Tom Waits- Singapore & Clap Hands (REACTION//DISCUSSION)

[@mannycalavera6011]

You can hear everything in Tom Waits. Ballads, Jazz, Rock, Industrial, Folk, Blues. Its a big and marvellous world to discover. Essencial albuns: Mule Variations, Small change, Blue Valentine, Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, Bone Machine.

[@fvsch]

Can't disagree about these album picks.

[@tristonho451]

I'm a bit late for this one, but "real gone" is also a must

[@manualboyca]

This album has songs that range from “complete insanity” to “beautiful enough to make you cry.” After hearing Singapore, you’ll be surprised to know that Tom is so good at writing beautiful ballads. I love this album!

[@ChasFink]

Cry? For sure. There are lots of artists who can make me smile or laugh - including Waits - but he is the only one who can literally bring me to tears with a song on almost every album.

[@manualboyca]

@@ChasFink So true.

[@tmountain1]

"Dilapidated circus" is exactly what Tom Waits is. The brilliance of this album is he never pins down a situation in concrete terms, but only describes peripheral events. The uncertainty of everything is the real magic, maybe even the point. Tom's music is endlessly fruitful, and there's an entire universe to explore.

[@mannycalavera6011]

Finally Tow Waits. This album is a absolute masterpiece.

[@markjohnson4217]

Tom Waits is a total anomaly. He started as a kind of folk/jazz lounge lizard, and by the beginnng of the 80s, he started exploring European accordian folk music, Romanian gypsy funeral marches, Carnival hawkers and apocalyptic boom-clank polkas, waltzes etc. There is no-one out there like Tom, and in fact, he is so distinct and recognizable that many artists have actually faced lawsuits from aping his pulpy, gritty style. He is also a terrific actor/comedian. This is actually my favorite Tom Waits album, 'Rain Dogs' is a very diverse, ecclectic album. The album before this 'Swordfishtrombones' was when he first started foraying into that cinematic gypsy, almost Film Noir sound that he is now known for. It is also considered a classic cornerstone of the Tom Waits catalogue. If you want to find out what a witty, oddball, lovable character this guy is, check out any of the David Letterman appearances, the two of them just have an amazing comic chemistry and Tom is such a genius performer. He was simply born to entertain and deliver amazing works of art to the world.. period.

[@KyleS.1987]

Marc Ribot is brilliant on guitar. Love those strangled bends and dissonant melody lines.

[@averyparkway679]

seriously, the guitar solo on Clap Hands has to be one of the most sinister sounding pieces of music of all time

[@noyfb4769]

MVP on this album for sure.

[@goldenboy140]

For sure listen to the whole album. It's a masterpiece. Many of Tom Waits albums are amazing. Blue Valentine, Bone Machine, Mule Variations, Swordfishtrombones, Closing Time....

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Tom is like reading an Alan Lomax book on music history. An acquired taste for some, his voice is distinctive and his arrangements and instrumentation is old school& lo-fi. Every song you mentioned is a winner. Welcome to the weird, wonderful, Waits wagon! Peace.

[@Philly420PDX]

Tom Waits and John Prine are criminally underrated songwriters. They are American treasures.

[@MrCREWCRUSHIN95]

One of the greatest lyricists of all time

[@barrydownard9798]

Glad you've got onto Tom Waits. He is a storyteller... a poet. His musical influences rooted in burlesque and the music of tramps gathered around a fire in a 44 gallon drum. He says that one of his favourite sounds is the sound of a Salvation Army brass band playing four blocks away in a city. This album is a gem. Also listen to "Heart Attack and Vine", "Blue Valentines" and "Swordfish Trombones".

[@hollisgeary6285]

Seeing you discover Tom is a joy to me. Keep exploring...

[@MrDiddyDee]

Tom Waits started out more as a conventional balladeer through the 1970's. In the early 1980's, encouraged by his wife, he took a more unique path, (listening to things like Captain Beefheart), he incorporated rock, blues, jazz and vaudeville with an experimental, eclectic mix of instruments and styles. He always had a fascination for the seedier side of town, it's darker corners and down at heel characters. That gravely voice was always there, even in his 20's, but he developed it even more for the 1983 release of the 'Swordfishtrombone' album, followed two years later by the 'Rain dogs' album. Tom is a true raconteur on stage, his live shows are totally fascinating, in turns thrilling, intriguing, disturbing, sentimental and often very humorous. His persona has been to a large extent cultivated over many years, but at 72 he has truly weathered into the character he portrayed for so long. Every album since 'Raindogs' has been a step further and further away from convention, but for me anyway, it became too far out there and he lost most of his sense of melody and wry humour. Two totally heart breaking and devastating later tracks that I would highly recommend, both based on real life events, are 'Georgia Lee' (1999) and 'Hell broke Luce' (2011)

[@zmanjace1364]

"Maybe I'm looking too far into it." Its Tom Waits. You can never look too far into it! Looking too far in is the fun part! (Im sure he knows by now. Hes covered alot of Tom now but i couldnt help but comment)

[@JustJP]

Haha ty Zman!

[@aresee8208]

Clap Hands was always my favorite song from Rain Dogs. Love the line: Shine, shine a Roosevelt Dime, All the way to Baltimore and running out of time.

[@ethelwulfmountbattenderoth2286]

Marc Ribot's guitar work is an epiphany

[@davidchaplain6748]

FINALLY! TOM WAITS! I LOVE HIM! YEAH! (Downtown Train will probably ring a bell. Rod Stewart covered it and it was EVERYWHERE.)

[@manualboyca]

Singapore is an odd song for Tom. It’s an odd song for this album. It’s an odd choice for an opener. But I love it! It sounds like the villain singing in a Disney musical. 😂

[@jasonharmon5205]

"Rain Dogs" was my first Tom Waits album, and it set me off on a hell of a ride. I hope it does the same for you! I think you might be surprised when you get to the ballads. "Small Change" is probably my favorite Waits album, but he has so many great ones, including this one. The man's a poet who will make you laugh one minute and cry the next.

[@avant-punk]

Rain Dogs was my first too, and as much as I love everything else, it's still my favorite

[@malcolmarmstrong3957]

Sometimes you will laugh so hard, you may end up crying. And vice versa.

[@stephencolligan]

So glad youre giving this album a listen Justin. It hasn't got a bad track."Time" and "Downtown Train" are just beautiful

[@MrCREWCRUSHIN95]

EVERYONE covers Tom Waits songs. 'Ol 55' by The Eagles, Downtown Train by Rod Stewart, Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen, etc.

[@airwindows]

The whole album? EVERY song is just as interesting, in a dozen different ways :) it's a very strong album, very strong as an intro to Tom Waits. Jockey Full of Bourbon, then when you think it's just weird Big Black Mariah, Diamonds and Gold, Rain Dogs itself, 9th and Hennepin, and if you didn't think he had soulful on tap, Time, Blind Love, Anywhere I Lay My Head? Go ahead, you pretty much can't go wrong but your selections will have a huge effect on who you think Tom is :)

[@clemigula4228]

Tom is my desert island musician. He is more varied in style than almost any other artist I know of. Lyrically…unparalleled! One of my favorite quotes of his “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things”

[@bendancar]

This whole album sinks you deeper and deeper into a weird dystopia that you end up loving by the end. You'll never want leave. Great choice to react to.

[@WillowWytch69]

I love Tom Waits. He's gone through many musical styles but whenever I listen to him I feel like I'm in some seedy underground dive pub filled with cigarette smoke. He's sitting in the corner singing and playing on his instrument just vibing

[@smffeb58]

Finally Mr. Waits !! Immediately subscribed to your channel. By far the best, most eclectic, singer songwriter ever. Loved your facial expression. Had the same look when first introduced to Tom Waits 40 years ago. Became an instant fan, after the initial shock. Ol’ 55 covered by the Eagles, Downtown Train covered by Rod Stewart both Waits classics done best by him. Rain Dogs a classic album. Search out his acting career catalogue.. the man is genius

[@JustJP]

Ty so so much SM! I really enjoyed what I've heard of him so far :)

[@Roddy1965]

True original legend, genius.

[@pilesovinyl]

When I was younger, about your age-I wasn't sure how to process Waits' music, but strangely as an older person and having listened to much more music his material makes more sense and has more meaning to me. He's an acquired taste for sure, one is usually not prepared to hear him cold without some prior listening exposure. JP, you've reacted better than I did upon first hearing the very unusual gifts of Tom Waits. Thanks for the continued variety of your reactions.

[@hardcasevt]

Please Please PLEASE react to the entire album (at your pace, of course). I think you'll be tickled by how varied the tracks are even as the album manages to maintain some form of cohesion.

[@kimn9802]

Dilapidated circus sums up Tom Waits perfectly. That is exactly what he'd want you to feel. This guy is one of greatest, most original singer songwriter performers ever to walk the earth. His lyrics are next level. A maestro.

[@sonnyhenriksen9398]

You finally experienced Cave AND Waits, one right after another. They rank in my top 5 artists, so I'm really excited.

[@fvsch]

What's the rest of your top 5, out of curiosity? Mine's got Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Peter Hammill, then two who haven't graced this channel yet: PJ Harvey (only a matter of time?) and Andrew Bird (maybe less likely here).

[@sonnyhenriksen9398]

@@fvsch Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[@thoru4367]

Gosh he's AWESOME! Those lyrics

[@maraboo72]

In comparison to other songs his voice sounds rather smooth on these ones. There are a lot of different things to discover in his music through the decades. Sometimes his music reminds me pictures of Edward Hopper esp. Nighthawks. Or pictures from old black and white movies with a piano player in a bar full of smoke. A unique artist.

[@manualboyca]

Heath Ledger used Tom Waits as his basis for his Joker character on the Dark Knight. There’s a specific 70s interview video in specific that Heath used Tom’s voice and mannerisms.

[@manualboyca]

Here’s the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXS2lGl7ad56b9U. You should watch it on your channel (he does a song live solo on the piano).

[@pentagrammaton6793]

That explains why it was such a shallow method performance.

[@kenl2091]

Not for everyone but entertaining enough. Would I want to own any Tom Waits? No. Am I glad to listen to him once or twice a year? Yes.

[@edmundau-yeung9598]

Tom Wait? You struck GOLD. Carry on.

[@ChadEAult]

To truly appreciate Tom Waits you have to listen to his library of music. Tom waits is, for many an acquired taste. For some, they never truly understand his genius. Tom waits incorporates some many different unconventional instruments, styles, genres, you can’t just cherry pick a song or two. The man is a living legend of music, theater, and screen. A carnival barker poet that will mesmerize you with his prose. He is truly my Messiah! A living legend, a true original and genius.

[@katiemayo1518]

It makes me happy that someone is giving Tom Waits a listen. He definitely deserves it.

[@Rowenband]

I don't listen much to Tom Waits but each time I do, I like it. Thanks JP for continuing to entertain us in those dark times.

[@gidgetmaurer123]

While I'm not the biggest Waits fan, I do love this album and agree it's a masterpiece. Clap Hands is one of my favorites 🙌 ❤

[@tubhair]

Singapore is an atonal masterpiece.

[@JustJP]

I'm with ya

[@WTFungus]

Tom Wait's voice is like a force of nature.

[@nearlysteviedan1275]

Saw Tom at Edinburgh Playhouse 2007/8 ... He opened the show with Singapore - the place went wild. Unforgettable gig !

[@MrCREWCRUSHIN95]

Tom Waits is one of the Goats. Up there with Nick Cave, David Sylvian, Paddy McAloon, etc. One of the greatest writers and performers of all time.

[@ericanderson8886]

love some Tom Waits. Such a deep catalogue and a wide variety of music. Great choice.

[@nunyabusiness3710]

Dude...a trip down the Tom Waits path takes you by some crazy shit but it's awesome.

[@eileenflora]

He is such a performer as well. I've seen him live, captivating, like his music. He transports you to a different world

[@colincharters5701]

One of thee great albums and in my top 15 of all time a MASTERPIECE and he’s several other brilliant albums

[@markspooner1224]

I absolutely love this album, only one of many masterpieces by Tom. For a laugh give a listen to his version of the 7 dwarves 'Heigh Ho'.

[@JVTrickypants]

I hope you keep listening - his voice is like a Pirate of the Caribbean selling his ideas

[@nottherealeric1347]

Tom Waits is awesome! I’m sure you’ll get plenty of people who won’t enjoy this video, but I am really hoping you share your reaction to this album & more of Tom’s music.

[@nottherealeric1347]

I also noticed you smiling at the "they all went to heaven in a little row boat" line. It’s taken from a tune called “The Clapping Song” which was originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965. It’s the polar opposite of “Clap Hands” & worth checking out.

[@darwinsaye]

Tom has been my favourite artist since I first heard him, and Marc Ribot, my favourite guitarist. They are *fearless* music creators.

[@andyshan]

"not at all what I expected..." that's why I love your channel JP. Tom Waits is a tour de force with a very different sound signature in the 70s compared to what followed such as Raindogs, Swordfish Trombones and so many more brilliant and distingintive albums. He is also a a very fine actor. Most recently seen in the Coen Brother's The Ballad of Buster Scrubbs. "Rain Dogs was ranked number 1 among the "Albums of the Year" for 1985 by the New Musical Express"

[@stevebryant6483]

First time reactions to Tom Waits are priceless to me. You did not disappoint.

[@ricobonifacio1095]

Tom always mixes it up. I love that about him. You always know its him, but he never stays with one thing too long. Every album and sometimes song is completely different than the last. From his early jazzy piano crooner to his more growling angry old man era with blood money among others, you will always find something you like.

[@joeltarnabene5026]

Keep doing more Tom Waits. He's an acquired taste. Once you get it you'll be thankful. If you want something a bit easier to digest I can recommend: Hold on, Gun street girl, Chocolate Jesus, Who are you, Alice.

[@MrPboys1]

Tom makes me happy...one of the greatest songwriters ever and from swordfishtrombones onwards defies categorisation being blues, industrial, jazz, country,punk,folk European avant garde, touch song and beyond and is often a style called waitsian. He is top tier up there with Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan calls him his songwriting hero. Raindogs and the other two albums of the Frank trilogy are the least eighties sounding classics of the eighties and the album that followed bone machine is one of the best alternative album's of the nineties. That's not even going into the early years which weren't as experimental but also fabulous were it was more late night jazz tones but always filled with his amazing storytelling, he is one of the funniest cleverest comedians ever and he doesn't even do comedy a joy all round

[@daveking9393]

If you pull out the Roy Orbison DVD you will see Tom was playing and singing on a few of the tunes... Roy was joined by a bunch of people including Jackson Browne Elvis Costello Bonnie Raitt and Bruce Springsteen. Enjoyed your insights as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[@bjwnashe5589]

Absolutely do the whole album. It's a masterpiece. Same with "Swordfishtrombones" and "Frank's Wild Years." Great works of art. In the studio Tom would growl out weird instructions to the musicians. "Play it like a midget bar mitzvah."

[@TommiBrem]

Love it.

[@bjwnashe5589]

Oh yeah. You will definitely enjoy a deep dive into Waits's catalogue. A wealth of riches awaits you. (As well as some cheap watches, old cars, smoke-filled rooms, ouija boards, etc.)

[@sylvaindupuis5595]

To hear something different, more "traditional" from Tom Waits, you have to listen to "Blue Valentine" or "The piano has been drinking".

[@psukebariah3435]

This was my first Tom Waits, at 18, and I had no idea what to make of it, until 9th & Hennepin...there was a line in it that just opened it all up to me and made me a life long fan. His spoken word stuff is still my favourite. Edit to add: he is also an amazing entertainer. When you get the chance, check out some of his concerts. My favorite is Big Time, a compilation of the tour he did to promote Frank's Wild Years. Just amazing.

[@patrickmcgrath4837]

Hi Tom Waits such an unmistakable voice he wrote and sang the song "way down in the hole" which was the theme tune to TV show .. THE WIRE.. Tom was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame by Neil young, huge back catalogue with Tom Waits , I personally like a lot of his most popular stuff , looking forward to hearing more of the deep album cuts ,he was hugely influenced by Captain beefheart , great channel 👍

[@BrianR.]

Been listening to Tom since the 80's. My favorite album of his is Bone Machine, an absolute classic! I really enjoyed these two songs.

[@jlerrickson]

I completely enjoyed this reaction. I was very impressed with how openminded and attentive you are: very few people completely fall in love with Tom within the first couple songs, and many people outright dislike him when they hear his voice. Thanks for giving him a chance!

[@JustJP]

Thanks so much! I really enjoyed what I heard, and have more on the way :)

[@ianjohns4717]

When you mentioned genre I nearly spat my coffee!

[@Brimp555]

Waits is a masculine poet. Somewhere between Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. He is my favorite recording artist. His voice has so much texture.

[@WTFungus]

"I'd rather have a bottle in front o' me than a frontal lobotomy." -- Tom Waits

[@Yaktahbay]

With any reactor, we look forward to watching someone's first encounter with music we already enjoy. That holds true with you, also, but what sets you apart is the degree to which you've established the credibility to introduce US to the completely new or, as in this case with me, artists that have far too long languished on a list of "must dig into someday"s. I've heard and liked a decent amount of Tom Waits' music, but must confess to having been held somewhat at bay by his vocal affectations - or more accurately, my attitude toward his vocal affectations. I should and do know better than to set up such barriers and you have, today (I'm running behind on my video-watching), knocked this one over for good. Thanks again, Justin!

[@thomassharmer7127]

This sounded like something from The Beggar's Opera (Berthold Brecht, Mac The Knife, 1930s German vaudeville). I only knew one song of his (San Diego Serenade) originally from a cover version but I did expect the gravelly delivery. I have heard that he regards himself as a performance' artist, adopting a dystopian persona to explore some deep philosophical, social and psychological themes The blues guitar and doomy groove on Clap Hands was good. I think he is one of those seminal, experimental artists who influences others but is an acquired taste as far as mainstream popularity is concerned.

[@musicbybackinnyc1]

He also has some great ballads like Martha ,Muriel and I never talk to strangers

[@oscarwilde6649]

Tom's masterpiece album, imho. Genius!!

[@PIGFRAN]

Ha ha... You start just like me... and I was in Singapore at time...

[@-davidolivares]

It’s like you’re a symbolic city torch cut metal grate. If you are not clean and clear, you probably won’t take in Mr. Wait’s wacky weird craziness. If you are, it flows into your deep internal pathways and becomes part of you. This is just a bad analogy not a condemnation. Being pretty much a country boy, I grew up in a trailer between two corn fields, a highway, and a river. Of course, we moved around and small towned a bit. In college I heard some Tom Waits and it gave me a sense of what the big crazy city was. Later albums turned up craziness with added musical inventiveness. Blue Valentines, Swordfishtrombones, and Rain Dogs are my absolute desert island Tom Waits. Love them grately. Welcome to the craziness. Peace and shanty Music

[@maruad7577]

Spoken without iron eh.

[@BaldJean]

Welcome to the world of Tom Waits and his meat grinder voice. He is an actor too and worked with directors like Robert Altman ("Short Cuts") or Jim Jarmusch ("Down by Law"). He also co-produced theatrical productions like "Alice" (based on the "Alice" books by Lewis Carroll) or "The Black Rider" (based on the opera "Der Freischütz" meaning "The Freeshooter" by Carl Maria von Weber) with director Robert Wilson.

[@TheNeonRabbit]

It's a "Play the whole album in one go" album

[@gernblanston5697]

Tom Waits is an acquired taste for many people. The arc of his career is fascinating. He has always explored the underbelly of America. He is kind of like a musical Charles Bukowski. His early works were a jazzy, piano music with a more traditional vocal style, kind of like a broken down piano player in a dive bar. Many of the songs are heartbreakingly emotional. Then, with Swordfishtrombones, he created the gravelly voiced persona combined with a very experimental musical approach. He has stuck with this pretty much through the rest of his career. It is art music verging on avant-garde. Throughout his career the songwriting has been absolutely brilliant. The switch to the new persona coincided with his marriage to Kathleen Brennan who has been his songwriting partner as well. A journey through his catalogue is deeply rewarding and highly challenging.

[@maruad7577]

I like the Bukowski analogy. Great comment.

[@alfredvanravenswaay2799]

Love your reaction as a first time listen. Welcome to the world of Tom Waits. He is his own category.

[@astrogoodvibes6164]

Heart Attack & Vine was the first Tom Waits album I bought way back and I reckon it's a good introduction to his various styles. One of the greatest jazz blues writer singers of all time, though he doesn't ever limit himself to just one genre.

[@FloatingAnarchy61]

Tom paints pictures from the dark underbelly of society. He started off as a more jazz orientated artist inspired by the Beat Generation, usually just him at the piano with a small band, what I like to call his tears in the beers period.Hints of a more avant garde style were already there. Then he released Swordfishtrombones which sounded pretty out there at the time. Two I'd recommend from that are 16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought-Six and Shore Leave, which ia like musical film noir. There are obvious vocal comparisons with Beefheart and Howling Wolf, but Tom ploughs his own furrow. Rain Dogs was the album after Swordfishtrombones, and formed part of a trilogy with Frank's Wild Years. It's also worth checking out the concert film Big Time, (long overdue a DVD release), live he's absolutely spellbinding.

[@darwinsaye]

Regarding understanding his lyrics: Tom has said that on his earlier, 70s albums he laboured over lyric writing, but by this time period he had adopted a style of lyric writing he got from listening to children making up songs off the top of their head. He liked the idea of just going with whatever interesting words blurted out his mouth, without editing... So take song meanings starting with the this album and the Swordfish Trombones album with a grain of salt and don't strain your brain trying too hard to decipher the meanings. :)

[@gulliegulliver4546]

I've been a huge Tom Waits fan for forty years or more. Glad to see you looking into his work. The very early albums are quite different, more melodic, more love songs with an edge. Enjoy exploring the amazing world of a musical and lyrical genius.

[@alfredvanravenswaay2799]

Same here Gullie

[@melanieshannon122]

AND a great actor.

[@AriadneJC]

Like JP, I'd heard the name a million times before but never knowingly listened to the guy. Now that I have... well... hmm. Not sure what to think. I probably wouldn't be gagging to hear more given there is so much more music out there I have never experienced yet.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Yeah there's so much better music than Tom Waits' stuff, unless you happen to like this kind of hipster style over substance rubbish.

[@ginawhisnant9966]

Many years ago (3 decades +) I was in my favorite used record store where the owners were a couple who had over the years gotten married and had kids who they brought to work. I'm flipping through bins and hear this tune I thought was Sweet 'Ums from the Muppets being played for the kid. Then started really listening. I asked who it was - conversation and I left with Rain Dogs, Bounced Checks, and Foreign Affairs. My brother hates Waits, I love him. No one is neutral.

[@maruad7577]

Tom's rabbit hole may be one of the deepest available and you have jumped in at the deep end... not the deepest part of the deep end but definitely not the kiddies' side of the rope. For me I started at his second album, doubled back to the first then started going deeper. His musical journey starts with smoky bars, broken hearts and cheap bourbon, travels to burnt wood, seaweed and dead men (where you are) and ends in places I cannot describe. You should finish this album (depending on response of course) but maybe first check one song off each of his first 2 albums... Some of my early favs are "Grapefruit Moon" and "Ghosts of Saturday Night". His first album is almost folkie and his second gets more bluesy. There are some real gems on this current album and I do see the advantage of listening to all of it (or most of it anyway). It takes something of a mental adjustment to get into it. Damn, I am so happy you listened to this.

[@hrblsh]

Great to see Tom Waits on here! Amazing artist, songwriter, musician. You should really listen to Ol’ 55 and explore tons of his early stuff. Would be great to do a full album reaction to Heart Attack and Vine, and/or Nighthawks at the Diner. Also the albums Bone Machine, and Mule Variations. For a single track you should try “What’s He Building in There”.

[@dearydarling]

Tom is one of the pantheon … great reaction

[@bpwn3r]

I remember getting a job where my wife worked for a few odd shifts, and we'd put on Tom Waits in the back. The boss was an old hippy lady and just said "this is weird people music". lol, fair

[@lawrencesimon7355]

Thank you so much for this reaction it has been a while since I ve seen an intelligent reaction to Tom Waits, if you are intrigued let me teach you the basics. Tom Waits has had two distinct careers, From 1973 till 1983 he was a singer songwriter piano blues/ piano jazz songwriter, working with the producer Bones Howe, they made great music many lovers of this era were not able to follow Tom into the next era after 1984, these albums stretched from Closing time 1973 to 1983 the soundtrack to the movie One from the Heart by Coppola. in 1984 h changed directions became his own producer and released Swordfishtrombones, Raindogs was the second album he released after changing directions, he also moved to New York city when he wrote and recorded Raindogs. Downtown Train on Raindogs was a hit for Rod Stewart and has been covered by many other artist, Many Tom Waits fans who are fans of both parts of Tom's Career consider Raindogs his masterpiece, it is my personal favorite of Waits and my second favorite cd of all time after Blood on the Tracks. But you should also go back and lsiten to the old stuff. Tom Trauberts Blues live at Rockpalast is a good place to start but there are soo many masterpieces, Ruby's Arms is the saddest song ever written, ON The Nickle is the best song about homelessness ever written, Kentucky Avenue, Christmas Card from a hooker in Minneapolis. The Piano has been Drinking and then the new stuff Goin Out West, Hold ON, Chocolate Jesus, Chicago, Never Let Go. Thanks for the reaction I hope you have fun discovering both sides of the coin.

[@adamp2029]

The first three songs on this album are the strangest. For a real juxtaposition, listen to this album and then Closing Time 😁

[@maruad7577]

He had travelled so far musically by the time he released this album.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Long ago, i heard Tom say in an interview that "rain dogs" were dogs who'd gone for a stroll and had gotten caught in a downpour. Dogs find their way by using their sense of smell. So their directions home have been washed away. They aren't ever going home. Keith Richards and Larry Taylor (bassist from long ago Canned Heat) play on this album. I'd like to request these two songs before we go marching off to Russia: Day After Tomorrow and Hell Broke Luce.

[@axx6435]

This album is a masterpiece. No two songs are the same.

[@cynthianavarro4316]

I'm happy that you are intrigued! I was too when I first heard him. That band, that sound, that voice, and his imagery is great! Rain Dogs and the one after this: Frank's Wild Years are two great, great, albums. (And of course, I still have them!)

[@ozogozo]

In the UK in the early eighties I was a teenager and had seen a lot of great reviews for Tom's albums, concerts, etc but he didn't get much radio play so I didn't have a clue what it sounded like. I saw lots of words and references in the reviews that I didn't understand too and I was just a poor kid who couldn't afford to take a chance on an album I didn't know anything about. We had a TV show called the Tube which had live bands on and they usually gave a 10--15 minute performance so this was a good way to see new groups/artists. Tom Waits was on at this time so I was eager to see it while not at all sure what to expect. It was awful (at least to my young inexperienced mind) but yet I never forgot it as if my brain was telling me "Hold on, you'll love this stuff in time". It was probably in the mid nineties when I heard him on the radio and it was as if struck by a thunderbolt. It was fantastic and I've been a big fan since. It's difficult to suggest to someone who hasn't't heard of him where to start though.

[@ogrestamp]

Good call on the death motif it runs throughout the album. I was 20 years old when this came out and had no clue who Tom was. My frirnds and I loved watching Dave Letterman so I would watch them while taping them. One night he had Tom on the show and Tom did two songs, I believe Clap Hands was one of the songs and Jockey Full of Bourbon was the other. I was totally blown away. I showed my friends the next day and we rushed down to the record store and bought this album. For me the Mt. Rushmore of artists include Tom, Bob, Bruce and Johnny.

[@christophegowans3504]

Do it. There's more of this and some utter utter beauty...

[@MaxMadonia]

I don't know Tom Waits much but I really like Rain Dogs. I discovered it thanks to the film Down by Law by Jim Jarmusch where he stars and which features a few songs from this album.

[@GrizzlyOldB]

Tom Waits, great stuff! Please consider watching Jim Jarmusch's 1986 movie “Down By Law” in which Tom Waits is one of the three main actors and also some of his music is featured. Great, great movie, highly recommended! (I'm sure some others mentioned it as well, but I didn't read through all the comments.)