Tom Waits makes Orphans
October 25th, 2006 . by Quinton
Tom Waits is releasing a 54 song, 3CD set on November 21 entitled ‘Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards’. According to the Anti website, the three albums are separately grouped:
‘Brawlers’ is chock full of raucous blues and full-throated juke joint stomp;
‘Bawlers’ comprises Celtic and country ballads, waltzes, lullabies, piano and classic lyrical Waits’ songs;
while ‘Bastards’ is filled with experimental music and strange tales.
I’m always excited about new Tom Waits material, and in my mind he can do no wrong. That being said, I typically shy away from two/three/four disk ‘collected meterial’ and deluxe special edition box sets. Most of the time they’re full of filler, and special guests, and never before heard songs, and 326 page booklets, and interactive CD Rom… and they’re hideously expensive. But they’re made for diehard fans and that’s about it. I know I’m a sucker for these, and some of them I find rewarding. See: Misfits Coffin Boxset. See: Johnny Cash Unearthed Boxset
You can have a listen to a handful of new Tom Waits songs from ‘Orphans’ here.
And just for kicks, here’s an old interview with Tom.
Quinton:
Did you hear Scarlett Johansson has signed a deal to do an entire album of Tom Waits’ covers?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,221001,00.html
Jilly: Please tell me that isn’t true!! Blasephemy!!! Mundane Blasphemy!!! She better not touch Rain Dogs. I’m afraid her powers of insipidity could even suck the oxygen right out of Big Black Mariah.
For everyone who doesn’t agree with me about Scarlet Johansson please take a look at the cover of this months Esquire. She so awkward she looks like the poster-child for scoliosis.
jorge:
how do you feel about someone like tom waits making records into his sixties? does it take away something from closing time and small change? you once said you disliked johnny cash’s later recordings (on rick ruben’s lable) because they sounded ‘croaky and pathetic’ I think were your words. is waits like like that for you, or is it different?
Quinton:
I don’t actually remember saying that but I suppose I say a lot of things, it’s hard to keep track. I don’t think it’s pathetic or croaky if your relying on talent or genius. It gets sad and hard to swallow when you rely on your status or name.
That’s not to say thats what Johhny did or at least planned on doing.