Tom Waits - 'Blue Valentine

 

Tom Waits is a consummate storyteller, able to fit a short story into three or four minutes, and ‘Blue Valentine’ contains some memorable tales that are vivid and can make you feel a range of emotions.  This is Tom’s patented mix of Jazz, Blues, Beat poetry, and anchored with those tales of dubious characters who don't normally get song lyrics.  He romanticizes and trivializes what Marx [no, not Groucho - Ed.] referred to as the Lumpenproletariat, whom are in precarious situations, that Tom is so adept at evocatively describing.


Opening the album is a cover of "Somewhere" from ‘West Side Story’, which in itself, was a brave move for Tom, it could easily have descended into parody in the hands of a lesser talent, but its hopeful/hopeless air is the perfect introduction and sets the tone for what follows on ‘Blue Valentine’.



If there's one track I would point to on the album that does so best, it would have to be ‘Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis’, which revolves around the contents of said Christmas card, and takes you on a rollercoaster ride before hitting you with an unexpected left turn.  Swaggering jazz numbers like the effortlessly cool ‘Romeo Is Bleeding’ are broken up with a few more tender moments, like the heartbreaking ‘Kentucky Avenue’ and the delicate title track.  "Wrong Side Of The Road" reads like the spirit of Macbeth's witches, have been relocated inside the pages of a pulp novel.

Tom & Rickie Lee

This album showcases Tom's exceptional ability to merge different musical styles, making it a standout work in his discography.  His gravelly voice adds a raw, emotional depth to each track, enhancing the overall impact of the album.  ‘Blue Valentine’ also marks the first appearance of the electric guitar in Tom's music, setting out the foundations for the more adventurous rock sound he would go on to pursue further on down the road.  'Blue Valentine' is so very classic Tom Waits material from start to finish.

The free load is a limited edition reissue, and part of Warner Music Japan's 40th anniversary reissue series, from 2010.   It was remastered by Isao Kikuchiuchi, and will make for a nice sonic upgrade if you already have 'Blue Valentine'.

For the freeload, post your favorite Tom Waits lyrics or quotes.

Tom Waits - 'Rain Dogs'

 

 

'Rain Dogs' was recorded in 1984 and released in 1985, while Tom was living in Lower Manhattan. When asked about why he’d decided to leave the West Coast, Tom joked that he’d moved there “For the peace and quiet, you know”. Tom also said "New York Forces you to be in endless surreal situations” and that it's “Where the gun-metal Mercedes pulls up into the puddle of blood, and out steps the 25-karat, blonde transvestite with the two-dollar wristwatch. It’s always setting you off balance”.

Speaking of surreal situations, around this time, I had a brush with Tom, who was hailing a yellow Checker cab. As Tom was getting into the cab, I said, "Howahyah, Tom?" He looked at me, smiled and said in his signature raspy voice, "I'm swingin' sweetheart....swingin'!" and with that got in the cab, slammed the door and winked at me. 

'Rain Dogs' was Tom's ninth studio album, and features Keith Richards, on the songs, "Big Black Mariah", "Union Square" and "Blind Love". It was also guitarist Marc Ribot's major recording debut, and the first of many recordings with Tom. 

This is the Tom Waits album I play the most, and the 'freeload' is the Japanese limited edition, remastered SHM-CD, reissued in 2008. If you already have 'Rain Dogs', you should upgrade to this version, cuz it sounds sweet!

To get this, tell us about the different cities, towns and countries you've lived in, or if you've always lived in the same place.