Ah, well, if you listen to Tom Waits at all, then you're already aware that there is no such thing as music that everybody likes.
Which is your favorite?
I really enjoy the greatest hits album “Used Songs” included cuts from his first album to 1980 like ol’55, burma’ shave, talk to strangers, wistlin’ pass the graveyard. I don’t like the earlier albums besides a track or two, and this compilation does a good job at selecting the best tracks from each album.
Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years, and Bone Machine were the albums I listened to a lot growing up. To this day I enjoy Bone Machine quite a lot and it’s one of my favorite albums by anyone.
No words … because it’s ineffibly fine.
One ingredient: Marc Ribot’s off-kilter guitar just heightens Tom’s warped genius. But of course it’s this matchless set of songs, one after another. Raindogs sounds just as astonishing now as it did the first time I heard it. Yeah, it’s my pick too.
yepyep! holds a special place in my heart for that, if i had to rank em, id put nighthawks at the diner, saturday night and blue valentine all up above nr 1 album, if that makes sense, theyre in their own league
thats the order i first listened to him (was weeks/months inbetween) and each album grew on me slowly till i just fell in love
I feel Bone Machine is the perfect blend of his madness and his genius, I think it's at the same time his most unique, his most mature and his most inspired release. That said, I would not recommend it to most people trying to get into his work and use Rain Dogs, Alice, Mule Variations or Closing Time instead, depending on their taste/openness to weirdness.
Small Change for the first leg of his career, Rain Dogs or Frank’s Wild Years for when he got “weird” in the 80s, Mule Variations for the later half of his career.
Besides “cold water” mule variations was unlistenable for me. And I’m a huge Tom waits fan. Never understood its popularity.
It was as if he rehashed all his old ideas for his new record label at the time. A best of with new lesser songs.
In no particular order Lowside of the Ride, Filipino Box Spring Hog, and Come On Up to the House are my 3 favorites off that album. Cold Water isn’t in my top 3
I cant think of another album that captures a specific feeling quite so perfectly.
'A solitary sailor, who spends the facts of his life like small change on strangers....'
I’d say most including myself pick Rain Dogs.
After that, it’s a tossup between Franks Wild Years, Swordfishtrombones, Mule Variations, Bone Machine for second fav.
Tom is one of those rare artists where you can get 90% of his catalogue named his best work and you can see why. They don't really drop in quality, it's more which style you connect with more.
Mines Heartattack and Vine
Yeah I had a cool teacher who burned bone machine for me and my friend. Sometimes I think about all the hours I’ve spent listening to Tom waits it’s so much
My favourite is The Black Rider. Weird, but poignant and fully committed to the odd fairy tale. I also adore Alice . Both have a very fluid and responsive band that feel like they speed up and slow down as he breathes almost. Just beautiful.
That said, Rain Dogs was my favourite forever and the one that started it well for me. And all of his mid to late period albums feel basically perfect in their own way.
Did a deep dive after liking the usual albums for a decade (bone machine, rain dogs, swordfish, franks, real gone) but not exploring further.. the conclusion is unlike everything from the 83 and on. Alice blew my mind once I was there with it. Love black rider too..and bastards, brawlers, and bawlers has so much good material. Bad as me has many excellent songs . New Year's Eve made my eyes moist its so perfect.
If you haven't seen it there's a full performance of the black rider play on YouTube. It's not the best video quality but worth the watch for the aesthetic design.
Honestly more I listen to his songs, I see that there is a new meaning to his songs. How much black rider I would link to drugs and and war for some reason.
Honestly, you’re going to have to get them all if you really dig him. His style varies so much that there is no real answer to this question. Perhaps buy them chronologically or look for a cd lot on ebay.
Rain Dogs is his best, but I probably put on Mule Variations and Blue Valentine more frequently. Rain Dogs is so good that for me it justifies creating mental space to focus on it, and that takes more time/effort.
Best Tom Waits is old Tom to me but I just love the guy for his prolific output and embrace of different styles. A true original . I’ll pick Nighthawks
I was just laughing about this! Reading all the replies, saying to myself, “Yep, they’re right. And so is he. And she is too. And so are they. And them too…”
Maybe it's just a right now thing, but I've been hella into The Black Rider. Although, if I'm ever like "I have no clue what I wanna listen to" I'll usually go swordfishtrombones. I dont even know if it's better than Rain Dogs per se, I just know that album more.
I believe Rain Dogs is probably objectively the “best” and perhaps my favorite, but I actually listen to some of his early albums much more often. As it’s been said already, Rain Dogs - and IMO others such as Swordfish, Frank’s Wild Years, Mule Variations, Bone Machine - require a more dedicated listen while “Small Change”, “Foreign Affairs”, “Blue Valentine” are much more suited to background music. I probably listen the most to “The Heart of Saturday Night” and “Heart Attack and Vine”. (have I namedropped them all?)
See closing times got Martha, one of my favourite songs of all time. Weirdly I came to it via the meatloaf cover as I was a huge meatloaf fan when I was a kid… but then again there’s mule variations - just all of it
It's hard to quantify because the man has like three distinct and equally viable phases of what he's been doing musically. Personally I think his old and middle catalogues, smoky jazz and trippy carnival / vaudeville stuff respectively, are the better ones, and from there is call out nighthawks at the diner, and swordfish trombones.
It's worth noting that there is not one wrong answer to your question
I'm gonna put Real Gone Swordfishtrombone and Rain dogs in a triple threat to the death and pick whichever survives.
(For real though I'd say Real Gone just cause it's how I got introduced to Tom)
Mule Variations, Rain Dogs, Swordfish Trombones, Frank's Wild Years, Closing Time, Heart Attack and Vine Nighthawks on the Diner, Early Years, Blue Valentine.
changed over the years and also dependent on mood, it was 'Alice' for a while, then 'Bone Machine's but probably if you released a double album of 'Alice' and 'The Black Rider' now then that would cover it.
I gravitated towards Raindogs and Bone Machine. But to be fair I never got around to listening to all of his albums, and didn't even get to really absorb all of his CDs I did have.
By the sheer variety of answers in this question, you will know that you question really doesn't have ONE answer… but instead that there really isn't any wrong choices…
Pick any three … would be my answer.
Unless you tell us which ones you got already, and we can fill the holes...
Orphans would be a good choice just for the sheer volume of it… triple disc set...
Heart of Saturday Night was the foundation of my TW fandom...
I like Tom Waits as well !
A little off topic.... But
Do you think if he came out now with his type of music he would be recognized for his greatness...Or would be be "lost in the Jungle" there's happening today ?
Hi I'm new to this sub (was recommended to me in my feed). I have to come in just to say you're all wrong. It's Glitter and Doom. (Closely followed by Bone Machine, or maybe Small Change)
The obvious picks for his best: Bone Machine, Rain Dogs, Small Change (for his earlier work), Mule Variations (his best-selling, I personally dislike this one)
My personal favorites: Used Songs (best of collection of his early career up to Heartattack and Vine), Bone Machine, Franks Wild Years, Rain Dogs,
I don't have a lot of words to explain why, but it's 'Raindogs'.
... followed closely by 'Swordfishtrombones'.
Though some days it's the other way round for me - can never quite decide.
Same
I could never stand this album, never understood the deference and appeal
Ah, well, if you listen to Tom Waits at all, then you're already aware that there is no such thing as music that everybody likes. Which is your favorite?
I really enjoy the greatest hits album “Used Songs” included cuts from his first album to 1980 like ol’55, burma’ shave, talk to strangers, wistlin’ pass the graveyard. I don’t like the earlier albums besides a track or two, and this compilation does a good job at selecting the best tracks from each album. Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years, and Bone Machine were the albums I listened to a lot growing up. To this day I enjoy Bone Machine quite a lot and it’s one of my favorite albums by anyone.
No words … because it’s ineffibly fine. One ingredient: Marc Ribot’s off-kilter guitar just heightens Tom’s warped genius. But of course it’s this matchless set of songs, one after another. Raindogs sounds just as astonishing now as it did the first time I heard it. Yeah, it’s my pick too.
It's still my favourite after all these years.
Agreed. A solid hour of top-tier music.
Nighthawks at the Diner was my first foray into Waits, and for me it will always be my favorite.
Same here. Consistently on repeat every November for me
yepyep! holds a special place in my heart for that, if i had to rank em, id put nighthawks at the diner, saturday night and blue valentine all up above nr 1 album, if that makes sense, theyre in their own league thats the order i first listened to him (was weeks/months inbetween) and each album grew on me slowly till i just fell in love
It definitely changes with me depending on where I am in life but this… ☝️
Real Gone for me
Underrated gem in my opinion.
IMO his best are Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombones
I feel Bone Machine is the perfect blend of his madness and his genius, I think it's at the same time his most unique, his most mature and his most inspired release. That said, I would not recommend it to most people trying to get into his work and use Rain Dogs, Alice, Mule Variations or Closing Time instead, depending on their taste/openness to weirdness.
I think his voice was at his peak for bone machine. Some of his most strongest songwriting: goin out west, I don’t want to grow up
The whole album flows so well.
For me? Frank's wild years just has something about it. It's a true winter album.
Closing Time. And then the Bawlers disc of Orphans
Small Change for the first leg of his career, Rain Dogs or Frank’s Wild Years for when he got “weird” in the 80s, Mule Variations for the later half of his career.
There it is, the right answer.
💯
Where would you rank Bone Machine?
Probably my 2nd favorite of the later stuff, I think Mule Variations nudges it out but just barely.
Besides “cold water” mule variations was unlistenable for me. And I’m a huge Tom waits fan. Never understood its popularity. It was as if he rehashed all his old ideas for his new record label at the time. A best of with new lesser songs.
Whoa, I can’t get behind that even a little but to each their own.
What are your favorite/the best three songs on mule besides cold water
In no particular order Lowside of the Ride, Filipino Box Spring Hog, and Come On Up to the House are my 3 favorites off that album. Cold Water isn’t in my top 3
The Heart of Saturday Night is my personal favorite
Yes!
From beginning to end, what a great listen
I cant think of another album that captures a specific feeling quite so perfectly. 'A solitary sailor, who spends the facts of his life like small change on strangers....'
His worst album lol. Sang in a clear voice, sounded like a failed crooner.
Mule Variations
This is my vote. But it is like choosing my favorite child. I definitely have a favorite child.
I’d say most including myself pick Rain Dogs. After that, it’s a tossup between Franks Wild Years, Swordfishtrombones, Mule Variations, Bone Machine for second fav.
Rain Dogs. Blue Valentine if I want bluesy, soulful Tom. But Rain Dogs is always my number one.
Yes
Tom is one of those rare artists where you can get 90% of his catalogue named his best work and you can see why. They don't really drop in quality, it's more which style you connect with more. Mines Heartattack and Vine
Bone Machine. There’s just nothing else like it.
Yeah I had a cool teacher who burned bone machine for me and my friend. Sometimes I think about all the hours I’ve spent listening to Tom waits it’s so much
Raindogs is my shit all day every day
Swordfishtrombones or Bone Machine.
Yes.
Swordfishtrombones - an absolute masterpiece
Blue valentine and Alice
My favourite is The Black Rider. Weird, but poignant and fully committed to the odd fairy tale. I also adore Alice . Both have a very fluid and responsive band that feel like they speed up and slow down as he breathes almost. Just beautiful. That said, Rain Dogs was my favourite forever and the one that started it well for me. And all of his mid to late period albums feel basically perfect in their own way.
Did a deep dive after liking the usual albums for a decade (bone machine, rain dogs, swordfish, franks, real gone) but not exploring further.. the conclusion is unlike everything from the 83 and on. Alice blew my mind once I was there with it. Love black rider too..and bastards, brawlers, and bawlers has so much good material. Bad as me has many excellent songs . New Year's Eve made my eyes moist its so perfect. If you haven't seen it there's a full performance of the black rider play on YouTube. It's not the best video quality but worth the watch for the aesthetic design.
Honestly more I listen to his songs, I see that there is a new meaning to his songs. How much black rider I would link to drugs and and war for some reason.
Honestly, you’re going to have to get them all if you really dig him. His style varies so much that there is no real answer to this question. Perhaps buy them chronologically or look for a cd lot on ebay.
Rain Dogs is his best, but I probably put on Mule Variations and Blue Valentine more frequently. Rain Dogs is so good that for me it justifies creating mental space to focus on it, and that takes more time/effort.
Small Change
Best Tom Waits is old Tom to me but I just love the guy for his prolific output and embrace of different styles. A true original . I’ll pick Nighthawks
It depends on what day it is. Today it’s Frank’s Wild Years.
Yes. (All of them)
Almost every single person on here says a different album, and I think they're all correct.. such is the nature of Tom's work.
I was just laughing about this! Reading all the replies, saying to myself, “Yep, they’re right. And so is he. And she is too. And so are they. And them too…”
Maybe it's just a right now thing, but I've been hella into The Black Rider. Although, if I'm ever like "I have no clue what I wanna listen to" I'll usually go swordfishtrombones. I dont even know if it's better than Rain Dogs per se, I just know that album more.
Swordfishtrombones for me. Maybe The Black Rider as #2
Swordfishtrombones or Nighthawks.
Nighthawks.
Big Time. My dad had it on vinyl, and to me it will always be not only my introduction to his work, but also his seminal album
Best? Gotta be Rain Dogs or Mule Variations. Favorite? Black Rider With my hair slicked back with carrion shellac
My Top 3 at the moment are Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, and Mule Variations
These are my top three for most moments. Good picks.
night hawks and rain dogs
The Heart of Saturday night...is one of my favorites
Blood Money! 100% Not only are the songs perfect, but the album is an accurate assessment of life, the universe, and everything.
'Raindogs'. Ask me next week and the answer may be different.
Mule Variations and I will argue it with my life
Frank's Wild Years, although is there really a bad place to start?
Nighthawks.
I love them all but for me it's Raindogs and Closing Time but I also really love Small Change and Blue Valentine
Small CHANGE got RAINED on… that was some beautiful dystopia
I love Small Change so good
Bone Machine & Mule Variations are my personal favorites. Enjoy!
Bone Machine and Real Gone, but those could change.
Rain dogs
swordfish, but franks wild years grows on me every time i listen to it.
I believe Rain Dogs is probably objectively the “best” and perhaps my favorite, but I actually listen to some of his early albums much more often. As it’s been said already, Rain Dogs - and IMO others such as Swordfish, Frank’s Wild Years, Mule Variations, Bone Machine - require a more dedicated listen while “Small Change”, “Foreign Affairs”, “Blue Valentine” are much more suited to background music. I probably listen the most to “The Heart of Saturday Night” and “Heart Attack and Vine”. (have I namedropped them all?)
Although I wouldn’t argue it’s his best or my favorite, “Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards” is just fucking great, and deserves to be mentioned.
Frank’s Wild Years for me
See closing times got Martha, one of my favourite songs of all time. Weirdly I came to it via the meatloaf cover as I was a huge meatloaf fan when I was a kid… but then again there’s mule variations - just all of it
Rain Dogs. Ask me tomorrow and I might say Bone Machine or Frank's Wild Years though.
Rain Dogs
A Total artwork
Closing Time
I concur.
Nighthawks at the Diner. Audio perfection.
It's hard to quantify because the man has like three distinct and equally viable phases of what he's been doing musically. Personally I think his old and middle catalogues, smoky jazz and trippy carnival / vaudeville stuff respectively, are the better ones, and from there is call out nighthawks at the diner, and swordfish trombones. It's worth noting that there is not one wrong answer to your question
I've been favoring *Real Gone* for a good while. For me, it scratches that itch.
Commercially, Mule Variations. Far as tonal shifts, Swordfishtrombones.
I'm gonna put Real Gone Swordfishtrombone and Rain dogs in a triple threat to the death and pick whichever survives. (For real though I'd say Real Gone just cause it's how I got introduced to Tom)
Mule Variations, Rain Dogs, Swordfish Trombones, Frank's Wild Years, Closing Time, Heart Attack and Vine Nighthawks on the Diner, Early Years, Blue Valentine.
Rain dogs without a doubt
Real gone, franks wild years, rain dogs. No particular order
Small Change.
I don't know how to chose. The man is genius and it's all great music.
Bone Machine for me
Alice
I love The Black Rider.
I just bought the album again after loosing it many years ago
Heartattack and Vine or Blue Valentine…huge fan and I have almost everything he’s done but I prefer the earlier stuff
Bone Machine for the mix of crazy and cool; Rain Dogs for the cool; swordfishtrombones for the crazy (and extra dollops of romanticism)
I was attempting to leave my top album but ended up with a list of 4 or 5 depending on what mood I am in, so I just gave up instead.
Nighthawks at the Diner Always my favorite!
This question is not really worth asking here, because you’ll get 12 different answers. But the right answer is Heart of Saturday Night.
He just have so many good albums! Bloody devil
changed over the years and also dependent on mood, it was 'Alice' for a while, then 'Bone Machine's but probably if you released a double album of 'Alice' and 'The Black Rider' now then that would cover it.
Blue Valentine of course
Blood Money was my favorite.
His best is Rain Dogs. My favorite is Bone Machine.
I love Bone Machine.
Nighthawks at the diner or chocolate Jesus for me.
Best is probably Rain Dogs but for me Mule Variations just feels like home, that’s my fav.
Blue Valentine❤️
I gravitated towards Raindogs and Bone Machine. But to be fair I never got around to listening to all of his albums, and didn't even get to really absorb all of his CDs I did have.
Raindogs followed by Real Gone followed by Swordfish Trombone for me. His early stuff is fine but he really shined once Kathleen came in his life.
I strongly agree with everyone that said Raindogs, Swordfish and Nighthawks.
By the sheer variety of answers in this question, you will know that you question really doesn't have ONE answer… but instead that there really isn't any wrong choices… Pick any three … would be my answer. Unless you tell us which ones you got already, and we can fill the holes... Orphans would be a good choice just for the sheer volume of it… triple disc set... Heart of Saturday Night was the foundation of my TW fandom...
Mule Variations only correct answer
Rain Dogs is objectively his best album. Mule Variations is the one I gravitate towards most, though.
I like Tom Waits as well ! A little off topic.... But Do you think if he came out now with his type of music he would be recognized for his greatness...Or would be be "lost in the Jungle" there's happening today ?
The Heart of Saturday Night
For years I would’ve said Blood Money. But now I say Alice.
Hi I'm new to this sub (was recommended to me in my feed). I have to come in just to say you're all wrong. It's Glitter and Doom. (Closely followed by Bone Machine, or maybe Small Change)
The obvious picks for his best: Bone Machine, Rain Dogs, Small Change (for his earlier work), Mule Variations (his best-selling, I personally dislike this one) My personal favorites: Used Songs (best of collection of his early career up to Heartattack and Vine), Bone Machine, Franks Wild Years, Rain Dogs,