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.

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