Tom Waits on Austin City Limits

This is a hair off topic, but since this is a Waits thread, I need to ask...My favorite album of all time is "Heart of Saturday Night." I wonder if there is anything from Waits live, from this era? His voice wasn't quite as raspy and the music much more jazz-centric.

Anyone know?

Thanks,
Z

"Heart of Saturday Night" came out in 1974 and "Nighthawks at the Diner" is a live double album recorded in 1975.

Excellent! Thanks so much Herman...I am going to find it tonight!

Z

If you buy "Nighthawks At The Diner," be prepared to laugh your head off. There is a tune titled: "Better off Without A Wife" that always cracks up any group of male visitors. It's not disrespectful of women, just a truthful look at the (supposedly) lazy nature of Tom Waits persona in this song.

I enjoy most of his albums with the exception being "Mule Variations." Maybe with time I will come to appreciate it as well.

That is an interesting observation Albert, I thought "Mule Variations" was a bit of a return to old form and I like it much better than some of his 1990's stuff like "Bone Machine" that I find to be more irritating than enjoyable.

I also recommend "Rain Dogs," not quite as accessible as his earlier works but rewards repeated listenings and has some great tunes.

BTW, if you are a Tom Waits fan then check out his friend Chuck E. Weiss' "Extremely Cool." I think this is the Chuck E. from Rickie Lee Jone's "Chuck E.'s in Love" but I could be wrong about that. Other fine efforts are Tom Waits cover albums by John Hammond "Wicked Grin" and Holly Cole "Temptation."