Tom Waits Albums Ranked

Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during the 1970s, but his music since the 1980s has reflected greater influence from blues, rock, vaudeville, and experimental genres. His first albums were the jazz-oriented Closing Time (1973) and The Heart of Saturday Night (1974), which reflected his lyrical interest in nightlife, poverty, and criminality. He repeatedly toured the United States, Europe, and Japan, and attracted greater critical recognition and commercial success with Small Change (1976), Blue Valentine (1978), and Heartattack and Vine (1980).  Despite a lack of mainstream commercial success, Waits has influenced many musicians and gained an international cult following. In 2011, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was ranked at No. 55 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time”. Several biographies have also been written about him. Here are all of Tom Waits albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the music of Tom Waits! Click and enjoy the high energy, high intensity guitar!

10. Franks Wild Years (1987)

“I was recently overtaken by an urge to listen to “Innocent When You Dream”, which to me was the outstanding track on the album. (Tom Waits must have thought so too, there being two versions of it in this production. ) I had forgotten that there were so many other gems on this or how strongly it reminds me of Bertold Brecht. Admittedly this would be a lurching, crashing, chanting, raw, gravel-voiced Brecht who presented this mystifying two act opera but I love it, even if I still have only the vaguest idea of the narrative.”

9. Heartattack And Vine (1980)

” In any case, if “Heartattack and Vine” surprised some fans at the time, then “Swordfishtrombones” must have made them absolutely implode. Regardless of its status within Waits’ oeuvre, “Heartattack” remains a strong volume in the evolution that made Tom Waits into the writer and performer we know now. Lets hope he keeps going. But if he doesn’t, he at least left a wealth of material behind for us to chew on for all eternity, however long that ends up being.”

8. Blue Valentine (1978)

“Blue Valentine was my introduction to Tom Waits. For me 1978 was the time of Graham Parker, Elvis Costello and The Clash. Yet, as different as this was from the music to which I was then listening, I loved it instantly, from the opening chords of Somewhere to the closing notes of Blue Valentine. This is listening music – the lyrics are eclectic in the extreme and demand your attention. I don’t often consider the lyrics to the music that I enjoy as poetry, but these songs are poetry set to cool, jazzy yet edgy arrangements. As I listen to this music I really do see the images that the song writer is describing.”

See more: Jethro Tull Albums Ranked

7. Small Change (1976)

“Tom Waits career had a brief window within which he created music that I think is truly outstanding. For many of these he is placing the scene in the 1940s. Small Change is the best of the stuff I like. I highly recommend this album if you are a Tom Waits fan. Tom Waits is a creative legend. But he has a lot of variety, some of which isn’t for everyone.”

6. The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974)

“”The Heart Of Saturday Night” isn’t dead quiet, but it does sound very good, and is a major improvement over “CT.” Here’s hoping Anti has permanently worked out the manufacturing problems that plagued their initial pressing.”

5. Bone Machine (1992)

“Bone Machine sounds like a grown man who has experienced real pain and struggle wrote it and sang it, in his classical story-telling style. Compared to the “blues” of today, they pale in comparison (corny I know). Also notable is the bluesy “Jesus Gonna Be Here”, a beautiful representation of Waits’ roots in the classic blues stylings of Howlin’ Wolf and going back to Blind Willie Johnson, as well as the haunting tunes “That Feel” and “Dirt In the Ground”.

See more: Janis Joplin Albums Ranked

4. Mule Variations (1999)

“There you go. That’s pretty much everything I have to say. Tom Waits has found his voice, and if his entire repertoire, his entire history were to disappear from the Earth tomorrow, Mule Variations by itself would be enough to justify his place in music history. Every song on the album has a lyric that will stay with you for days after hearing it: “She’s a diamond that wants to stay coal.” “Well its got to be a chocolate Jesus, keep me satisfied.” “Come down off the cross … we can use the wood.”

3. Closing Time (1973)

“In “Closing Time,” Tom Waits sings songs and ballads of feeling that most contemporary crooners can’t hold a light to, and probably wouldn’t want to try, since they obviously lack that special something in Waits’ throat. This is the way that songwriting should be–no flash, no pretense, just honest vocals, heady lyrics, and a light backing band next to the lead instrument and voice. If you feel you have a need to understand what loneliness is–and there are many out there who probably do–put this album on when you are completely alone, both in mental and physical terms.”

2. Swordfishtrombones (1983)

“Hints of this shocking second wind metamorphosis pepper Waits’ 1980 “Heartattack and Vine,” but that album and its follow up three years later, the jaw-droppingly inventive “Swordfishtrombones,” almost sound as though they emerged from anti-matter opposites. Were it not for the immensely distinctive voice, one could conjecture that Waits had either become possessed “Being John Malkovich” style or some evil impresario had just retired the old Waits and fashioned a new one from a cauldron bubbling with wood planks, ball peen hammers and accordions breathing in reverse. “

1. Rain Dogs (1985)

“‘Rain Dogs’ is probably my favourite Tom Waits album. It showcases his excellent song writing skills on tracks like the title number and ‘Downtown Train’. It also benefits from the contributions from some very good musicians. William Schimmel plays accordion on a few tracks and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones plays guitar on a couple of numbers, and they both make telling contributions to the music.”