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Rating:
When this CD first landed in my hands, Tom Waits was almost completely unknown to me. Certainly, the name wasn't new to me, but I had never had the pleasure of listening to anything by this great artist. Closing Time is his debut album, probably one of his most accessible works where his voice is not yet entirely ravaged by alcohol as it appears in his more recent records. It's probably not even one of his most appreciated albums, as his masterpieces would come later, but for me, this remains a fantastic CD.
Even the cover appears significantly suggestive and prophetic of what we'll find inside the album: Tom is leaned over the piano with a gazing look lost in the void, a glass of whiskey, a beer bottle, and an incredible amount of extinguished cigarette butts, all resting on the piano, making us understand that he has consumed his evening's dose of "life" and that the venue where he presumably performed is closing (hence Closing Time), as evidenced by the clock hands showing past three. Closing Time indeed has the classic sounds of a nightclub: splendid piano ballads, most notably the enchanting Ol'55, alternate with country pieces like I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You, leading up to the magnificent Ice Cream Man in which Waits showcases all his bluesman skills.
The album thus reveals Tom's great musical passions and particularly his love for blues and jazz. If you haven't listened to anything by this great artist yet, do it now, perhaps starting with this CD.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Ol' '55 (03:59)
Well, my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splitly
out to my ol' fifty-five.
As I pulled away slowly feelin' so holy
God knows I was feelin' alive.
And now the sun's comin' up,
I'm ridin' with Lady Luck,
freeway cars and trucks.
Stars beginning to fade
and I lead the parade
just a wishin' I'd stayed a little longer.
Lord, don't you know the feelin's gettin' stronger.
Six in the mornin' gave me no warnin',
I had to be on my way.
Now the cars are all passin' me, trucks are all flashin' me, -- wrong
Now the trucks are all passin' me and the lights all flashin' -- correct
I'm headed home from your place.
And now the sun's comin' up,
I'm ridin' with Lady Luck,
freeway cars and trucks.
Stars beginning to fade
and I lead the parade
just a wishin' I'd stayed a little longer.
(oh) -- Lord, don't you know the feelin's gettin' stronger.
Well, my time went so quickly, I went lickety-splitly
out to my ol' fifty-five.
As I pulled away slowly feelin' so holy
God knows I was feelin' alive.
And now the sun's comin' up, yes it is, -- ( he doesend say yes it is )
I'm ridin' with Lady Luck,
freeway cars and trucks.
Freeway cars and trucks
ridin' with Lady Luck.
Freeway cars and trucks
ridin' with Lady Luck.
Freeway cars and trucks
ridin' with Lady Luck.
05 Midnight Lullaby (03:28)
Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye
Hush-a bye my baby, no need to be crying.
You can burn the midnight oil with me as long as you will
Stare out at the moon upon the windowsill, and dream...
Sing a song of sixpence, pocket full of rye
Hush-a bye my baby, no need to be crying.
There's dew drops on the window sill, gumdrops in your head
Slipping into dream land, you're nodding your head, so dream...
Dream of West Virginia, or of the British Isles
'Cause when you are dreaming, you see for miles and miles.
When you are much older, remember when we sat
At midnight on the windowsill, and had this little chat
And dream, come on and dream, come on and dream, and dream, and dream...
06 Martha (04:32)
Operator, number, please: it's been so many years
Will she remember my old voice while I fight the tears?
Hello, hello there, is this Martha? this is old Tom Frost,
And I am calling long distance, don't worry 'bout the cost.
'Cause it's been forty years or more, now Martha please recall,
Meet me out for coffee, where we'll talk about it all.
And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose
And Martha all I had was you and all you had was me.
There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows
And we saved them for a rainy day.
And I feel so much older now, and you're much older too,
How's your husband? and how's the kids? you know that I got married too?
Luck that you found someone to make you feel secure,
'Cause we were all so young and foolish, now we are mature.
And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose
And Martha all I had was you and all you had was me.
There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows
And we saved them for a rainy day.
And I was always so impulsive, I guess that I still am,
And all that really mattered then was that I was a man.
I guess that our being together was never meant to be.
And Martha, Martha, I love you can't you see?
And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose
And Martha all I had was you and all you had was me.
There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows
And we saved them for a rainy day.
And I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you...
08 Lonely (03:14)
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely eyes,
lonely face, lonely lonely in your place.
Lonely, lonely, lonely eyes, lonely face,
lonely lonely in your place.
I thought that I knew all that there was to,
lonely, lonely, lonely...
Melanie Jane, won't feel the pain.
Lonely, lonely, lonely eyes, lonely eyes,
lonely lonely in your place.
And I thought that I knew all that there was to
Lonely, lonely, lonely eyes, lonely eyes,
lonely lonely in your place, and
I still love you, I still love you,
lonely, lonely...
11 Grapefruit Moon (04:52)
Grapefruit moon, one star shining,
shining down on me.
Heard that tune, and now I'm pining,
honey, can't you see?
'Cause every time I hear that melody,
well, something breaks inside,
And the grapefruit moon, one star shining,
can't turn back the tide.
Never had no destination, could not get across.
You became my inspiration, oh but what a cost.
'Cause every time I hear that melody,
well, something breaks inside,
And the grapefruit moon, one star shining,
is more than I can hide.
Now I'm smoking cigarettes
and I strive for purity,
And I slip just like the stars into obscurity.
'Cause every time I hear that melody,
well, puts me up a tree,
And the grapefruit moon, one star shining,
is all that I can see.
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By bobighorus
An album far from the irreverent notes and the very deep voice of Tom Waits' artistic maturity albums, but not for this reason less valuable; indeed, it is a true little musical gem that, with delicacy and without making noise, strikes from the first listen.
'Closing Time' will start the musical adventure of one of the greatest and most influential songwriters of all time.
