Tom Waits : BBC4 Sun 19.02.17

[Richard Barrett]

In what way?

Some of things I like most about Tom Waits: (a) eccentrically imaginative sounds, textures and production techniques from Swordfishtrombones onwards (strongly influenced by Captain Beefheart and Harry Partch of course), (b) inventive and evocative lyrics, (c) a voice that ranges from angry rasp to exaggeratedly sentimental (almost-)crooning. All of these and more for me reach their peak on Bone Machine, indeed almost all are compacted onto its opening song "The Earth Dies Screaming".

[johncorrigan]

I don't know if it's my favourite, but I find myself heading back to 'Rain Dogs' pretty often.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TATe17iLz04

Sometimes TW makes me think of mbaqanga singer Mahlathini Nkabinde who had that growl of a voice which he said only appeared when he went to sing. When his father was dying he says he reached in and took his voice which appeared in the joy of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEWYFkjH2jc