Waits, Tom

Band members               Related acts

- Tom Waits - vocals, guitar

 

 

- none known

 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Closing Time

Company: Asylum

Catalog: SD-5061

Year: 1973

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: 1

Price: $15.00

 

We'll be real honest and admit that the critical acclaim that surrounds Tom Waits is largely lost on us.  In spite of a concerted effort to "get it", most of Waits' extensive recording catalog strikes us as overly theatrical (and seriously depressing) and does little for us.  

 

Produced by former Grass Root Jerry Yester, Waits' 1973 debut "Closing Time" is one of the few exceptions.  While Waits' raspy and frequently slurred voice epitomizes the concept of "acquired taste", on this set his vocal limitations aren't that noticeable.  Lyrically nothing here strays from Waits' lonely and down-and-out persona ("Lonely"), but musically the set's surprisingly varied.  Waits proves an accomplished writer, dabbling in a myriad of genres including '40s-styled ballads ("Midnight Lullaby"), light jazz ("Virginia Avenue"), country-rock ("Ol' 55" - which was subsequently covered by The Eagles), and even funk ("Ice Cream Man").  Personal favorites, the soothing "Rosie" and the pretty ballad  "Grapefruit Moon".  The LP's not perfect.  Whenever Waits gets into his theatrical mode ("Martha") the results turn south.  Still, there are more winners than losers and the overall impact makes for one of the year's more impressive debuts.

 

"Closing Time" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Ol' 55   (Tom Waits) - 

2.) I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love with You   (Tom Waits) -

3.) Virginia Avenue   (Tom Waits) -

4.) Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)   (Tom Waits) -

5.) Midnight Lullaby   (Tom Waits) -

6.) Martha   (Tom Waits) -

 

(side 2)

1.) Rosie   (Tom Waits) -

2.) Lonely   (Tom Waits) -

3.) Ice Cream Man   (Tom Waits) -

4.) Little Trip To Heaven (On the Wings of Your Love)   (Tom Waits) -

5.) Grapefruit Moon   (Tom Waits) -

6.) Closing Time (instrumental)   (Tom Waits) -

 

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Blue Valentine

Company: Asylum

Catalog: 6E-162

Year: 1978

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Price: $9.00

 

 

 Hum, could 1978's "Blue Valentine" be Waits' stab at a rock album?  In spite of the fact the irritating intimate string arrangements are ditched in favor of rock band instrumentation, the answer is of course not.  Produced by Bones Howe, this is one of Waits better sounding LPs.  That said, lyrically material such as "Red Shoes By the Drugstore", "Christmas Card from a Hooker In Minneapolis" and "Romeo Is Bleeding" simply serves as another installment in Waits' ongoing epic novel into the lives of various down and outers populating his social environment.  So what's interesting here?  Well, the LP starts out with the oddest cover of "Somewhere" you've ever heard and "Twenty Nine Dollars" is kind of a nifty slice of blues. 

"Blue Valentine" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Somewhere (From West Side Story)   (Leonard Bernstein - Steven Sondheim) - 3:50

2.) Red Shoes By the Drugstore   (Tom Waits) - 3:11

3.) Christmas Card from a Hooker In Minneapolis   (Tom Waits) - 4:30

4.) Romeo Is Bleeding   (Tom Waits) - 4:50

5.) Twenty Nine Dollars   (Tom Waits) - 8:12

 

(side 2)

1.) Wrong Side of the Road   (Tom Waits) - 5:11

2.) Whistlin' Past the Graveyard   (Tom Waits) - 3:14

3.) Kentucky Avenue   (Tom Waits) - 4:47

4.) A Little Bullet from a Pretty Blue Gun   (Tom Waits) - 5:34

5.) Blue Valentine   (Tom Waits) - 5:50

 

 

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