TOM WAITS

TALES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Volume 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5


VOLUME ONE
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BLUE SKIES (Tom Waits)
From the ’Heart of Saturday Night’ sessions.
Recorded December 26, 1973.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’
Acoustic version available on ’The Early Years Volume Two’.

JERSEY GIRL (Tom Waits)
Alternative master.
Taken from the compilation album ’Bounced Checks’ 1981.

WHISTLIN’ PAST THE GRAVEYARD (Tom Waits)
Alternative master.
Taken from the compilation album ’Bounced Checks’ 1981

MR HENRY (Tom Waits)
Taken from the compilation album ’Bounced Checks’ 1981.

DOWNTOWN TRAIN (Tom Waits)
Wrongly listed as an "NME mix", this is really the 'Rain Dogs' album track. The real NME mix - available on a free EP, 'NME's Big Four' (NME GIV 3) in 1986 - has a different mix and some alternative lyrics.

I’M NOT YOUR FOOL ANYMORE (Teddy Edwards)
Taken from Teddy Edwards’ album ’Mississippi Lad’ 1991.
Tom Waits: Vocals
Teddy Edwards: Tenor saxophone
Nolan Andrew Smith: Trumpet
Jimmy Cleveland: Trombone
Art Hillery: Piano
Leroy Vinnegar: Bass
Billy Higgins: Drums
Produced by Jean-Philippe Allard



ADIOS LOUNGE (Bob Kuhn / George M Kuhn)
Taken from Thelonius Monster’s album ’Beautiful Mess’ 1992.

Bob Forrest: Vocals
Dix Denney: Guitar
Chris Handsome: Guitar
Peter Weiss: Drums
Martin LeNoble: Bass
Tom Waits: Vocals
Al Kooper: Keyboards
Sam Bush: Mandolin
Produced by Al Kooper



SEA OF LOVE (Phil Battiste / George Khoury)
Taken from the ’Sea of Love’ soundtrack 1989.
Original recording by Phil Phillips and the Twilights 1959.

SILENT NIGHT
Taken from a single by S.O.S. United 1989
Tom Waits: Vocals

LITTLE MAN (Teddy Edwards)
Taken from Teddy Edwards’ album ’Mississippi Lad’ 1991.

Tom Waits: Vocals and guitar
Teddy Edwards: Tenor saxophone
Art Hillery: Piano
Leroy Vinnegar: Bass

Produced by Jean-Philippe Allard



WHAT KEEPS MANKIND ALIVE (Kurt Weill)
Taken from ’Lost in the Stars : The Music of Kurt Weill’ 1985.

HEIGH-HO (THE DWARFS’ MARCHING SONG)
(Larry Morey / Frank Churchill)
Taken from ’Stay Awake : Various Interpretations of Music from
Vintage Disney Films’ 1988.
Original recording by Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights, in the film
’Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ 1938.

Tom Waits: Vocals
Tchad Blake: Optigon programming
Mitchell Froom: Chamberlain
Val Kuklowsky: Sound effects
Marc Ribot: Guitar
Larry Taylor: Bass



THE PIANO HAS BEEN DRINKING (Tom Waits)
Live in Dublin, March 1981.
Taken from the compilation album ’Bounced Checks’ 1981.

IT’S ALL RIGHT WITH ME (Cole Porter)
Taken from ’Red Hot + Blue : A Tribute to Cole Porter’ 1990.
Original version by Peter Cookson, in the musical ’Can-Can’ 1953.

Tom Waits: Vocals, chamberlain, percussion
Greg Cohen: Percussion
Produced by Tom Waits and Greg Cohen.



TOMMY THE CAT (Primus / Les Claypool)
Taken from Primus’ album ’Sailing the Seas of Cheese’ 1991

Tom Waits: Vocals
Les Claypool: Bass and vocals
Larry LaLonde: Guitar
Tim "Herb" Alexander: Drums



FILIPINO BOX SPRING HOG (Early version) (Tom Waits)
Recorded during the 'Bone Machine' sessions 1992.
Taken from the various artists compilation ’Born to Choose’ 1993.

Tom Waits: Vocals, percussion
David Hidalgo: Fiddle
Larry Taylor: Bass


16 SHELLS FROM A THIRTY-OUGHT SIX (Tom Waits)
Live at Folies Bergere, in Paris on November 16, 1985.
Available on the bootleg 'Paris at Midnight'.

RAIN DOGS (Tom Waits)
Live at Folies Bergere, in Paris on November 16, 1985.
Available on the bootleg 'Paris at Midnight'.

JESUS BLOOD NEVER FAILED ME YET (CODA) (Excerpt)
(Gavin Bryars)
Taken from Gavin Bryars’ album ’Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet’ 1993.
Tom Waits: Vocals (with a London tramp).
Produced by Michael Riesman.


 

VOLUME TWO
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WAITIN’ FOR WAITS (Cole / Jefferson)
Taken from Richie Cole’s album ’Hollywood Madness’ 1980.

Richie Cole: Alto saxophone
Bruce Forman: Guitar
Dick Hindman: Piano
Bob Magnusson: Bass
Les DeMerle: Drums
Eddie Jefferson: Vocals
Tim Hauser: Vocals
Alan Paul: Vocals
Janis Siegel: Vocals
Cheryl Bentyne: Vocals
Tom Waits: Voice on the last 20 seconds.

Produced by Tim Hauser




I’LL NEVER LET GO OF YOUR HAND (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the film ’American Heart’ 1992. No soundtrack album available.

WALK AWAY (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the ’Dead Man Walking’ soundtrack 1995.
Produced by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.

Tom Waits: Vocals
Ralph Carney: Bass clarinet, handclaps
Larry Taylor: Bass, guitar
Joe Gore: Guitar



SLEEP TONIGHT (Jagger / Richards)
Taken from the Rolling Stones’ album ’Dirty Work’ 1986 .
Tom Waits: Backing vocals.

I’M CRAZY ’BOUT MY BABY (And My Baby’s Crazy ’Bout Me)
(Thomas Waller / Alex Hill)
Taken from the film ’American Heart’ 1992. No soundtrack album available.
Original recording by Fats Waller with Ted Lewis and his Band 1931.

THE PONTIAC (Tom Waits)
Taken from the various artists compilation ’Smack My Crack’ 1987.

TAKE CARE OF ALL MY CHILDREN (Tom Waits)
Taken from the film ’Streetwise’ 1984. No soundtrack album available.

SERRANO (Tom Waits)
Taken from the floppy disc inserted in the back cover of
Sylvia Plachy’s book of photography ’Unguided Tour’ 1990.
Re-arranged and recorded as ’Russian Dance’ on ’The Black Rider’.

Tom Waits: Various instruments.
Greg Cohen: Upright bass.



THE FALL OF TROY (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the ’Dead Man Walking’ soundtrack 1995.
Produced by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.

Tom Waits: Vocals, guitar
Larry Taylor: Upright bass
Joe Gore: Guitar
Ralph Carney: Bass clarinet



JESUS’ BLOOD NEVER FAILED ME YET (High Strings) (Excerpt)
(Gavin Bryars)
Taken from Gavin Bryars’ album ’Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet’ 1993.
Produced by Michael Riesman.
Tom Waits: Vocals.

MARTIN GOES AND DOES WHERE IT’S AT (Martin Mull)
Taken from Martin Mull’s album ’I’m Everyone I’ve Ever Loved’ 1977.
Tom Waits: Voice (with Martin Mull).

EGGS AND SAUSAGE (Tom Waits)
A capella version from 'Soundstage', Chicago 1976.
Available on the bootleg 'Drunk on the Moon'.

DATE TO CHURCH (Reverend Backwash) (Paul Westerberg)
B-side of the Replacements’ single ’I’ll Be You’ 1989.
Also available on the Sire Records compilation ’Just Say Mao’ 1989.

Paul Westerberg: Vocals and guitar
Slim Dunlap: Guitar
Tommy Stinson: Bass
Chris Mars: Drums
Tom Waits: Backing vocals



METROTOWN (Jem Finer / Tom Waits)
This is originally 'Metropolis' (written by Jem Finer) from the Pogues' 1988 album 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God'. The horn section plays an arrangement very reminiscent of Tom's 'Midtown' from 'Rain Dogs'. Here the two tracks have been mixed together, the complete 'Metropolis' followed (at about 2:45) by the last 30 seconds of 'Midtown'.

1,000 BING BANGS (Ken Nordine / Tom Waits)
Taken from Ken Nordine’s album ’Devout Catalyst’ 1991.

Ken Nordine: Voice
Tom Waits: Voice
Jerry Garcia: Acoustic guitar
Produced by Dan Healy



DOWN THERE BY THE TRAIN (Tom Waits)
Taken from Johnny Cash’s album ’ American Recordings’ 1994.
Tom Waits does not perform on this recording.

Johnny Cash: Vocals and guitar
Produced by Rick Rubin



SWEET AND SHINY EYES (Nan O'Byrne)
Taken from Bonnie Raitt’s album ’Homeplate’ 1975.
Tom Waits: Piano and backing vocals.
Produced by Paul Rothchild.

FUMBLIN’ WITH THE BLUES (Tom Waits)
Live at the Hotel l’American, Amsterdam, May 26, 1976.

DRUNK ON THE MOON (Tom Waits)
Live at the Hotel l’American, Amsterdam, May 26, 1976.

VIRGINIA AVENUE (Tom Waits)
Live at the Hotel l’American, Amsterdam, May 26, 1976.

TANGO TILL THEY’RE SORE (Tom Waits)
Live at Folies Bergere, in Paris on November 16, 1985.
Available on the bootleg 'Paris at Midnight'.



          

VOLUME THREE
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LITTLE DROP OF POISON (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the ’End of Violence’ soundtrack 1997.
Produced by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.
The intro here is taken from the film ’Bram Stoker’s Dracula’.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW (I) (Tom Waits)
From the Small Change sessions, July 15, 1976.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.
This track was damaged on the original 'Tales 3' release. The song is interrupted by a snippet from 'Big Rock Candy Mountain'. The track was therefore included (undamaged) on Volume 4 too.

POOR LITTLE LAMB (Tom Waits)
Demo recording.

JERSEY GIRL (Tom Waits)
From a Bruce Springsteen concert at LA Sports Arena on August 24, 1981.
Tom Waits: Vocals (duet with Bruce Springsteen).

WITH A SUITCASE # 1 (Tom Waits)
Rhythm section version.
From the ’Paradise Alley’ sessions, September 7, 1978.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

(MEET ME IN) PARADISE ALLEY (Tom Waits)
Recorded September 7, 1978.
Taken from the soundtrack album 'Paradise Alley' 1978.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

ANNIE’S BACK IN TOWN (Tom Waits)
Recorded September 7, 1978.
Taken from the soundtrack album 'Paradise Alley' 1978.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

WITH A SUITCASE # 2 (Tom Waits)
Street band version.
From the ’Paradise Alley’ sessions, September 7, 1978.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

STRANGE WEATHER (Tom Waits)
Demo version.

STANDING ON THE CORNER (Frank Loesser)
Recorded live at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, August 25, 1976.
Available on the bootleg ’One Night Stand’.
Original performance by Shorty Long, Alan Gilbert, John Henson and Roy Lazarus in the musical ’The Most Happy Fella’ 1956. A minor hit for The Four Lads in 1960.

MOVIE (Ken Nordine / Tom Waits)
Taken from Ken Nordine’s album ’Devout Catalyst’ 1991.

Ken Nordine: Voice
Tom Waits: Voice
Jerry Garcia: Acoustic guitar
Produced by Dan Healy



NO ONE CAN FORGIVE ME BUT MY BABY (Tom Waits)
Taken from John Hammond’s album ’Got Love If You Want It’ 1992.
Tom Waits does not perform on this recording.

John Hammond: Vocals, guitar and harmonica
Produced by J J Cale



PLAYIN’ HOOKY
From the ’Foreign Affairs’ sessions, July – August 1977.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

A NICKLE’S WORTH OF DREAMS (Tom Waits)
From the ’Foreign Affairs’ sessions, July – August 1977.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

MR HENRY (Early version, aka TIE UNDONE) (Tom Waits)
From the ’Foreign Affairs’ sessions, July – August 1977.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

BRONX LULLABY (aka SMUGGLER’S WALTZ) (Tom Waits)
Taken from the TV documentary ’Poetry in Motion’ 1982.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

ONCE MORE BEFORE I GO (Tom Waits)
From the film ’Candy Mountain’ 1987. No soundtrack album available.
Tom Waits: Vocals (in character).

STRAY DOG (Tom Waits)
From the ’Small Change’ sessions, July 15, 1976.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN (Traditional)
A hobo ballad from around 1885, attributed to Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock.
From the film ’Ironweed’ 1987.
Tom Waits: A capella vocals (in character).

RAINBOW SLEEVES (Tom Waits)
Taken from Rickie Lee Jones’ album ’Girl at Her Volcano’ 1983.
Also available on the ’King of Comedy’ soundtrack 1983.
Produced by Rickie Lee Jones.
Tom Waits does not perform on this recording.



 

VOLUME FOUR
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SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU (Tom Waits)
From the ’Foreign Affairs’ sessions, July – August 1977.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.
Official version released on 'Heartattack and Vine' 1980.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW (II) (Tom Waits)
From the ’Small Change’ sessions, July 15, 1976.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

CHASE THE CLOUDS AWAY (Tom Waits)
From the ’Black Rider’ rehearsal sessions 1990.
With the Devil’s Rubato Band.
Available on the bootleg 'Black Rider Outtakes'.

FLASH PAN HUNTER (Tom Waits / William S. Burroughs)
1990 demo version.
Available on the bootleg 'Black Rider Outtakes'.

I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW (Cecil A. Null)
From an Elvis Costello & the Attractions concert at the Beverly Theatre in LA, October 4, 1986.
Written in 1953. Recorded by Steve Sholes.
Recorded by Bob Dylan on 'Self Portrait' in 1970.

Tom Waits: Vocals
Elvis Costello: Vocals and guitar
Steve Nieve: Organ
Bruce Thomas: Bass
Pete Thomas: Drums
Lou Reed: Guitar



HANG ON ST CHRISTOPHER (Tom Waits)
Extended remix.
Taken from the 12 inch single ’Hang On St Christopher’.

WORLD OF ADVENTURE / RIVER OF MEN (Tom Waits)
From the TV series ’Fishing with John’ 1998.
Tom Waits: A capella vocals (with John Lurie).

PURPLE AVENUE (aka EMPTY POCKETS) (Tom Waits)
Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Expo Theatre, Montreal, July 3, 1981.

OLD TIME FEELIN’ (Guy Clark)
Taken from Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s album ’Friends of Mine’ 1996 (unlisted bonus track).
Recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, CA, on May 28, 1996.
Tom Waits: Vocals (with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Guy Clark).

"We were kiddin' around in the studio and it found its way
on tape. It was just a feelin'." - Ramblin’ Jack Elliott



OL’ 55 STORY (Tom Waits)
From a concert with The Mothers of Invention at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston,
November 9, 1974.
Tom Waits: Voice (with Frank Zappa)

LOUISE (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s album ’Friends of Mine’ 1998.
Recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, CA, on May 28, 1998.

Tom Waits: Vocals and guitar
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot: Vocals
Peter Rowan (?): Guitar
Ruth Davies: Bass
Billy Wilson: Accordion



JUST ANOTHER DIME STORE NOVEL (Tom Waits)
From the ’Foreign Affairs’ sessions, July – August 1977.
Available on the bootleg ’A Nickel’s Worth of Dreams’.

PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG (James Brown)
Recorded live at Massey Hall, Toronto on August 7, 1987.
Original recording by James Brown 1965.

BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? (E Y Harburg / Jay Gorney)
Taken from the various artists compilation of the same name, recorded for the
National Fund-Raising Day of Action 1992.
Originally performed by Rex Weber in the revue ’Americana’, 1932.

EGGS & SAUSAGE / INVITATION TO THE BLUES (Tom Waits)
Live medley.
Broadcast on WNEW Radio on December 14, 1976.

TEMPTATION (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Recorded live with Los Lobos at the LA Riot Benefit at the Wiltern Theatre on May 30, 1992
Tom Waits: Vocals.

PURPLE AVENUE (Tom Waits)
Taken from Holly Cole’s album ’Blame It On My Youth’ 1992.

Holly Cole: Vocals
Aaron Davis: Piano
David Piltch: Bass

Produced by Greg Cohen




HANG ON ST CHRISTOPHER (INSTRUMENTAL) (Tom Waits)
Taken from the 12 inch single ’Hang On St Christopher’.
Same as the FWY track, but without the vocals.


 

VOLUME FIVE top



ON THE ROAD (Jack Kerouac)
Taken from the album ‘Jack Kerouac reads On the Road’ 1999
Performed by Tom Waits with Primus
Produced by Tom Waits

COATTAILS OF A DEAD MAN (Les Claypool / Primus)
Taken from Primus’ album ‘Antipop’ 1999

Tom Waits: Vocals and mellotron
Les Claypool: Vocals and bass
Larry LaLonde: Guitar
Brain: Drums
Martina Topley-Bird: Vocals
Produced by Tom Waits



IT RAINS ON ME (Chuck E. Weiss / Tom Waits)
Taken from Chuck E. Weiss’ album ‘Extremely Cool’ 1999

Tom Waits: Vocals and acoustic guitar
Chuck E. Weiss: Vocals and drum
Produced by Tom Waits



DO YOU KNOW WHAT I IDI AMIN (Chuck E. Weiss / Tom Waits)
Taken from Chuck E. Weiss’ album ‘Extremely Cool’ 1999

Tom Waits: Vocals
Chuck E. Weiss: Vocals
Jon Herron: Organ
Tony Gilkison or J J Holiday (?): Guitar
Will McGregor or Rick Vito (?): Bass
Nick Vincent: Drums
Produced by Tom Waits



PUTTING ON THE DOG (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the 'Liberty Heights' soundtrack album 1999

Tom Waits: Vocals, piano, shaker and train whistle
Matt Brubeck: Bass
Joe Gore: Guitar
Andrew Borger: Congas
Jeff Sloan: Bongos
Nic Phelps: Saxophone
Produced by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan



IT'S OVER (Tom Waits / Kathleen Brennan)
Taken from the 'Liberty Heights' soundtrack album 1999

Tom Waits: Vocals and guitar
Matt Brubeck: Bass
Joe Gore: Banjo and guitar
Andrew Borger: Percussion
Nic Phelps: Saxophone
Roxanne Marie: Accordion
Produced by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan



BOOKS OF MOSES (Skip Spence)
Taken from the Skip Spence tribute album ‘More Oar’ 1999
Tom Waits: Vocals, guitar, drums and maraccas
Produced by Tom Waits

BABBACHICHUIJA (Tom Waits)
Taken from the compilation ‘Orbitones, Spoon Harps & Bellowphones’ 1999
Tom Waits: Vocals, washing machine, squeaky door, and sewing machine
Produced by Tom Waits

HIGHWAY CAFE (Kinky Friedman)
Taken from the Kinky Friedman tribute album ‘Pearls in the Snow’ 1999
Produced by Tom Waits

HELIUM REPRISE (Orton / Wachtel / Waits)
Taken from Tin Hat Trio’s album ‘Helium’ 2000

HOME I'LL NEVER BE (aka ON THE ROAD) (Jack Kerouac)
Live from the Allen Ginsberg tribute at Wadsworth Theatre, LA, June 21, 1997
Tom Waits: Vocals and  piano

WHOSE SPORTS COAT IS THAT?
Live at the Beacon Theatre, New York, November 15, 1979

TRASH DAY
Live at the Beacon Theatre, New York, November 15, 1979

BIG IN JAPAN (Tom Waits)
Taken from C-Side’s and Petit Mal’s album ‘Moanin' Parade’ 2000

OLD BLONDE GAL / BIG OL' MOON
Taken from C-Side’s and Petit Mal’s album ‘Moanin' Parade’ 2000

WHITE RABBIT'S LAMENT
Taken from C-Side’s and Petit Mal’s album ‘Moanin' Parade’ 2000

TILL THE WHEELS COME OFF
Taken from C-Side’s and Petit Mal’s album ‘Moanin' Parade’ 2000

REVIVAL REVELRY
Taken from C-Side’s and Petit Mal’s album ‘Moanin' Parade’ 2000