I wasn’t into Tom Waits at the time this was released. Punk rock was happening and there was no way I was going to be listening to some old guy (he was under 30 but seemed much older) singing piano ballads.
Well, I’ve since learned the error of my ways. Waits is a lyrical genius and this is him at the top of his game:
“Liquorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue Scrawled across the shoulders of a dying town”
“She took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like root beer And she popped her gum and arched her back”
“And the spiderweb crack and the mustang screamed The smoke from the tyres and the twisted machine”
“And the sun hit the derrick and cast a batwing shadow Up against the car door on the shotgun side”
Well, If you asked me what my favourite Waits album was I’d probably say Swordfishtrombones or Rain Dogs. But somehow, late at night when a few whiskies have been drunk, it seems to be the '70s albums that end up on the turntable.