Any Major Tom Waits Songbook
On Saturday, December 7, Tom Waits turned 75, which is a good occasion for a Songbook. In this case, though, the idea was mooted a while ago by reader Karsten, who noted in January that the singer-songwriter’s jubilee was this year — rather than by my own brilliant foresight.
I am certainly not alone in finding Tom’s voice difficult to navigate. It isn’t just that his voice lacks melodic loveliness, but on the output of half his career, he sounds like he is in pain. That voice — which, of course, some people cherish — apparently is not the result of an injury or illness. According to Waits, his unique voice developed over time through a combination of factors, including years of singing in smoky bars, performing late-night gigs, and experimenting with different vocal styles.
This rough, growling voice became his trademark, and he embraced it as part of his artistic persona. It certainly gives his songs a unique personality, which is a good thing, given the range of genres these songs cover, from Weil-Brecht Lieder to honky tonk.
But… the voice is an acquired taste, and I’ve not managed to acquire it, at least not wholesale. Of course, there are the earlier albums — songs like Ol’ 55 or San Diego Serenade — and some older Waits songs I do love. His version of Way Down In The Hole is by far my favourite of the five versions used as themes of The Wire (though I feature Steve Earle’s version here), and I love the gospel of Come On Up To The House or the loveliness of the great love song Picture In The Frame.
For those who are dissuaded from exploring Waits’ by his voice, this collection of covers (and, in the case of the Crystal Gale song, an original written by Waits) might serve as a good introduction to the man’s repository of songs, one that reveals the man’s genius, especially as a lyricist.
It includes the obvious songs, such as Downtown Train (covered here by Bob Seger, though I also recommend the Everything But The Girl version), I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You, Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis, (Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night, Tom Traubert’s Blues, and Jersey Girl, made famous by Bruce Springsteen’s live cover.
Some other better-known songs didn’t make the cut, for lack of covers that I liked. But at 34 tracks, I think this set provides a fair overview of Waits’ catalogue. All are written by Waits, four of them with his wife Kathleen Brennan (they are marked in the ID3 tags, two of them I namechecked above). I think it’s fair to say that Waits’ output after 1980 is greatly influenced by his wife, who herself is a musical artist.
Of the songs here, Jersey Girl tends to be dismissed by Waits afficionados; I struggle to understand that. It’s a perfectly lovely song, even if it sounds more like the lovechild of Springsteen and Van Morrison than cutting-edge Waits. I also like Waits’ 1980 original. It’s dedicated to Kathleen, so it seems a bit churlish to spurn it.
The lot ends with an aptly titled Waits original, Midnight Lullaby, from his 1973 debut album, Closing Time. It closes with the wonderful lines, “When you are much older, remember when we sat/At midnight on the windowsill, and had this little chat/And dream/Come on and dream/Come on and dream/And dream, and dream/Come on and dream.”
Tracks 1-21 are timed to fit on a standard CD-R, and the lot includes the above text in an illustrated PDF and home-wired covers. The image used on the cover is by ch_stencil. PW in comments.
1. Ramones – I Don’t Want To Grow Up (1995)
2. Grievous Angels – Cold Cold Ground (1998)
3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Jersey Girl (1981)
4. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Downtown Train (1989)
5. Eagles – Ol’ 55 (1974)
6. Crystal Gayle – Take Me Home (1983)
7. Jerry Jeff Walker – (Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night (1976)
8. Barbi Benton – San Diego Serenade (1976)
9. 10,000 Maniacs – I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You (1992)
10. Willie Nelson – Picture In A Frame (2004)
11. Johnny Cash – Down There By The Train (1994)
12. Sarah Jarosz – Come On Up To The House (2009)
13. Steve Earle – Way Down In The Hole (2007)
14. Blind Boys of Alabama – Jesus Gonna Be Here (2002)
15. Dave Alvin – Blind Love (2006)
16. Neko Case – Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis (2000)
17. The Holmes Brothers – Train Song (1998)
18. Elvis Costello – Innocent When You Dream (1995)
19. Los Lobos – Jockey Full Of Bourbon (2004)
20. Norah Jones – The Long Way Home (2004)
21. Bettye LaVette – Yesterday Is Here (2012)
BONUS TRACKS
22. Floyd Dixon – Blue Skies (2000)
23. James Taylor – Shiver Me Timbers (2009)
24. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes – New Coat Of Paint (1984)
25. T Bone Burnett – Time (1986)
26. Tim Buckley – Martha (1973)
27. Rod Stewart – Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda) (1992)
28. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Trampled Rose (2007)
29. Linda Thompson – Day After Tomorrow (2007)
30. Nanci Griffith – Please Call Me, Baby (2006)
31. Mary Foster Conklin – Broken Bicycles (2000)
32. Ute Lemper – Grapefruit Moon (2006)
33. Anna Ternheim – Anywhere I Lay My Head (2005)
34. Tom Waits – Midnight Lullaby (1973)
Previous Songbooks:
ABBA
Ashford & Simpson
Barry Gibb Vol. 1
Barry Gibb Vol. 2
Bill Withers
Billy Joel
Bob Dylan Volumes 1-5
Brian Wilson
Bruce Springsteen
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 1
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 2
Burt Bacharach’s Lesser-Known Songbook
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole King Vol. 1
Carole King Vol. 2
Chuck Berry
Cole Porter Vol. 1
Cole Porter Vol. 2
Elton John & Bernie Taupin
George Harrison
Gordon Lightfoot
Hank Williams
Holland-Dozier-Holland
John Prine
Jimmy Webb Vol. 1
Jimmy Webb Vol. 2
Jimmy Webb Vol. 3
Kris Kristofferson
Lamont Dozier
Laura Nyro
Leonard Cohen
Neil Diamond
Paul McCartney Vol. 1
Paul McCartney Vol. 2
Prince
Rod Temperton
Rolling Stones Vol. 1
Rolling Stones Vol. 2
Sly Stone
Steely Dan
PW = amdwhah
Great compilation, as always. I was surprised how few of theses I had.
John Hammond did an album of Waits songs, “Wicked Grin.” It’s one of my favorite Hammond records. I think I prefer Hammond’s version of “Buzz Fledderjohn” to the original. Consider it for “Any Major Tom Waits Songbook, Vol 2.”
Great work!
Much that I do not know. It will keep me company through the holidays.
Love this mix! Like you, I am not a fan of his voice but love many of his songs. This mix exemplifies why. In general, like both mixes of songwriter’s songs covered by others (e.g., this, Barry Gibbs) and artists singing covers (e.g., Al Green). Looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2025.