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Tom Waits
American musician and actor (born 1949)
Thomas Alan Waits is an American singer, songwriter, composer and actor. His lyrics often focus on society's underbelly and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice.
He began in the folk scene during the 1970s, but his music since the 1980s has reflected the influence of such diverse genres as rock, jazz, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk and experimental techniques verging on industrial music. Jim Fusilli calls him "A keen, sensitive and sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden" who "creates three-dimensional characters who, even in their confusion and despair, are capable of insight and startling points of view." His unique voice was described by Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."
In 1969, he was hired as an occasional doorman for the Heritage coffeehouse, which held regular performances from folk musicians. He began to sing at the Heritage; his set initially consisted largely of covers of Dylan and Red Sovine's "Phantom 309".
Tom Waits has taken influence from a wide variety of different artists and styles from across time. In his early career, he took influence from Bob Dylan's folk music and the pre-war composers Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Hoagy Carmichael. Frank Sinatra and the 1940s and 1950s word-jazz and poetry of Beat and Beat-influenced writers such as Jack Kerouac, Lord Buckley and Charles Bukowski were a big influence on his albums in the 1970s. By 1982, his musical style shifted away from a lot of these earlier influences and took inspiration from a wider array of sources. Influences included the Rolling Stones, avant-garde composer Harry Partch, Howlin' Wolf and Captain Beefheart's late-1960s experimental rock.
Bowman writes that "At the dawn of the second decade of the 21st century, Waits's influence can be seen in the work of many of the most forward-thinking contemporary artists, including Beck, PJ Harvey, and Radiohead's Thom Yorke." Other musicians who have expressed admiration for Waits's work include Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Nanci Griffith, Joe Strummer of the Clash, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Frank Black of Pixies, and James Hetfield of Metallica. Bob Dylan, a major influence on the young Waits, called Waits one of his "secret heroes". Humphries said that he is "one of America's finest post-Dylan singer-songwriters" and, along with Edward Hopper, "one of the two great depicters of American isolation." Hoskyns called him "as...
Born December 7th. 1949, in Pomona, California. Tom Waits first album, "Closing Time", was released in 1973. A contemporary artist, Waits is mostly known for his lyrical and poetical songwriting and raspy gravelly voice.
His own inspiration is rooted in early blues and beat poetry with influences like Howlin' Wolf and Jack Kerouac. Apart from music, Waits also has a strong presence in movies. He has appeared in works by Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Jim Jarmusch, Terry Gilliam, and Robert Altman.
Previously worked as a dishwasher at Napoleone Pizza House in San Diego, California before being promoted to pizza chef.
Also known as: John Waits, Mr. Tom Waits, T Waits, T. Veits, T. Waite
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
Tom Waits, the records, oldest first
Closing Time
1973 album
The Heart of Saturday Night
1974 album
Small Change
1976 album
Foreign Affairs
1977 album
Blue Valentine
1978 album
Heartattack and Vine
1980 album
Swordfishtrombones
1983 album
Rain Dogs
1985 album
on the air
Franks Wild Years
1987 album
TV Dinner
1992 album
Bone Machine
1992 album
The Black Rider
1993 album
Mule Variations
1999 album
At the Terminal: Burbank Airport ’99
1999 album
Tales for the Audience 2
2001 album
Blood Money
2002 album
Alice
2002 album
Real Gone
2004 album
My Set Purpose
2004 album
Tomcat Waits to Smoke
2005 album
The Unrealized Tom Waits’ Mohawks at the Diner
2008 album
Bad as Me
2011 album
Under The Covers - The Songs He Didn't Write
2017 album
Tickets for the Bachelors (live 1977)
2021 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"Downtown Train" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits released on his ninth studio album Rain Dogs in 1985. The promo video, which was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and produced by Andrea Ambandos, was filmed in black and white and features a cameo appearance by boxer Jake LaMotta.
Several musical artists have charted with their covers of "Downtown Train", including Rod Stewart, Patty Smyth, and Bob Seger.
Other recordings
Bob Seger also recorded a version of "Downtown Train" in 1989 before Rod Stewart recorded his version. Seger claimed that on a trip to London he told Rod Stewart he had recorded a version of "Downtown Train" and then one month later Rod Stewart recorded his version. Rod Stewart and his management have denied that Rod Stewart stole the idea from Bob Seger. Seger decided not to release his version in 1989 as originally planned but instead re-recorded it in 2011 for his album Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
"Hang Down Your Head" is a song by Tom Waits appearing on his 1985 album Rain Dogs and released as a single that year by Island Records. It is in the same vein as Tom Waits' earlier work, featuring a more conventional melodic structure compared to other songs on Rain Dogs, albeit featuring an idiosyncratic arrangement.
Allmusic critic Stewart Mason called the song "among the most direct and effective things Waits has ever written."
Cover versions
Lucinda Williams recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack of the crime/drama series Crossing Jordan, released in 2003. It was later appended as a bonus track on the vinyl release of her 2003 album World Without Tears. Gothic rock ensemble Human Drama recorded the song for their covers' album Pinups, which was intended as a tribute to the various artists that had influenced them. Country artist Jack Ingram has played the song at live concerts, and his version was recorded for his live debut Live at Adair's in 1995.
"Jockey Full of Bourbon" is a song by Tom Waits released as the first single from his 1985 album Rain Dogs. It is featured in the films Down By Law (1986) and Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995).
Cover versions
"Jockey Full of Bourbon" has been covered by performers including Joe Bonamassa (on his 2009 album The Ballad of John Henry), John P. Hammond, (on his 2001 album Wicked Grin), Moxy Früvous (on their album Live Noise), Moshav (on their album Misplaced), Los Lobos, Youn Sun Nah, Diana Krall, The Blue Hawaiians, Tim Timebomb, Miljoonasade, the Baltimore originated - progressive rock band "Octaves", and the greek country-blues-folk band Dead March on their 2017 debut album "Stolen Chants to Have a Chance".
"Time" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits appearing on his ninth studio album Rain Dogs. It was written by Waits and was recorded in 1985 at RCA Studios in New York City.
In popular culture
The song was used in "The Mother Box Origins" clip for 2021s Zack Snyder's Justice League.
