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
I kinda dig the little false endings to Way Down.
― pplains, Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:46 (ten years ago) link
13. Ruby's Arms (Heartattack and Vine, 1980)88 points, 6 votes, 2 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmM7B-M3LVg
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:50 (ten years ago) link
Compulsive Gamblers' cover of Way Down in the Hole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb_KSSYt6hA
― cops on horse (WilliamC), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:53 (ten years ago) link
A fine farewell to to the first phase of his career, Ruby's Arms.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 14:55 (ten years ago) link
The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (Small Change, 1976)88 points, 7 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPPtrqvHGEg
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:06 (ten years ago) link
Not that I post here any more, but: One thing Wait's tearjerkers pull off better than anything outside of the opera is nail the point where heartache and grief -- as in bereavement from death -- intersect and become indistinguishable. And that's been the most consistent thing in his entire career, except for the phoney-baloney jazz-beatnick-bum moments that drive me nuts even when they sound great.
― Three Word Username, Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:07 (ten years ago) link
I'm surprised so many pre-Rain Dogs tracks have appeared!
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:08 (ten years ago) link
check the radically different slurred spoken "the piano has been drinking" live that's on Spare Parts
― zvookster, Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:12 (ten years ago) link
v funny imo
― zvookster, Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:13 (ten years ago) link
Alfred, I am too.
Funniest Lyric and Saddest Lyric would have been interesting side polls.
― cops on horse (WilliamC), Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:14 (ten years ago) link
11. Rain Dogs (Rain Dogs, 1985)93 points, 7 votes, 1 first place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuQj0ZGE6c
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:20 (ten years ago) link
actually i meant this one live in dublin '81 which i think is on bounced checks
― cops on horse (WilliamC), Thursday, 17 October 2013
yes!
― zvookster, Thursday, 17 October 2013 15:24 (ten years ago) link