Audio CD review:
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner

Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner

Band: Tom Waits Title: Nighthawks at the Diner Rating: Release Date: 1990-10-25 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Opening Intro - Tom Waits, 2: Emotional Weather Report - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 3: Intro - Tom Waits, 4: On a Foggy Night - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 5: Intro - Tom Waits, 6: Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson) - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 7: Intro - Tom Waits, 8: Better off Without a Wife - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 9: Nighthawk Postcards - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 10: Intro - Tom Waits, 11: Warm Beer and Cold Women - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 12: Intro - Tom Waits, 13: Putnam County - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 14: Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission) - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 15: Nobody - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom 16: Intro - Tom Waits, 17: Big Joe and Phantom 309 - Tom Waits, Faile, Tommy 18: Spare Parts II and Closing - Tom Waits, Waits, Tom

White Boy Blues I hope to see Tom in a live preformance one day. I love this recording funny and grity at the same time. I'm scanning the papers for concert news. It's a shame it took me this long to discover his off center brand of entertainment. waits in his element this is waits at his most charismatic telling stories and jokes while delivering beautiful music its a wonderful experince. i'll put it plain and simple if your a waits fan then you need this album. Something different for the evening It was recorded live with a Jazz Quartet backing him, now I can hear you thinking immediately this is going to be dreadful - its not. This is unlike any other Tom Waits album. In fact its astonishing, there are no long solos, the backing quartet just provide a swinging backdrop for Waits to weave his unusual brand of story telling. Sometimes very funny, occasionally sad and always lyrically interesting, Waits scats/talks and sings in his distinctive growl. You might want to hear this first, before purchasing, as I concede it's not going to be everybody's cup of tea. However it has remained my favourite Tom Waits album for decades now, despite Swordfishtrombones etc. . Classic Waits at his sardonic best His hilarious comentary and recitations provoke some genuine belly-laughs (I doubled over in spots). Waits's sense of humor shines on this album, delivered almost as a stand-up comedy act (with jazz quartet, of course). Yet his lyrics retain the beautiful artistry that he has become known for. The songs vary from the hilarous ("Better Off Without a Wife") to the mysterious (his rendition of Red Sovine's "Phantom 309") to the beautifully tragic ("Putnam County"). He offers up tributes to love ("Nobody") and tributes to barrooms ("Warm Beer and Cold Women"). Throughout, Waits banters with the crowd, which becomes a staple of his performance on here--his chatter with the audience actually becomes part of the music on the album. The result is a comedy album that isn't comedy, a jazz album that isn't jazz. . . but whatever it is, it's absolutely brilliant. One of the greatest live albums, ever. First, it was a double album. Who has the guts to release a live album that is composed of songs that don't appear on studio release albums by the artist? I can't think of one though I'm sure they exist. That was a feat by itself. Second, it's so natural to have this smokey piano lounge set committed to vinyl and now cd, Tom's music fit like a glove as a live release. His between song banter is delightful and has been a hallmark of his live shows throughout his career. The guy's a comedian, intelligent and successfully creates and maintains a character that's interesting, fun and ya can't, I can't, tell if it's him or not, though it's quite likely similar to Woody Allen's screen character that is simply not his real life self, maybe just a cousin. This is another album that's perfect for night, in fact, late night driving. 'Emotional Weather Report' is so perfectly ended. A real coup. This song takes you someplace and leaves you off somewhere else. A pure pleasure. His word ability shining here. 'On A Foggy Night' another journey he takes us on. 'Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan . . . . )'. It's funny, as great as he is with language and imagrey, with bringing something into sharp focus by a turn of a phrase, each time, at least on his 70's albums, that he talks about waitresses, it just don't swing. I don't know what it is but his clever word work just gets off the track for that bit of life he tries to convey and leaps back on for each and every one of his other image making phrases. Funny. Odd. Surprising. 'Better Off Without A Wife' is such the coolest song. Should this be played at weddings (probably not) or bachelor parties (probably). 'Warm Beer And Cold Women'. Almost howlin' at the moon time. 'Nobody'. Man, is this a classic or what? I still get misty eyed whenever I hear this song. From the heart. Love song man. 'Big Joe And Phantom 309'. Story telling at its peak. Yes, someone else wrote it he tells us but he sings it like it came right outta him. Beautiful, evokative. Trippy man. Dont' have this album? And yer lookin' at TOM WAITS CD's on Amazon. com? Get it man. You cannot fail. This will please and delight, yourself and others, virtually everyone who hears it 'cept, uh, I dunno. BARRY MANILOW and JOURNEY fans, I'm pretty sure. What's it like when you still dig an album 30 years later? A testament to an artist who can create a work that is not crippled by the passing of time, whose work continues to please and amaze and calm and delight, long after the first introduction. Long after baby. chrisbct@hotmail. com. You can see a complete list of all Tom Waits discography, or go back to the Tom Waits tabs