re sore
4. Blind love
5. Blue Valentines
6. Time
7. Black wings
8. New coat of paint
9. The piano has been drinking
10. Jockey full of bourbon
11. Virginia Avenue
12. Semi Suite
13. Kentucky Avenue
14. Shiver Me Timbers
15. 9th and hennepin
16. cold cold ground
17. Ruby’s Arms
18. More than Rain
19. Step Right Up
20. lonely

Just catching up... great poll! Good work, chap.

Can't believe I forgot about "Christmas Card..." - would have made my top 10. Also, I was the no. 1 vote for "Make It Rain" - I only really got into Waits about a decade ago, around the time Real Gone came out, and the live version that he performed during that tour just wormed its way into my heart.

My ballot:

1. Make It Rain
2. Kentucky Avenue
3. Green Grass
4. Rain Dogs
5. Time
6. Goin' Out West
7. Jockey Full of Bourbon
8. Telephone Call From Istanbul
9. Soldier's Things
10. Picture in a Frame
11. Way Down in the Hole
12. Invitation to the Blues
13. I Hope I Won't Fall In Love With You
14. Ruby's Arms
15. Cold Cold Ground
16. Wrong Side of The Road
17. Alice
18. How's It Gonna End
19. Poor Edward
20. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)

man i wish he would record rainbow sleeves...what a great song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvLd8FgDBMw

I've started on my reggae cover of Cold Cold Ground BTW.

Here's what I've got so far, if anyone's interested. Still very rough round the edges but you get the idea: https://soundcloud.com/doglatin/cold-cold-ground-tom-waits

Nice.

i regret never noticing this poll before :`(

Listening to Blood Money. What a great album. Completely overlooked.

^ that was my number one album

Think it might have some of my favourite lyrics on there. 'Misery Is The River Of The World' especially, but if Waits has ever been about studying the human condition, Blood Money's it. Something terrible and ogreish about it, like an in-depth look at misanthropy and the justification of such.

Is the Woyzeck play it's based on worth a look?

Also: Marimbas!

Only just clocked how incredible Hell Broke Luce is.

Such an amazing song. I haven't really bothered with Bad As Me since it came out but it makes an otherwise fine album something special. Love the Mario 3 esque video too

I've started on my reggae cover of Cold Cold Ground BTW.

― Pingu Unchained (dog latin)

Ever get any further with this, DL?

I was listening to Bad as Me while showering this morning. It IS a good album if programmatic, like he said "Let me put on my TOM WAITS hat and start belching and banging."

If I had a belchy Tom Waits hat I'd put it on every day to be fair.

chap - totally forgot about it, but i did do a sort of demo

https://soundcloud.com/doglatin/cold-cold-ground-tom-waits

I wore mine before lunch.

I was listening to Bad as Me while showering this morning. It IS a good album if programmatic, like he said "Let me put on my TOM WAITS hat and start belching and banging."

― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, September 5, 2014 7:21 PM (14 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTM. It's blatantly the first TW album where he's just being Tom Waits qua Tom Waits.

I started to get that feeling with Real Gone

Real gone is great though! Enjoy it more than the murky depths of mule variations for the most part.

Mule Variations is one people really rate that I could never understand why. It Def improves as it goes on but the first few songs drag by in standard blues rock mode, with little of the inventiveness that makes him unique. There's a fair amount of emotion in a song like 'Hold On' but he's done better than these baleful lyrics. It just doesnt hit the spot for me. Real Gone is great though.

Mule Variations has 5 or 6 great tunes, but really doesn'twork as an album.

otoh Bone Machine is wonderful.

watched a decent Laserdisc rip of Big Time last night which is about the only way i guess i'll ever see it. supposedly there's not only no plans to release it on DVD/Blu but the director has the only 35MM copy! it was shown in San Francisco at the end of last year. anyway the film is excellent IMO and the staging and props (Mondrian squares, feathers and confetti, a red and black chessboard floor, etc.. ) are amazing!

4 Observations from the Ride Home

--Other Lady Guest @ The Sausagefest: Pat Benatar. Caught another twofer block of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Promises In The Dark". Seems like she'd do well on a more '80s-centric playing field.

--The only two '60s songs were "Satisfaction" and "Magic Carpet Ride", which reminds me that Steppenwolf are quite lucky because both "MCR" and "Born To Be Wild" will still be in heavy rotation until doomsday.

--Newest track was "You Could Me Mine" by G'n'R, which perfectly ties into the coronation of AxL & Co. as the "Last Great Classic Rock Band" and why the format had to stretch in to the '90s to include them.

--Heard a commercial for a law firm that only represents men in divorce cases--Welcome To The Land Of Who Still Listens To Terrestrial Classic Rock Radio!

WTF? Wrong Poll!

Here's how I ranked the 1983-2011 years.

Ten years since Bad As Me. I'm finding that so hard to believe