My work is done. Many thanks to all who voted and commented, I had fun!
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, 18 October 2013 17:13 (ten years ago) link
thanks chap
― Hamburglar's smiling too (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 18 October 2013 17:14 (ten years ago) link
Early prediction for top five (heavy on the rain dogs):1. Jockey Full of Bourbon2. Clap Hands3. Cold Cold Ground4. Downtown Train5. Time /or Martha
1. Jockey Full of Bourbon2. Clap Hands3. Cold Cold Ground4. Downtown Train5. Time /or Martha
Hey! I got the top three right!
― Moka, Friday, 18 October 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
great job chap!
― johnny crunch, Friday, 18 October 2013 17:19 (ten years ago) link
Anyway here's my poll, overall happy with the top results excluding the lack of love gor Green Grass and Hoist that Rag
01 Alice02 Green Grass03 Clap Hands04 Jockey Full of Bourbon05 Burma Shave06 All the world is green07 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six08 Red shoes by the drugstore09 Temptation10 Hoist that rag11 Shore Leave12 Earth Died Screaming13 Blue Valentines14 Cold Cold Ground15 Martha16 Step Right Up17 Dirt in the Ground18 I Hope that I Don't Fall in Love with You19 Little Drop of Poison20 Christmas card for a hooker in minneapolis
ALBUMS
SwordfishtrombonesBlue ValentineRain DogsBone MachineAlice
― Moka, Friday, 18 October 2013 17:22 (ten years ago) link
Thanks chap!
I love the live boots of sad drunk Tom but often find the albums a bit too fussy. The tunes, though, are killer. He could write a barroom weeper like nobody else.
So true. I have a bootleg with a version of "Christmas Card" that's fucking amazing.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Friday, 18 October 2013 18:28 (ten years ago) link
Oo, forgot to post my ballot:
1. clap hands2. take it with me3. rain dogs4. 16 shells5. singapore6. swordfishtrombone7. tango til they're sore8. underground9. make it rain10. alice11. ghosts of saturday night12. what's he building in there13. just the right bullets14. hang down your head15. dirt in the ground16. big in japan17. san diego serenade18. don't go into that barn19. goin west20. pasties and a g-string
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, 18 October 2013 18:48 (ten years ago) link
It's ok for the poll runner to submit a ballot right? I put it together before the poll opened so I wouldn't be influenced by others' votes!
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, 18 October 2013 18:52 (ten years ago) link
Great work Chap, my number one never made the cut nevertheless it is a beautiful, heart-warming track, so ner.
1. Come On Up To The House - Mule Variations
2. Yesterday Is Here - Frank's Wild Years
3. Singapore - Rain Dogs
4. Cemetery Polka - Rain Dogs
5. Jersey Girl - Heartattack & Vine
6. Johnsburg, Illinois - Swodrfishtrombones
7. In The Neighbourhood - Swordfishtrombones
8. Depot Depot - The Heart Of Saturday Night
9. Xmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis - Blue Valentine
10. God's Away On Business - Blood Money
11. Cold Water - Mule Variations
12. 16 Shells From A 30.6 (live) - Big Time
13. Hang On St Christopher - Frank's Wild Years
14. Big Black Mariah (live) - Big Time
15. Innocent When You Dream (bar-room) - Frank's Wild Years
16. Train Song (live) - Big Time
17. Tango Till They're Sore - Rain Dogs
18. Falling Down - Big Time
19. Just The Right Bullets - The Black Rider
20. The Briar & The Rose - The Black Rider
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:10 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5X4N2exOsU
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:11 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, Come On Up is great.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Friday, 18 October 2013 19:27 (ten years ago) link
wow only one other person voted for "Can't Wait To Get Off Work", it was my #1. such a perfect little portrait.
I also appear to be the only person who voted for "Pontiac" and "King Kong"
― money, chicken and other DNA (sleeve), Friday, 18 October 2013 20:07 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbiioBFkD_Q
― Three Word Username, Friday, 18 October 2013 20:09 (ten years ago) link
my take on my ballot and his whole discography p much is that if i recompiled it in x amt of time (a year? idk) it could be like ~80% different. also how i viewed the st. etienne ballot poll
― johnny crunch, Friday, 18 October 2013 20:10 (ten years ago) link
1. Swordfishtrombones2. One From The Heart Soundtrack3. Rain Dogs4. Blue Valentines5. Heart Of Saturday Night
1. This One's From The Heart2. 16 Shells from a 3:163. Martha4. A Town With No Cheer5. Burma Shave6. I Never Talk To Strangers7. Heart Of Saturday Night8. Broken Bicycles9. Blue Valentine10. A Soldiers Things11. Step Right Up12. Small Change13. I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You14. Ol'55 15. Somewhere16. Grapefruit Moon17. Muriel18. Lonely19. Clap Hands20. Cold Cold Ground
I'll be honest I'm a bit of Waits dillettante (not so keen post Rain Dogs) but adore 'Swordfishtrombones' and think 'One From The Heart' is an overlooked gem...hate 'Tom Traubert's Blues' tho...
― The Pastiche Liberation Front (sonnyboy), Friday, 18 October 2013 20:25 (ten years ago) link
2. 16 Shells from a 3:16
Typo of the week. I wonder if there's a bible verse John Thirty-Ought-Six.
― Victor Immature (WilliamC), Friday, 18 October 2013 20:58 (ten years ago) link
my fave album has always been the live nighthawks at the diner from 1975. it has such a phantastic jazzy night club atmosphre. how can it be that there is not one song which placed in the poll?
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Friday, 18 October 2013 21:13 (ten years ago) link
songs:Christmas Card From A Hooker In MinneapolisClap HandsWay Down In The HolePicture In A FrameTimeBlue ValentinesI Don’t Wanna Grow UpGun Street Girl16 Shells From A 30.6Innocent When You Dream (78)Anywhere I Lay My HeadRed Shoes By The DrugstoreCome On Up To The HouseDowntown TrainI Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With YouStep Right UpThe Piano Bas Been DrinkingBig In JapanJockey Full Of BourbonWhat’s He Building In There?
albums: Blue ValentineRain DogsNighthawks At The DinerSwordfishtrombonesMule Variations
― deez so unusual (some dude), Friday, 18 October 2013 22:23 (ten years ago) link
whoah yeah Gun Street Girl didn't place either!
― money, chicken and other DNA (sleeve), Friday, 18 October 2013 22:29 (ten years ago) link
tracks1. tom traubert's blues (four sheets to the wind in copenhagen)2. ruby's arms3. christmas card from a hooker in minneapolis4. train song5. cold, cold ground6. burma-shave7. tango 'til they're sore8. anywhere i lay my head9. way down in the hole10. kentucky avenue11. blue valentines12. jockey full of bourbon13. take it with me14. invitation to the blues15. yesterday is here16. innocent when you dream (barroom)17. san diego serenade18. world keeps turning19. heartattack and vine20. all the world is green
albums:1. rain dogs2. small change3. franks wild years4. swordfishtrombones5. orphans
― one way street, Friday, 18 October 2013 22:30 (ten years ago) link
"Gun Street Girl" was always a standout to me, surprised it didn't make it
― deez so unusual (some dude), Friday, 18 October 2013 22:33 (ten years ago) link
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Friday, October 18, 2013 5:13 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i voted this #1 album, love it dearly; just didnt break out songs from it for the tracks poll, felt wrong
― johnny crunch, Friday, 18 October 2013 23:58 (ten years ago) link
yeah same here, album was on my ballot but didn't vote for any songs. if i had more time to listen i wanted to at least revisit and pick out one, but i didn't.
― deez so unusual (some dude), Saturday, 19 October 2013 00:19 (ten years ago) link
Track ballot (1-6 were left off due to c&p fail):
tom traubert's bluesStep Right UpJockey Full of BourbonKentucky AvenueAll the world is green9th & Hennepin
Ruby's ArmsBurma ShaveOl' 55Heart of Saturday NightHeigh HoIce cream manI hope that I don't fall in love with youSan Diego SerenadeSomewhereWhat's he building?Better off without a wife16 Shells from a 30-06Misery is the River of the WorldMartha
― Jaq, Saturday, 19 October 2013 01:05 (ten years ago) link
Btw, if you havent heard the Blind Boys version of way down in the hole you're missing out. (I also like mia's version but I wont defend that one.)
― Moka, Saturday, 19 October 2013 09:15 (ten years ago) link
Is the a poo thread for Tom Waits covers?
― Moka, Saturday, 19 October 2013 09:16 (ten years ago) link
Thanks for running this. There will always be a place for it in the 9th and Hennepin of my heart.
My ballot:
1. Hang Down Your Head2. Cold Cold Ground3. Clap Hands4. Gun Street Girl5. Downtown Train6. Hold On7. Heartattack and Vine8. Tango Till They’re Sore9. Eyeball Kid10. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up11. Jockey Full of Bourbon12. Road To Peace13. The Return of Jackie and Judy14. Time15. Blind Love16. Underground17. Til The Money Runs Out18. Jersey Girl19. Come On Up To the House20. What’s He Building?
― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 19 October 2013 14:16 (ten years ago) link
I avoided a lot of Raindogs stuff, except for Tango Till They're Sore, as I had a feeling a lot of tracks would have a pretty solid following. Disappointed that my #1, Drunk on the Moon, isn't so generally loved, but at least Xmas Card from a Hooker was top 10.
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Saturday, 19 October 2013 14:27 (ten years ago) link
1. Picture in a Frame (25)2. The Piano Has Been Drinking, Not Me (12)3. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (15)4. Dirt in the Ground (30)5. Cemetery Polka (26)*6. Pony7. Anywhere I Lay My Head (48)*8. Cold Water*9. The Briar and the Rose10. What’s He Building? (35)11. Soldier’s Things (22)12. Time13. Step Right Up (23)*14. The Fall of Troy15. Johnsburg, Illinois (29)*16. Day After Tomorrow*17. Town with No Cheer*18. A Little Rain*19. Chocolate Jesus20. Clap Hands
― Set the Ctrl-Alt-Del for the heart of the sun (SlimAndSlam), Saturday, 19 October 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
This poll has shown me that I need to take some time checking out his pre-Rain Dogs albums
― Moodles, Saturday, 19 October 2013 17:47 (ten years ago) link
Are you not even familiar with Swordfishtrombones?
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Saturday, 19 October 2013 18:38 (ten years ago) link
tactical voting fail as my #1 fails to place!
("sweet little bullet")
really though my order was pretty arbitrary....looking forward to putting together a playlist of the later stuff!
jolly good poll, chap!
― Swag Heathen (theStalePrince), Saturday, 19 October 2013 18:47 (ten years ago) link
xpost
Forgot that was earlier, Swordfishtrombones then is my cut-off, although there are definitely older tunes that I recognize.
― Moodles, Saturday, 19 October 2013 19:03 (ten years ago) link
I've listened to all his albums at least once, (Orphans excluded), though some of the early ones only once.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Saturday, 19 October 2013 19:05 (ten years ago) link
so i just picked up franks wild years on vinyl. never really realised this, but it's definitely his least rocky and by far his most barrel-organy/jazzy one of the trilogy. think it might well be beating out swordfish as my fave of the three, which is strange because i never rated it that much. i can even handle the new york song.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Sunday, 20 October 2013 16:39 (ten years ago) link
Actually running this poll has made me re-evalute Frank's; it was always my least favourite of the trilogy, but I realise now it's stacked with good songs.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Sunday, 20 October 2013 16:41 (ten years ago) link
whoever said upthread that Blood money is his only album that doesn't have too many songs is OTM. i mean, i love tom waits but it's true - even his best albums could be chopped by two-three songs.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Sunday, 20 October 2013 17:00 (ten years ago) link
Here's my ballot. A better knowledge of his 00s albums and less of a will to avoid Raindogs loading would probably change it quite a bit. Disappointed not to see my #1, 4 and 20 anywhere in the top 50
1. Drunk on the moon2. Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis3. Tango till they’re sore4. Blind love5. Blue Valentines6. Time7. Black wings8. New coat of paint9. The piano has been drinking10. Jockey full of bourbon11. Virginia Avenue12. Semi Suite13. Kentucky Avenue14. Shiver Me Timbers15. 9th and hennepin16. cold cold ground17. Ruby’s Arms18. More than Rain19. Step Right Up20. lonely
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Sunday, 20 October 2013 22:35 (ten years ago) link
Just catching up... great poll! Good work, chap.
Can't believe I forgot about "Christmas Card..." - would have made my top 10. Also, I was the no. 1 vote for "Make It Rain" - I only really got into Waits about a decade ago, around the time Real Gone came out, and the live version that he performed during that tour just wormed its way into my heart.
1. Make It Rain2. Kentucky Avenue 3. Green Grass4. Rain Dogs5. Time6. Goin' Out West7. Jockey Full of Bourbon8. Telephone Call From Istanbul 9. Soldier's Things10. Picture in a Frame11. Way Down in the Hole12. Invitation to the Blues13. I Hope I Won't Fall In Love With You14. Ruby's Arms15. Cold Cold Ground16. Wrong Side of The Road17. Alice18. How's It Gonna End19. Poor Edward 20. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
― Roz, Monday, 21 October 2013 16:30 (ten years ago) link
man i wish he would record rainbow sleeves...what a great song
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 27 October 2013 22:39 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvLd8FgDBMw
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 27 October 2013 22:41 (ten years ago) link
I've started on my reggae cover of Cold Cold Ground BTW.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Monday, 28 October 2013 14:27 (ten years ago) link
Here's what I've got so far, if anyone's interested. Still very rough round the edges but you get the idea: https://soundcloud.com/doglatin/cold-cold-ground-tom-waits
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Monday, 28 October 2013 16:52 (ten years ago) link
Nice.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 28 October 2013 21:16 (ten years ago) link
i regret never noticing this poll before :`(
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 28 October 2013 21:41 (ten years ago) link
Listening to Blood Money. What a great album. Completely overlooked.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Tuesday, 29 October 2013 19:16 (ten years ago) link
^ that was my number one album
― Eyeball Kicks, Wednesday, 30 October 2013 11:30 (ten years ago) link
Think it might have some of my favourite lyrics on there. 'Misery Is The River Of The World' especially, but if Waits has ever been about studying the human condition, Blood Money's it. Something terrible and ogreish about it, like an in-depth look at misanthropy and the justification of such.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 October 2013 12:32 (ten years ago) link
Is the Woyzeck play it's based on worth a look?
Also: Marimbas!
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 October 2013 12:33 (ten years ago) link