'Foreign Affairs' finds Tom at the height of his Beat-inspired era; it's been said that this album's predecessor, 'Small Change,' is the best example of the Beat-inspired boho/wino persona, but 'Foreign Affairs,' has its own distinct vibe.
'Foreign Affairs' is Tom's most underrated and least appreciated of his career. Nevertheless, Foreign Affairs more than delivers on its promise and deserves, more than any other Tom Waits record, to be revisited.
The freeload is a 2010 limited edition, Japanese reissue, remastered by Isao Kikuchi. This is the version you should have.
For the freeload, post your favorite(s) Tom Waits verse or chorus.
This is in my wheelhouse - huge Waits fan. Tie between this verse in Get Behind Me Mule:
ReplyDeleteWell the rampaging sons of the widow James
Jack the cutter and the pock marked kid
Had to stand naked at the bottom
Of the cross
And tell the good lord what they did
Tell the good lord what they did
And this from Chocolate Jesus:
Don't go to church on Sunday
Don't get on my knees to pray
Don't memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
But I know Jesus loves me
maybe just a little bit more
BTW - Waits has resurfaced and appears in an Italian documentary about homelessness in the American South:
https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/ilfattoreumano
I'm looking forward to this, because I haven't really taken the time to discover Tom Waits (suggested title "Tom Waits: For No Man") musically. I've always dug his film performances, particularly in Short Cuts. And I was intrigued by the Beefheartiness of Swordfishtrombones. Like I say... open to the journey.
ReplyDeleteFor someone new, I'd recommend 2 albums. Glitter and Doom is a great live recording and sort of a retrospective of his career. Nighthawks at The Diner is an amazing jazz/folk/funk whatever else you want to call it that also is a nice way to enter into his discography.
DeleteAs someone new (although obviously I know of him) thanks for the recommendations. I'll check them out.
DeleteMany thanks, pmac! I'll check em out
Delete“Alice”
ReplyDelete“It's dreamy weather we're on
You wave your crooked wand
Along an icy pond
With a frozen moon
A murder of silhouette crows I saw...
And the tears on my face
And the skates on the pond they spell Alice
I'll disappear in your name
But you must wait for me
Somewhere beneath the sea
There's the wreck of a ship
Your hair is like meadow grass
On the tide And the raindrops on my window
And the ice in my drink
Baby, all that I can think of Is Alice
Arithmetic Arithmetock I turn the hands back on the clock
How does the ocean rock the boat
How did the razor find my throat
The only strings that hold me here
Are tangled up around the pier
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I'm dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
But I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice Of Alice
There's only Alice”
Such an amazing concept and overall great record. Alice in Wonderland on even more mushrooms.
DeleteAlmost impossible to pick a favourite verse or chorus from so many gems, but if I had to choose one song, I'd probably vote for Tom growling and wheezing through Blue Valentine.
ReplyDeleteMid-seventies, I think opening for Frank Zappa's Petit Wazoo band (who booked this, anyway?), Tom and his acoustic guitar didn't connect with the restive audience, some boos were heard, Mr. Waits won (sic) the crowd over singing "It looks like I'm up shit creek again". I don't believe it appears on any of his official or unofficial albums.
ReplyDeleteBut I think the most beautiful song he ever wrote was Rainbow Sleeves, and Rickie Lee was the one to record it.
Delete“Never could stand that dog” always makes me chuckle.
ReplyDelete“But you're innocent when you dream
when you dream.
You're innocent when you dream”
Great song, great lyrics!
DeleteThe piano has been drinking, not me.
ReplyDelete"Everybody I used to know is either dead or in prison"
ReplyDeleteWhat are they building in there?
ReplyDeleteTwo from Step Right Up:
ReplyDeleteIt's new, it's improved, it's old-fashioned
and
It gives you an erection that wins the election
C in California
If you don't laugh through this, I have no hope for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5X4N2exOsU
ReplyDelete--Muzak McMusics
LOL - Great one.
DeleteOne of the most beautiful songs he wrote ("Hold On"):
ReplyDelete"Down by the Riverside motel
It's ten below and falling
By a ninety-nine cent store
She closed her eyes and started swaying
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
Oh, your old hometown's so far away
But inside your head there's a record that's playing
A song called "Hold On", hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there, you gotta hold on"
--Muzak McM.
Link
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/Z8yzKYQygQm
I’ve appreciated Tom Waites for quite a while, but this writing prompt took me way back, to my introduction to his music.
ReplyDeleteCongregate living has some merits, but I still occasionally have dreams in which I have to move into a dormitory. What actually happened to me was that a suite-mate moved out mid-semester, no one I knew was looking to move in, and so the college assigned me someone who came back to school. He’d been in New York City, wasn’t all that interested in being back, and consequently didn’t integrate much.
Emblematic of this was his having only one LP, which he played over and over. What I remember most was the last song (“ah, it’s finally going to end!”) about a “Grapefruit Moon, One star shining, shining down on me.”
Several years later, I discovered that there was a lot of good writing on Closing Time, and was better disposed to appreciate the vocal qualities displayed. There are plenty of songs from other albums I could quote, but it occurs to me that my regrettable (to me) roommate was probably experiencing this:
“I guess I'll get on back into my short, make it back to the fort
Sleepin' off all the crazy lizards inside of my brain.
got to be some place that's better than this
This life I'm leading's driving me insane.”
D in California
I'm amused that I didn't notice until after I pasted and posted that someone "improved" Mr. Waits' official lyric to "crazy lizards." His web site sets the record straight:
Deletehttp://www.tomwaits.com/songs/song/87/Virginia_Avenue/
D in California, but not *THAT* far from Reno...
dear babs! a wonderful share, comes in the right time... thank you very much.
ReplyDeletehuey
Thank YOU huey.
DeleteEnjoy!
Thanks as ever for the shares Babs!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Phantom.
DeleteThank YOU, for all your input, my friend!
Frank’s Wild Years:
ReplyDeleteWell Frank settled down out in the Valley and he hung his wild years on a nail that he drove through his wife's forehead
He sold used office furniture out there on San Fernando Road and assumed a $30,000 loan at 15¼%, put a down payment on a little two-bedroom place
His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash: made good Bloody Marys, kept her mouth shut most of the time, had a little chihuahua named Carlos that had some kind of skin disease and was totally blind.
They had a thoroughly modern kitchen, self-cleaning oven, the whole bit. Frank drove a little Sedan. They were so happy
One night, Frank was on his way home from work, stopped at the liquor store. Picked up a couple Mickey's Big Mouths, drank 'em in the car on his way to the Shell station. He got a gallon of gas in a can. Drove home, doused everything in the house, torched it, parked across the street, laughing, watching it burn, all Halloween orange and chimney red
Then Frank put on a top 40-station, got on the Hollywood Freeway, and headed north
Never could stand that dog.
Absolutely brilliant and a great final line as you already had mentioned, Babs!
Plus many thanks for the share as usual!