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Rating:
Make yourselves comfortable, take a seat, definitely order something to drink, tonight let yourselves be carried away by Mr. Tom Waits, by his poignant melodies and his adventurous companions.
This is the album that, in my opinion, best synthesizes the early Tom Waits, the one from the '70s, the one sincerely linked to beat poetry, jazz, and the piano, to bop and New Orleans, but also to whiskey which more than ever in this record makes his voice hoarse, deep, and warm (at times it even reminds one of good old Satchmo...)
The album is profoundly intimate and introspective, certainly one of the most alcohol-infused regarding its hoarse and tremendously penetrating singing, as I was saying, but at the same time very lucid in the construction of heart-wrenching melodies where his piano, the double bass, and the sax integrate perfectly.
Songs that dig into the most remote corners of the soul, that probe it, that traverse it far and wide, that scrape it down to the very bottom; stories of loves, broken hearts, betrayals, and disappointments drowned in whiskey; friendships, passions, small changes that mark a life, an existence.
The album, despite being one of the first in Tom Waits' immense discography, amazes for its great artistic maturity, like in the beautiful and poignant opening track "Tom Traubert's Blues", only to then immediately change course with "Step Right Up", the most lively track of the record, where Shelley Manne's swing-jazz drumming travels wonderfully.
In "I Wish I Was In New Orleans", the splendid "The Piano Has Been Drinking", and "Invitation To A Blues", we return to piano bar atmospheres and the specter of Louis Armstrong is increasingly imposingly present.
"Pasties and a G-String" visionary, boozy and ramshackle poetry on offbeat drumming and "The One That Got Away" are examples of how poetry and music can be close and travel on the same tracks.
Overall, a truly well-made, well-played album, of rare sensitivity and intensity, and certainly, in my opinion, ranks among the best in his immense career.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Step Right Up (05:43)
Step right up
Step right up
Step right up
everyone's a winner
bargains galore
that's right you too can be the proud owner of
the quality goes in before the name goes on
one tenth of a dollar
one tenth of a dollar
we got service after the sale
how 'bout perfume
we got perfume
how 'bout an engagement ring
somethin for the little lady
somethin for the little lady
somethin for the little lady
3 for a dollar
We got a year end clearance
we got our white sale on a smoke damaged furniture
you can drive it away today.
act now
act now
and receive as our gift
our gift to you
they come in all colors
one size fits all
no muss, no fuss, no spills
you tired of kitchen drudgery
everything must go
goin outta biz
goin outta biz
goin outta bizness sale
50% off original retail price
skip the middle man
dont settle for less
how do we do it
how do we do it
volume! volume!
turn up the volume!
you've heard it advertised
don't hesitate
don't be caught with your drawers down
don't be caught with your drawers down
you just step right up
step right up
that's right it fillets
it chops, it dices, it slices
it never stops
lasts a lifetime, it mows your lawn
and it mows your lawn
it picks up the kids from school
it gets rid of unwanted facial hair
it gets rid of embarassing age spots
it delivers the pizza
and it lengthens
and it strengthens
and it finds that slipper that's be enlodged under the
chaise lounge for several weeks
and it plays a mean rhythm master
it makes excuses for unwanted lipstick on your collar
and it's only a dollar
step right up
it's only a dollar
step right up
'cause it forges your signature
if not completely satisfied
mail back unused portion of product for a complete refund of price of purchase
step right up
please allow thirty days for delivery
don't be fooled by cheap imitations
you can
live in it
live in it
laugh in it
love in it
swim in it
sleep in it
live in it
swim in it
laugh in it
love in it
and it removes embarassing stains from contour sheets
that's right
and it entertains visiting relatives
it turns a sandwich into a banquet
tired of being the life of the party
change your shorts
change your life
change your life
change into a 9 year old hindu boy
get rid of your wife
and it walks your dog
and it doubles on sax
doubles on sax
you can jump back jack
see ya later alligator
see ya later alligator
and it steals your car
it gets rid of your gambling debts
it quits smoking
it's a friend, it's a companion
it's the only product you will ever need
follow these easy assembly instructions
it never needs ironing
well it takes weights off hips
bust
thighs
chin
midriff
gives you dandruff
and it finds you a job
it is a job
and it strips the phone company
of free tapes and your while exchange
and it gives you denture breath
and you know it's a friend
and it's a companion
and it gets rid of your travellers checks
it's new, it's improved, it's old fashioned
well it takes care of business
never needs winding
never needs winding
never needs winding
gets rid of blackheads, heartbreak, and psoriasis
Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak buddy
c'mon, c'mon.
c'mon, c'mon.
cause it's effective
it's defective
it creates household odors
it disinfects
it's sanitized for your protection
it gives you an erection
it wins the election
why put up with painful corns any longer
it's a redeemable coupon
no obligation
no salesman will visit your home
we got a jackpot
jackpot
jackpot
prizes! Prizes! Prizes!
All work guaranteed
how do we do it?
how do we do it?
how do we do it?
how do we do it?
we need your bidness
We're going out of business
we'll give you the business
get on the business end of our
going out of business sale
Receive our free brochure
free brochure
read the easy to follow assembly instructions
batteries not included
send before midnight tomorrow
terms available
step right up
step right up
step right up
you got it buddy
the large print giveth
and the small print taketh away
step right up
you can step right up
cause you can step right up
c'mon step right up
get away from me kid, ya bother me
step right up
step right up
step right up
c'mon c'mon c'mon
c'mon c'mon
step right up
you can step right up
c'mon and step right up
c'mon step right up
03 Jitterbug Boy (Sharing a Curbstone With Chuck E. Weiss, Robert Marchese, Paul Body and the Mug and Artie) (03:44)
09 The One That Got Away (04:07)
The jigolo's jumpin salty
ain't no trade out on the streets
half past the unlucky
and the hawk's a front-row seat
dressed in full orquestration
stage door johnnys got to pay
and sent him home
talking bout the one that got away
could a been on easy street
could a been a wheel
with irons in the fire
and all them business deals
But the last of the big-time losers
shouted before he drove away
I'll be right back as soon as I crack
the one that got away
the ambulance drivers don't give a shit
they just want to get off work
and the short stop and the victim
have already gone berserk
and the shroud-tailor measures him
for a deep-six holiday
the stiff is froze, the case is closed
on the one that got away
Jim Crow's directing traffic
with them cemetery blues
with them peculiar looking trousers
them old Italian shoes
the wooden kimona was all ready
to drop in San Francisco Bay
but now he's mumbling something
all about the one that got away
Costello was the champion
at the St. Moritz Hotel
and the best this side of Fairfax,
reliable sources tell
but his reputation is at large
and he's at Ben Frank's every day
waiting for the one that got away
he's got a snake skin sportshirt,
and he looks like Vincent Price
with a little piece of chicken
and he's carving off a slice
but someone tipped her off
she'll be doing a Houdini now any day
she shook his hustle
and a Greyhound bus'll
take the one that got away
Andre is at the piano
behind the Ivar in the sewers
with a buck a shot for pop tunes,
and a fin for guided tours
He could of been in Casablanca
he stood in line out there all day
but now he's spilling whiskey
and learning songs about a one that got away
well I've lost my equilibrium
my car keys and my pride
tattoo parlor's warm
and so I huddle there inside
the grinding of the buzz saw
whatchuwanthathingtosay
just don't misspell her name
buddy she's the one that got away
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Other reviews
By RESERVOIR DOGS
His songs are the Trojan horse with which he enters your life and takes over your person!
I believe this is a great album that I recommend everyone listen to at least once in their lifetime... then it’s like faith... it touches your soul or it doesn’t.
