Tom Waitts best Albums?

seanie500 · 29-10-2008 7:27pm #1

Can anybody reccomend some of tom waitts best albums?

i know there are a truck load out but saw HMW has a sale on them at the minute

thanks

JerryHandbag · 29-10-2008 8:24pm

The Bone Machine and Mule Variations are the 2 that I like...of his earlier work try Closing Time and Blue Valentine

smackbunnybaby · 29-10-2008 9:01pm

there are 2 Tom Waits

pre 1980
post 1980

pre 1980 albums are piano based ballads.
i would recommend Blue Valentine but my favourite is Heart of Saturday Night.

post 1980 is when he changes to a bit more mad stuff. some of it sounds like pirate music. i found it easier to listen from 1980 onwards as you progressed through the years you saw the music evolve as well. swordfishtrombones is the start of the mad stuff and progresses to rain dogs. both these albums are excellent. listening to these albums first better prepared me for bone machine, mule variations. these albums are now my favourites and have over taken some more accessible albums.

you can't go wrong with Tom Waits, sometimes difficult to listen imo, but ultimately very very rewarding

phelixoflaherty · 29-10-2008 9:03pm

Mule Variations is the dogs bollocks. Pure unique. Never could stand that dog

seanie500 · 29-10-2008 11:11pm

cheers thanks every1 for that. time to get stocked up on some of those me thinks:D

Fanny Cradock · 30-10-2008 1:06am

As smackbunnybaby mentioned there are two Tom Waits. His earlier stuff is quite easily listening and certainly accessible, but it isn't really indicative of his more contemporary albums, which, I may add, are superior.

Closing time, his debut album, is a fine introduction. As, too, is Heart of Saturday Night. However, if you want something with a little more bite to it, then pick up Rain Dogs (probably his best, IMO), Mule Variations or Alice.