Drummer reacts to "Step Right Up" by Tom Waits

[@michaelmiller6709]

Probably not the best song to do an intro to Tom Waits, but the man is simply a genius. Anytime you have a singer/songwriter who literally can't sing but is still so well respected, you know you've got a surreal songwriter.

[@vpardi1]

I was thinking that too but then I thought, hell no matter where you start with Waits it’s the deep end lol.

[@PolferiferusII]

On his version of "Ol' '55" his voice is closer to a "conventional" singing style, and it's definitely singing. Whether you like it or not, that's subjective. "Martha" and "Tom Traubert's Blues", I think, too. Just my opinion.

[@mattk9089]

What are you talking about? The man can sing better than most.

[@tonidickson341]

he can sing sir...he might not be your typical troubadour but he is nonetheless awesome in his purity.

[@garyrausch1184]

The younger crowd won't get the advertising references Tom uses in this song, us oldsters heard them all as we were growing up

[@jamessomers8808]

I know what you mean. I’m 54. I recognize everything he’s saying. And he’s not leaving anything out.

[@christopherelliot4964]

And we're laughing our asses off!!!!!

[@sst3d]

Yes, sir

[@sst3d]

I’m 68…saw him twice in Chicago…..every ad line in the book….no way could this young man follow these lyrics…..different times

[@excrono]

I’d like to know if a product advertised to turn you into a 9 year old Hindu boy was also a contemporary reference.

[@peterlburrows]

I am so psyched you reviewed this song! I think you must be the first to do it. Keep going down the Tom Waits wormhole. This one's hilarious and brilliant, but for something very different try "Come On Up To The House."

[@jeffreythaw3333]

Tom Traubert's Blues, On the Nickel, and Ruby's Arms!

[@wendycohen9038]

He improvised this entire song. Tom has a killer drunk song, too, The Piano Has Been Drinking.

[@TheoZoffrok]

No *way* is he improvising this! It might have started as a stream of consciousness, reciting all the advertising slogans he can think of, but the final version is brilliantly constructed.

[@bernardmurphy3475]

Check OUT TOM Wa

[@richgaluppo4417]

Zappa took Tom on tour with him in summer 1974. There's one tape of them jamming. It's from Golden Hall, San Diego CA, 8/11/74. They perform Tom's Ol' 55. So, yes they were friends.

[@michaelnorris7353]

I was extremely lucky to have seen him in an intricate - very small audience concert - at the University of Toronto right after this album had just come out. He did this tune live & to say he was amazing is an understatement. It was just him doubling on a piano & guitar & a standup bass player that accompanied him. If anything, the style in this tune is a throwback to the Beat Poets of the 1950`s. A really great song off this same album is Small Change - got rained on with his own .38.

[@stuBdoc]

I always thought that this was one of the cleverest things I ever heard, and hilarious. My favorite line, "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away." Check out his live album, Nighthawks at the Diner. Every song is fantastic, lots of cynical humor, but also some very touching moments. Like, "Warm Beer and Cold Women".

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

Nighthawks at the Diner is wonderful.

[@RandoReport]

In 1988, a radio ad selling Salsa Rio Doritos used a Tom Waits impersonator doing a very similar song. He sued and won a $2.6 million settlement from Frito-Lay.

[@peterlburrows]

I just finished the review, and I don't blame you for being bewildered by the lyrics. Give it another listen. It's an incredible takedown of marketing and consumerism -- how we live in a world where we're surrounded by people trying to sell us shit that will supposedly solve all our problems, and in which we actually buy it! I'm not sure, but I understood some consumer goods company thought about suing him for libel for this song but backed off because....well, because Waits was right.

[@chicagojon1972]

Small Change is a masterpiece from beginning to end...not only musically, but lyrically as well.

[@JimFlickinger]

This is often my BBQ music choice!

[@mookie7688]

Legend has it that the model on the album cover is Cassandra Peterson, who later would develop and portray a popular character known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

[@MisterWondrous]

This and "The Piano Has Been Drinking" were often played on local radio, and at friend's houses. He gave an outdoor concert here in Charlotte, in the '70s, which was a hoot. His acting and avant-garde work rewards the effort, as does his performance on Fernwood Tonight,an alternative comedy show hosted by Fred Willard and Martin Mull.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

That's so true, the first time I ever heard Tom Waits was on my local college radio station, Something Going On Underground, and it came on my clock radio since I had my alarm set to that station and it crept into my dreams and I woke up in a state of wonder. I think it was from the Swordfish Trombone album, which I ended up loving. It wasn't long after that that I also heard The Piano Has Been Drinking on that same local station.

[@MisterWondrous]

@@stevedahlberg8680 His lyrics became part of the great chain of conversation, quite like your Monty Python or your Firesign Theatre...with people, even to this day, weaving lines into the discourse. At least half of his appeal is his physical appearance. Maybe Lee should do some of his videos. There was one that seemed to be directed by David Lynch...with a set, a piano, a streetlight...

[@edwardthorne9875]

'Bone Machine' won a Grammy, in the 'Alternative' caategory. Every song on it is great, if you are in the mood for it... 'Murder in the Red Barn' and 'In the Colloseum' are standouts.

[@similimum66]

The Earth dies screaming!

[@jrusso4753]

Lee...major props for doing Tom Waits. This song is hilarious. To really appreciate the humor, one has to look at and read the lyrics. You can't cram any more sales BS into one song. And of course, the "large print/small print" line is brilliant. Thank you for the reaction. Peace and love to everyone here. God bless us all.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Check out Underground from his iconic Swordfish Trombone album. He was also in a really cool and I think award-winning alternative art-house film by Jim Jarmusch called Down by Law. It's an incredible movie and Tom Waits is great in his role.

[@PolferiferusII]

Down by Law is fantastic! I keep suggesting it to movie reactors. So far no bites.

[@ShiverHinge]

Complete admiration for this man, in every way.

[@williamabrams9882]

The whole Small Change album is a great one!

[@kadathsmith]

"It finds you a job, it is a job!"

[@T23000PLUS]

in Greenwich village, The Mothere played on weekends, and Tom Waits was the opening act

[@danmayberry1185]

Some seriously good jazz singing. Is it scat? Is it be-bop? No, it's Tom Waits.

[@vpardi1]

It's spoken word, poetry and performance. Whatever it is-it is genius.

[@danielfox6907]

Zappa and Capt. Beefheart were both Waits fans.Enough can't be said about Waits' inventive and original approach to songwriting/ performances.As an actor, he's been in many(many) movies. This is an early example of Rap.

[@larryhelmeczy4320]

there's a lot of great Tom Waits, but as a jazz fan this was always one of my favorites. Shelly Manne was a great jazz drummer. Im going on memory but i think that's Lew Tabakin on sax. He's great too.

[@adrock1011]

Its a social commentary in how we are constantly bombarded by sales tricks… holds true today as it did this nearly 50 years ago… and its dope af to boot

[@patrickscutella836]

He opened for Zappa in the 70s. I saw him in the late 70s do this song while opening and closing a National Cash Register. Waits is a National Treasure. He comes out of the writings of Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, on the road. Try his song “Jack and Neal” a tribute in a way to Kerouac.

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

Tom Waits was the mad scientist in "Mystery Men" with Ben Stiller if you are a super hero comic or movie fan... *WATCH MYSTERY MEN!* promise you wont be disappointed...

[@LoriPritchett-gc9db]

I was introduced to Tom Waits watching him on Fernwood Tonight (a show which somehow encapsulates all the strangeness of the '70s), where he did The Piano Has Been Drinking. I absolutely loved Small Change. Thanks for this.

[@jessicalee7119]

"Go away kid, you're bothering me," is a quote from W.C. Fields ~ very popular comedian from the 1930"s ~ 1940's. You may like his movies ~ they're pretty clever and funny !

[@christopherelliot4964]

It was "SCRAM kid, ya bothering me"

[@hoppers13]

Hoo boy, Lee, you just opened Pandora’s box. Enjoy!

[@procopiusaugustus6231]

Love “Warm Beer Cold Women”.

[@jamessomers8808]

That was magnificent. Now you have to check out 16 shells from a 30 ought six. I love all of the advertising crap that were bombarded with from the day were born until the day we die. I don’t know what to say about this guy. He’s a singing poet. And, he’s gruff.❤

[@dalemcmillan7231]

Love Tom Waits!!❤

[@patrickcadge-moore6916]

Waits' public persona is as much of an act as any movie he's done, and it's a great character

[@RichardSchaefer-zx9ig]

Check out Tom Waits song "Big Joe and Phantom 309", from Nighthawks at the Diner. Nice reaction for first listen to TW.

[@chaunapierce8678]

I went to a bunny rate concert in the early 80s and Tom Waits is the person that opened up for her. I had never heard of him and instantly fell in love with him. He is a tremendous storyteller you have to listen to his albums they are So easy to invision what he's talking about. This is when I had not heard yet. If you an idea of how inventive he is.

[@bendancar]

Tom Waits is a whole universe unto his own. It's a long, strange journey. Try "Clap Hands" or "The Piano Has Been Drinking" for some other flavors of The Man Mr. Waits.

[@z1522]

A knowing critique of every possible marketing pitch in a sly, sardonic stream-of-consciousness-jazz-scat-rap, no one I've ever known has ever dared to cover. When done by masters like Waits, eccentric becomes timeless. Upon a first listening, this is just pure hilarious, novelty fare, but then the jazz melding emerges, and the rhythms are so tight. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis, the early masters of scat, might have kept up with this. Genius.

[@clifton8929]

OMG - I can't believe a reactor played Tom Waits STEP RIGHT UP. Seriously cool, my man. It would be great if you played 'SMALL CHANGE". (Looking For) THE HEART OF SATURDAY NIGHT, BURMA-SHAVE, TOM TRAIBERT''S BLUES (all amazing songs). Thanks for being brave enough to put something so unique on your channel.

[@vpardi1]

Tom Waits is well worth your time. Like the Beatles his music changed drastically as he worked. I urge you to explore and enjoy. I really enjoyed this reaction video.

[@leeannies-tears369]

LOL OMG I love it. That is hilarious 😂 and so clever. JAZZ! thanks

[@edgarsnake2857]

A song about the product that does 'everything.' Tom is a poet extraordinaire. But he's not just funny, he wrote a number of hits that people don't realize were by him including 'Old '55,' and 'On a Downtown Train.' Glad to see Tom get some coverage.

[@RandoReport]

Tom has written a few songs later recorded by other artists -- Rod Stewart's "Downtown Train", The Eagles "Ol '55", The Ramones' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", and "Jersey Girl", which Bruce Springsteen does/has done at concerts. He's used a variety of musical styles and his music got a lot more experimental as time went on. He's still performing, I believe, but he hasn't released a new album in 13 years or so.

[@vpardi1]

Don't forget, which I think he may have written for her, Norah Jones `Long Way Home". Also Diana Krall's cover of his "Temptation".

[@PolferiferusII]

Cemetary Polka would be a fun one!

[@Asymmatrix]

This is a gem like the Morphine one yep

[@jamesrowe3606]

That aside towards the end, "Get away from me kid, yo' botherin' me." always cracks me up. There's no shallow end to Tom Waits. You just dive in where you like and sink or swim. I'm still swimming and mostly loving it. Rain Dogs is a favourite album.

[@christopherelliot4964]

That's SO TRUE!!!. . .There ain't no shallow end with Tom!!!!

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Waits has had a bit of a film career as well. He played Jack Nicholson's sidekick in IRONWEED a Depression era film. He played Renfield, the bug eating madman in BRAM STOKERS DRACULA. He was Tom Berenger's co-pilot in AT PLAY in the Fields of the Lord. He's been in a ton of other movies. He has heavy respect in the music industry.

[@thoughtstorms_keith]

What i am learning is - there are tonnes of Tom Waits songs i've never heard! 2nd TW react in a row, never heard either of them. Thought i was a 'fan' because i love at least 10 songs by the man. Kind of great to learn there are many more to be 'discovered''!

[@tonydecicco9728]

You've just tapped artistic and musical gold here. Tom Waits is the Jack Kerouac of music. Timeless, and unique artistry that doesn't fit any stylistic musical pidgin hole, as reflected in the comments, Waits and Captain Beefheart, along with Zappa are on another level. Thank you for the reaction.

[@rabidrhyno7787]

One of my favorite albums by Tom Waits. This and Grapefruit Moon. Nice pick, Patreon.

[@SPKdesign1]

He did support for Zappa on occasion. He did a track live wi the Mothers at one of the shows.

[@akbar8477]

Played this for my sons and they liked it. Lol. (2015). Nighthawks at the Diner

[@fattypneumonia]

Trilogy of albums "Mule Variations," "Alice," and "Blood Money." Amazing stuff, evocative, moody and powerful.

[@cdronk]

Genre unto himself is a pretty apt description.

[@presleycheshire3968]

The is about how we are constantly bombarded to buy shit. The cool jazzy beat and the sales pitches being thrown one after the other. This kind of marketing was all over TV, radio and print ads at the time. It's just different now. The line "You don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy" is the one time that Tom can introject into the continual bombardments. To me it's a comment on our society and how we chose to deal with it, and how it deals with us. The last line "Get outta here kid, you bother me" is a famous line from W.C. Fields (legendary comedic actor from the 1930's and '40's). He made a movie called "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break". Shows you how little things really change. It's just the trappings that are different.

[@Calistogakid2u]

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away!

[@goonbelly5841]

Wikipedia: Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 - September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz, and later fusion. He also contributed to the musical background of hundreds of Hollywood films and television programs.

[@gs8191]

My Tom Waits, my favorite quirky musical genius. I would suggest New Coat of Paint, Fumbling with the Blues, Romeo is Bleeding, $29, Blue Valentine, Wrong Side of the Road, Heart Attack and Vine, Jockey Full of Bourbon as possible starting points. I love the early ones the best, the 70s and early 80s, although he kept making good music right into this century.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Diamonds on my Windshield San Diego Serenade Romeo is Bleeding, for sure!

[@tmountain1]

Tom *did* tour with Zappa and the Mothers in the early 70s, and he loved the band but Zappa was (typically) remote and a little intimidating. But Tom in a Zappa / Captain Beefheart fan. His album "Bone Machine" from 1992 has Beefheart's influence all over it while remaining entirely Tom's own style. And he is like Zappa / Beefheart in that he's a genre unto himself and can't be copied. Check out "Tom Traubert's Blues" and "Christmas Card from A Hooker in Minneapolis." Early Tom was a spinner of tales of the urban marginalized.

[@loisrogers9042]

This is terrific!!! His voice resembles Dr John😊❤

[@Squarewave39]

Regarding quality sound from yesterday year in fact, the 1950s was the golden age of recording for classical and many other recordings, because of the use of vacuum Tubes in the microphones and all along the recording chain

[@montauk6]

An unbeatably iconic Madison Avenue freestyle moment.

[@T23000PLUS]

Tom opened for Frank every weekend in New York in the sixties

[@angelaatwood46]

As Gen X and counterculture, ive heard tons of Tom Waits. This is just a calm one, check out more of his stuff.☮️✌️

[@acb9231]

Although he sometimes sounds like he’s gargling with a chainsaw, he’s unique, and a a fantastic songwriter. I’ve been a fan for years. I recommend Diamonds On My Windshield, released in 74. ✌️

[@Linda-y9h]

Lee, you are a frickin genius. ❤😊

[@brewstergallery]

Ned from Spain again and thanks Lee for spending some time with Tom Waits. You either get it or you don't and bro you got it. He's doin a snappy scat like Louis Armstrong and Jon Hendricks but it's all like a hustler/con man/carny barker spiel. From the beginning he was writing some deep and sophisticated songs with a dash of beatnik and bop jazz. He can get freaky and strange or softly break your heart. You should check out Closing Time especially Ol 55 and Martha.

[@785boats]

One of the most memorable songs , for me, was 'My Piano Has Been Drinking' (Not Me). There's a few videos on the Tube.The official MV is great.

[@ednicholson7839]

Tom has a lot of flavors. And one does funny, weird, heartfelt and poetic like him. For your next Tom Waits tunes to hit I recommend "Jersey Girl", "Heart Attack and Vine", "Shore Leave" and "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis". That's just several flavors to get started.

[@edsonneves4659]

Great! I bet you'd like to react to Tom's songs below: Tom Waits - "Goin' Out West" (movie Fight Club) Tom Waits - Heart Attack and Vine Theatre le Palace (movie HellBoy) Tom Waits - "16 Shells From A 30.6" (Big Time Documentary, 1988) Tom Waits - Way Down in the Hole (best version youtube: connected365) Tom Waits - Walking Spanish - The Tube Complete Includes Frank's Wild Years and Walking Spanish - (the song starts at 16:19 minutes of this video)

[@jas8815]

Tom Traubert's Blues !

[@damonwiggins4035]

Not the song I would use to introduce Tom. This would be for someone who’s already hooked. He’s so varied: funny insightful brilliant lyrics, jazzyman, country crooner, rocker, demonic circus leader, bluesman, etc. He started out very conventional with some gorgeous songs and became more experimental producing some of the most interesting music ever. Definitely, dive deeper. So worth it.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Growing up, watching TV; almost every line here came out of a commercial or parodies a line from a commercial - someone trying to sell you crap that you don't need. This is Tom striking back at the advertising industry for all of us who had to put up with all this brainwashing shite. He even throws in a movie reference to a 1940s W. C. Fields film where Fields plays a carnival "barker" selling some kind of snake oil medicin. A kid is hanging around his stand, and Fields says to him: "Get away from me kid, you bother me." Waits repeats that line here. He's calling advertisers con men. In a jazz scat musical form. Thing of beauty.

[@LoopORama]

Heart Attack & Vine, Walking Spanish, Black Wings

[@davidgale7384]

What a great intro piece for you to choose. Think of that guy selling that useless thing at the country fair.... that's this song. SMALL CHANGE is the next one I would suggest. Tom is a piano and guitar player by the way.

[@mimig3904]

Tom Waits is an acquired taste if you're lucky. For his 3am bar style listen to Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You, (the Early Years Vol 2 version). Just him & a guitar.

[@TheColdrush22]

dude. There is no way you will get all of this, and neither do I. But I get the gist. And you obviously do too. It's fantastic. (It's also full of non-sequiturs, that are hilarious.)

[@davidthomas6094]

I'n in my 60s and know all Waits albums. Nice to be reminded of this oldie, as I now realize he was rapping before rap. If you want another of Waits's many sides, try his "On the Nickel" or (a favorite) "Kentucky Avenue." More sentimental tunes. Live versions often preferable. In any case, really, the hearing list is LONG.

[@alvillanueva2525]

I saw him open for Frank Zappa at the Santa Monica Civic in the early 70s. Frank came out to introduce him, and told the audience to give him a chance. They didn't.

[@Ethelred77]

Ha, Tom Waits is amazing! I am sure you want to hear more now, right? Try something from the album Real Gone. Hoist that rag, Shake it, Metropolitan glide, Trampled Rose, Clang boom steam or Make it rain. Make it rain is great, Ha!

[@genelaford8477]

You should listen to the whole album!

[@TheoZoffrok]

If you want the Tom Waits song that's the *most* different from this, try San Diego Serenade, an absolutely *gorgeous* love song.

[@lindaulloa4786]

Love Tom Waits. He's great! What's he doing down there?

[@mattosborne1366]

Zappa had his own "Tom Waits" - his name was Don Vliet ;) Curious question if they were friends tho.

[@soob1961]

The question would be: Do you want to hear more of Tom Waits?

[@Moscatinka]

Play "I can't wait to get off work and see my baby" for your gf, she'll enjoy the sentiment :) As a drummer/percussionist, listen to the Swordfishtrombones album, I'm sure you'll enjoy the out-of-this-world percussion on that.

[@Stretchgood366]

I appreciate Tom but have a hard time listening to him too much, John Hammond Jr did a full album of his songs produced by Tom called Wicked Grin that is a great album and easier listen, I do admit that I mostly heard later Tom where his vocals were very hard to understand, I very much enjoyed this song!

[@mikeross14]

Do the one where the barstools are on fire!

[@frictionhitch]

Goin out West "I got hair on my chest I look good without a shirt"

[@Jan-xn3kz]

At last some Tom Waits.

[@bernardmurphy3475]

Fucking Tom fucking Waits Baby That’s who this is Son,!!!!🎉

[@Squarewave39]

That’s Elvira on the cover with Tom Waits so glad you finally found him. His manager was Herb Cohen, who was also the manager of Frank Zappa can’t wait to you listen to Chocolate Jesus.

[@kenlawless7247]

16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought-Six. How can something be arrhythmic and funky at the same time. Bone machine was one of those albums I would have worn out.

[@mattosborne1366]

"Bone Machine" is a killer later album.

[@helgrenze]

Downtown Train - the Tom Waits original.

[@jamessomers8808]

If you’ve seen the movie, the Time Machine, you know that all music dies on a transformed planet recorded on some chips. Humanity lives on, but not what came before them. I’m sure whatever new music they created was fire.

[@timadamson3378]

This song inspired a 15-year-old devoted Christian boy to order the album from the local record store. It was the very first album I had ever purchased, and then I saw the cover. Heh heh. Jesus wept.

[@hoppers13]

If you wanna have your heart broken in a million pieces, try Somewhere, Burma Shave and Alice; if you wanna snort your breakfast outta your nose, try Frank’s Wild Years.

[@mikeross14]

Tom's parrating Louie Prima in this one!

[@christopherelliot4964]

Ok. . .among the many, many, many. . .you GOTTA listen to. . .ALICE - a pure slice of smoky, silky jazz lamentation!!!!!

[@tonidickson341]

check out lucinda Williams "essence"