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
19. Blue Valentines (Blue Valentine, 1978)73 points, 6 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyjHqXlVn1U
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:03 (ten years ago) link
(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night (The Heart of Saturday Night,1974)78 points, 6 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7UHd7NVegE
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:24 (ten years ago) link
Sorry, that's number 18.
17. Goin' Out West (Bone Machine, 1992)78 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27LLPANAgzw
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:41 (ten years ago) link
I couldn't even tell you how Goin Out West goes. Finally one of my main votes appears - Heart of Saturday Night, but I only voted it because of this wonderful rare bootleg I have with full instrumental backing. I don't know where I got it from or how but it's truly magical.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:43 (ten years ago) link
Goin' Out West is pretty bitching, you should give it a listen.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:49 (ten years ago) link
16. Train Song (Frank's Wild Years, 1987)79 points, 5 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1372DyU8H8
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 13:58 (ten years ago) link
big time version with intro is a must
― zvookster, Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:15 (ten years ago) link
15. I Don't Wanna Grow Up (Bone Machine, 1992)83 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqOm78Vvg3w
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:18 (ten years ago) link
You guys just don't listen tot he same Waits as I do, I'm starting to think.
xpost
Although... I love this song! First ever Waits song I heard, maybe on Beavis and Butthead or something?
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:18 (ten years ago) link
Oh hush, a good handful of songs from your ballot have placed already.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:22 (ten years ago) link
IDWGU is another one that makes me feel a bit sad somehow. The lyrics, again, are filled with pathos. I love Waits when he's critiquing the human condition.
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:22 (ten years ago) link
"this guy can't write songs, but boy can he sing"
― zvookster, Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:26 (ten years ago) link
14. Way Down in the Hole (Frank's Wild Years,, 1987)87 points, 9 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZZu93VsNA
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:34 (ten years ago) link
Temptation is a great one I didn't vote for - a real grower. He doesn't often do falsetto, does he? Isn't this based on an old Cole Porter song or did I imagine it?
― Pingu Unchained (dog latin), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:35 (ten years ago) link
The only bad thing about Way Down In The Hole is that the coda doesn't go on for long enough! I love the guitar solo on that one. ~Might have to learn it one day.
"I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is one of my favorite short songs.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:36 (ten years ago) link
Only just dawned on me that Way Down is a one-chord song.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:42 (ten years ago) link