Tom Waits has often been described as a musical Charles Bukowski, his music often describes seedy, downtrodden places and characters, the rough underbelly of urban decay. His voice is unique, and I don't say that lightly. Imagine smoking 80 cigarettes and drinking a couple of bottles of scotch before chewing on a mouthful of gravel and you will still be a mile off.
He is not a household name having seemingly been shunned by TV and Radio but still has a massive and loyal fanbase who love both his music and regular forays into acting. One of his most famous tracks, 'Jersey Girls' was recorded by Bruce Springsteen, but only after it was slightly glamourised and the lyrics rehashed to suit the mainstream.
The track I've chosen is called 'Tom Trauberts Blues (Four sheets to the wind in Copenhagen)' and was written by Tom when he lived in London in 1976. It tells the sorry tale of Tom Traubert, an alcoholic who finds himself homeless and broke in a foreign land. It borrows from the famous Australian folk song 'Waltzing Matilda' for the chorus.
Of course, this was covered by Rod Stewart, but again it was 'popped' and sterilised to appeal to mass audience and in my opinion is simply dreadful and souless.
Tom's vocals are just sublime, you feel him telling the story in such detail and with such emotion that it had to be based on personal circumstances. Any sympathy one feels as you listen is tempered by the fact that you just know if someone gives him some cash to help out, he's just going to buy another bottle.
This is most definitely a late night song and reminds me of times when I've been travelling and found myself struggling a little, its a stark reminder of how bad things could get and how there is always someone worse off. At times, I listen and memories flood back and I can almost see myself as the protagonist of the piece, times spent with just a coffee and my small rucksack sat on the steps of a 7/11 late at night not quite knowing what to do or where to go next. It appeals to my inner bum!
Despite its lyrics, it's a very beautiful piece of music. Atmospheric and ethereal, especially when performed here raw, as part of a trio without the tweaks and whistles of modern music production.
Now, this recording was recorded for 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', a late night music show that ran in the UK on BBC2 from 1971 to 1988. It featured rock and indie music, the unknowns and music which would never get airplay on the mainstream 'pop' shows. As a kid, I used to stay up late to watch in bed with the volume down on my old Black and White portable. The monochrome adding to the starkness created by the lack of glitz and fancy sets. The backdrop often just a plain studio wall or wooden rear of another set. It was raw and focused on the music. The modern equivalent to this would be 'Later with Jools Holland' I guess. Music programming that's just about the music.
So, open a fresh pack of Marlboro, Reds, not the gold student cigs, grab a JD without the coke and enjoy this classic and stunning performance by Mr Tom Waits.
Embrace your inner bum, we all have one tucked away somewhere!
Last thing, I'd seriously suggest you read this and watch the video in 'nightmode', it seriously adds to the overall effect!
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