Best Tom Waits Album
September 26th, 2011
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Resolution52 Writers
2012
Resolution52 began as an individually based project where a personal resolution and a love of literature collided in a year long effort to do something different; something worthwhile. In 2012 Brian & Jenny won't be reading 52 books, but we'll be reading and writing, and we hope you enjoy it.
2009
52 books in 52 weeks was an idea I had while driving in mid-December as the New Year was approaching and the usual thoughts of "How will 2009 be different, better?" A book a week, for a year, that's how.
This is resolution52.
Very difficult choice. I wish we had a couple votes because the early music is so different from the new music and if I had that choice it would be the Heart of Saturday Night for the traditional CDS and the The Black Rider in the new style.
What, no Closing Time?
Ah, you forgot my favourite – Closing Time. I’d vote for this one.
Yes! Closing Time should be included, favorite depends on how my week went at work
Has to be Closing Time!
Wow, this is like choosing your favorite color of M&M… they’re all equally delicious!
I can’t believe you forgot Closing Time.
Yes! Closing Time! My first love for Tom Waits it is.
Yep! CT with Heart of Saturday Night a close second
Has to be Closing Time, start of my musical education. Heart Attack… for no.2
My entry point into TW’s back catalogue was Rain Dogs and I was hooked immediately. I chose Alice as it’s my favourite today, but who knows what it will be tomorrow!
Just like all “best of” lists, this is impossible. Love the madness of Rain Dogs, and the sensitivity of Mule Variations, imagery of Heart of Saturday Night, Alice, etc. But I bit on the bait – just like all the other fish.
Is One from the heart a soundtrack?
The edict of a sadist.
It was IMPOSSIBLE to pick just one.
Mule Variations was the first TW album to send me to places TW is supposed to send you to.
Small Change is not just the best TW album. It is the best album.
Wot no Swordfishtrombones??
Orphans. It’s a beautiful project that directs you to the previous works (as if you hadn’t already absorbed them already).
In my head, it’s “Tom sings Leonard Cohen”
*sigh*
Real Gone SEVERELY underepresented on this poll. I mean, yeah Rain Dogs is the classic. But the latest progression of the style goddamn changes EVERYTHING.
If Tom would ever get this. I love lots of your music Tom Troubadors Blues. But love the live feel of Night Hawks at The Diner. Spliffy lol
Because of the great pleasure it resulted in-Blue Valentine, the 1st TW album I heard and so opened the door to a beautiful but weird world I otherwise may never have experienced. Saw you know who July 2008 Phoenix Park, Dublin-Glitter and Doom Tour, a life’s ambition realised. If you could bottle how I felt that night and sell it on, your fortune would be made.
I’d like Tom’s next record to be just him and a piano. I’m getting tired of hearing “Rain Dogs Variations” ad nauseam. Miss the stripped down and dirty of the earlier stuff. I’m just sayin’.
How can you possibly choose just one? That is like choosing your favorite kid or pet….if you dont have kids tho, I guess that is easy. Why not just create a HUGE box set of everything you ever recorded and let me own that? Then, I can die a happy person.
Tom I love you but I don’t love twitter.
picking a best album by tom waits is a bit like standing naked in the rain and trying to find the best thing to wear. it is better, i think, to just stand there and surround yourself with all that water.
@kathleen
agreed. my tattoo is because of this album. AND my love of Tom Waits and coffee
How come you ask me that ? Just need you Flesh & Bones and jump & blablablash ! Best Tom Waits album ? Mime Marceau !
Very difficult decision. Like being a little child in a candy store being asked to pick just one. My heart tells me all of them, but my ears have decided on Swordfishtrombones.
Wow… some folks think Mule Variations is better than Rain Dogs!
Sane, sane, they’re all insane…
i picked one, and then realized that there really isn’t one to pick…that they all rock the house! it may just depend on your mood.
how can i pick one? every album is a major classic.
i mean “bone Machine”. i mean nighthawks at the diner. i mean franks wild years. i mean swordfishtrombones. i mean orphans. i mean big time. i mean heartattack and vine. imean one from the heart. i mean heart of a saturday night. i mean blue valentine. i mean…………….
Had to pick ‘Rain Dogs’ because it’s a virtually perfect album, but ‘Heart of Saturday Night’ deserves to be so much higher. It’s the high water mark of the pre-’Swordfishtrombones’ albums.
Sorry, impossible to choose.
What about “Tom Waits for No One” A secret album that you have to get directly from the brilliant artist himself. That gets my vote. And song of the year.
“What’s he Building Down There”
I hate to vote twice, but I follow no rule.
Yesssss…had to go with Closing Time… First I saw Senor Waits on Fernwood Tonight…crooning ThePianoHasBeenDrinking…then I went to the mall and stole Closing Time (and vinyl was harder to cover up under your trenchcoat in those days). Well although PianoDrinking is on Small Change and Small Change had the stripper on the cover…oh, crap, maybe I was supposed to pick Small Change.
Get the WhiteOut and erase this one
Sure it is!! One of the best ever!!! If I’d go to a desert island with only one soundtrack, it’ll be this one…and the dvd too
depends what day/month/mood it is! Some times this one sometimes that one..my favourite few are: closing time, frnaks wild years, orphans, heart of saturday night, hear attack and vine, blue valentine…never heard rain dogs yet…will have to get a copy…
Because the lyrics and melodies are perfect on every song – even “What’s he building” is a hallutionating (excuse my poor English, I’m Norwegian)experience. And “Get behind the mule”, “House where …”, and “Pony” are together with all the other compositions, masterpieces!!
Please vist Norway next time, Mr, Waits!
Please visit Germany and Norway next time, Mr. Waits! We are wait(s)ing
With best regards mjn
If only it was your top 3 albums. I would deffinetly put down Rain dogs and Swordfish, hmmm then probably Blue Valentine. And the album with the Russian dance track! ( forget which album it is) How terrible am i!
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Closing Time. Too many great songs.