narinderkapur

So I downloaded Closing Time, Tom Waits' first studio album, and I must say I'm in love with the guy's music. But the guy has so much output, it's staggering, and I've read around that some of his albums are very difficult to get into.

So what albums would any/all of you recommend for me to listen to? I want to get into his music, and any suggestion you guys would have would be brilliant.

Thanks in advance

Cheers!

The_Pilgrim_33

Personally, I think that Mule Variations is an EXCELLENT album to begin with. It is the perfect crossroads between Waits' more blues-fueled stuff, jazz ballads, and avant-garde material. It's a later-era album, coming out in 1999, but is one of his absolute best and most well-rounded.

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"He's a walkin' contradiction partly truth and partly fiction. Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home"

narinderkapur

I'll take a look at it. Thanks!

barefootboy

"small change" is the one that got me into to Tom

Toadvine

Blue Valentine
Rain Dogs
Mule Variations

Those are my favorites. Rain Dogs is a little more avant garde,vbut it has some great tracks.

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"Pain or damage don't end the world nor pain, nor fuckin' beatings. The world ends when you're dead, until then you have more punishment in store. Stand it like a man, and give some back."

BenRaah

Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombone are my favourites.

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a cobweb

If you're looking for albums in the vein Closing Time, check out Small Change and The Early Years compilations (Vol. 2 is my favourite). If you're just interested in Tom Waits, then Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones and Mule Variations are great, as already mentioned. Alice is also worth a look, I think it might be one of my favourites.

everythingdies

His newest one Bad as Me is pretty enjoyable too.

carmour1

swordfish trombone and mule variations are two of my favourites

SimonJames

Rain Dogs, Mule Variations, Swordfish Trombones

I am a big fan of Tom Waits's lyrics and Marc Ribot's guitar playing