"Johnsburg, Illinois" was the last song cut from my ballot. Happy as hell to see it on here. Good taste, woof!
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:02 (ten years ago) link
JI breaks my heart, kinda like Come On Up To The House does, but from a different angle.
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:04 (ten years ago) link
27. Temptation (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)62 points, 5 votes, 1 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjW1ppfQECc
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:05 (ten years ago) link
Great double bass solo in the live version of Telephone Call, which is from Big Time
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:06 (ten years ago) link
The first Waits record I bought was Frank's Wild Years, off the back of a review in the press, I was only dimly aware of his music, but looking back I reckon Island records must have shilled his ass like crazy to make it work. I must have only been 15 or something and I was initially not at home to dissonant Optigan explorations, Rhumba and the megaphone wailing in Temptation. I was only willing to commit to the less demanding songs.Naturally I came around when my tastes eventually caught up and now every note of Temptation is perfect.
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:19 (ten years ago) link
The contributions of Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot, Ralph Carney et al to these songs cannot be understated, although I was never keen on Keith Richards when he turned up.
― Addison Doug (Matt #2), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:19 (ten years ago) link
26. Cemetery Polka (Rain Dogs, 1985)64 points, 4 votes, 1 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9bfsT3AvLU
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:21 (ten years ago) link
How completely odd is this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLyt2EsQ0Q
― many machines on ilx (MaresNest), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:25 (ten years ago) link
25. Picture in a Frame (Mule Variations, 1999)65 points, 4 votes, 1 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pwxD8quPCg
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:37 (ten years ago) link
24. Downtown Train (Rain Dogs, 1985)65 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhW76LAnTY
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:53 (ten years ago) link
I really thought that'd be top 10, maybe the Rod Stewart factor went against it.
― Addison Doug (Matt #2), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:54 (ten years ago) link
It's a decent song, but there are like ten better tracks on Rain Dogs alone!
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:55 (ten years ago) link
I'm waiting to see where "Cold Water," from Mule Variations, pops up (if it does). I was just listening to that song last night - really great stuff.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 14:56 (ten years ago) link
A really fun one I didn't know before coming up next.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:02 (ten years ago) link
23. Step Right Up (Small Change, 1976)65 points, 8 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URp-Dbhr7EU&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DURp-Dbhr7EU&has_verified=1
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:10 (ten years ago) link
22. Soldier's Things (Swordfishtrombones, 1983)67 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNwC8ETa0pg
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:25 (ten years ago) link
Also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcsi5Cd4XrE
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:27 (ten years ago) link
Surprised and delighted to see "Soldier's Things" here at all! I figured it would be outside the top 50.
― cops on horse (WilliamC), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:28 (ten years ago) link
yesss my high placing for Step Right Up has paid off. That song has so many great lines, but "the large print giveth and the small print taketh away" is all-time.
― money, chicken and other DNA (sleeve), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:31 (ten years ago) link
Paul Young didn't lack chutzpah when it came to covers did he? (Some lovely sounds in that version mind you!)
― Eyeball Kicks, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:32 (ten years ago) link
21. Alice (Alice, 2002)68 points, 6 votes, 2 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEj-mrwwaxo
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:41 (ten years ago) link
30. Dirt in the Ground29. Johnsburg, Illinois28. Tom Traubert's Blues27. Temptation26. Cemetery Polka25. Picture in a Frame24. Downtown Train23. Step Right Up22. Soldier's Things21. Alice
http://open.spotify.com/user/joe2goo/playlist/39FGIPX9whrzf9CxzxvxnQ
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:44 (ten years ago) link
I voted for "Alice", but the version I love is the one from the demos. The re-recordings that made up the Alice album was what made me stop buying his records on day of release. Utterly disappointing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr7J2GS3ar4
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:45 (ten years ago) link
That demo is lovely, but I really like the woozy instrumentation on the album version as well.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:49 (ten years ago) link
Are the Alice and Blood Money albums generally disliked? I really enjoy both of them and probably would have voted for a bunch of tunes off of them, but I completely missed that this poll was happening.
That demo is really nice too, are there other demo tracks from those albums available?
― Moodles, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:50 (ten years ago) link
Still think these are very random selections from the back catalogue. Not a complaint. Love Johnsburg, one of those Waits songs that makes me feel ever so slightly weepy. Surprised Downtown Train isn't higher. I know it's a very obvious song but the lyrics are fantastic and for me it's the archetypal Waits song.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:52 (ten years ago) link
I like a lot of Blood Money and Alice has great moments (as well as horrible moments too)
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 15:55 (ten years ago) link
There is a whole set of the Alice demos floating around. They're the tracks he cut as guides for the actors and musicians when it was first performed in 1992.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:00 (ten years ago) link
I probably would like the Alice album more if I hadn't had the demos for half a decade before it came out. He recast them for the modern Waits sound and they lost most of their creepy magic. And what he did to poor "Tabletop Joe" is unforgivable.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:02 (ten years ago) link
I'll need to check them out
― Moodles, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:02 (ten years ago) link
I didn't see the "Table Top Joe" demo on youtube so I stuck it on my tumblr.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:17 (ten years ago) link
Whoa I didn't vote for it because I'm not a fan but I thought ILM liked Downtown Train enough to at least be in the top 10. I am not dissapointed.
Alice was my number one vote and Temptation my #9. I don't know who else voted for it in first place but I salute you.
― Moka, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:33 (ten years ago) link
happy to see "Picture In A Frame" this high, didn't know how well regarded it was! i put it on the playlist at my wedding, one of my fav Waits ballads.
― deez so unusual (some dude), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:35 (ten years ago) link
i think Rod Stewart should be forced to record all of these songs. especially "What's He Building In There."
Aw, I hate to think how he'd deal with the pathos of "Soldier's Things."
― cops on horse (WilliamC), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 16:48 (ten years ago) link
How many Waits songs has Rod sung? He's done three from our list so far - Downtown Train, Tom Traubert's Blues, Picture in a Frame.
― erasingclouds, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 19:31 (ten years ago) link
I think Temptation was my number one
― Hamburglar's smiling too (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 20:00 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNUBhKHvYSk
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 20:23 (ten years ago) link
Surprised Traubert so low
― Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 20:34 (ten years ago) link
I voted for it, but it is like my 5th or 6th favorite tune on Small Change so it was skewed low.
― money, chicken and other DNA (sleeve), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:04 (ten years ago) link
It's the first Tom Waits song I ever heard - played on KZON while I was driving around Phoenix. Sentimentality totally influenced me ranking it #1.
― Jaq, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:08 (ten years ago) link
Mine was the #1 vote for "Picture in a Frame."
I used to sing it every night to my daughter as a lullaby. That clinched the ranking.
― Set the Ctrl-Alt-Del for the heart of the sun (SlimAndSlam), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:14 (ten years ago) link
Where would you daughter rank it?
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:15 (ten years ago) link
Except!! I just looked back at my ballot and I cut off like the top 6 songs when I sent it ;_; massive fail
― Jaq, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:18 (ten years ago) link
Oh shit, I thought you were only voting for fourteen songs!
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:20 (ten years ago) link
What were your top six out of interest?
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:23 (ten years ago) link
tom traubert's bluesStep Right UpJockey Full of BourbonKentucky AvenueAll the world is green9th & Hennepin
Ah well
― Jaq, Wednesday, 16 October 2013 21:51 (ten years ago) link
Blue Valentine is my #1 album so i'm glad to finally see a song from it on here, although "Kentucky Avenue" is the song i have the most mixed feelings about. sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it.
― deez so unusual (some dude), Thursday, 17 October 2013 01:28 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dxhwG3jPPY
― Three Word Username, Thursday, 17 October 2013 09:04 (ten years ago) link
20. Martha (Closing Time, 1973)71 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Mse62NFl4
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 12:09 (ten years ago) link