Tom Waits
Nighthawks at the Diner

THE REVIEW

"Nighthawks at the Diner" is a record made in a live venue in July 1975. It is an album full of laughter, alcohol, and smoke.

This record can be interpreted as a tribute to the early days of Waits' career. Before becoming a successful musician, our Tom was a dishwasher at a diner (or rather a metropolitan dive). At the end of his shift, around closing time, he would sit at the venue's piano, telling sung stories, funny and sad, accompanying himself by strumming on the piano. The night owls who sat around him to listen were more and more numerous every evening.

After releasing two proper studio albums "Closing Time" in '73 and "The Heart of Saturday Night" in '74, Waits seems to have 'resat' at the piano of that little dive and started to narrate stories accompanied by a jazz background. Almost every song is preceded by an introduction track, where Tom explains how the song was born, often sprinkling in comedic elements (in the background, you often hear the audience roaring with laughter), so much so that I could define it as a cabaret-jazz album. Tom's voice in this live recording, low and hoarse, with the cadence of someone who’s had two too many, marries wonderfully with the album's jazz-blues sound. In just a few seconds of listening, the listener can vividly imagine the vision of the artist swaying on the piano stool, cigarette in mouth and beer mugs in view. One of the most amusing and beautiful tracks is "Better Off Without a Wife," where Tom ironically lists the 'advantages' of being single: howling on full moon nights, sleeping until noon, going fishing without asking for permission, not having to go out with married women so many times they have rice marks on their faces... yet the song ends with a wedding march. In the introduction of "Putnam County," Tom offers beer to the concertgoers, saying they can help themselves freely without paying, then adds that someone from the bar will stop them with the bill at the exit.

The best tracks: "On a Foggy Night," "Eggs and Sausage," the splendid slow-jazz of "Warm Beer and Cold Women," "Nobody" and "Big Joe and Phantom 309" with Waits taking on the guitar.

Tips for an optimal listening experience of the album:
- get dumped by your partner, right before listening...
- drink two straight whiskeys before starting, then continue by sipping two pints of light double malt during the '73 mins of the concert...
- plenty of tobacco to make the listening space foggy...

I know Tom would wholeheartedly approve of these tips.

In conclusion, an engaging, splendid, and unique album of its kind, the best soundtrack for every hangover. "Is time to get down to drinkin' and tell the band to play the blues..."