I was going to just one album per artist in my little list of fave albums but say with someone like Waits I’ve just got to pick two albums. So following the already included late 70’s album Blue Valentine posted two years ago, comes the late 90’s epic comeback album Mule Variations. I guess his 80’s albums on Island records, that’s his record label called Island in mainly the 80’s years is his most popular records but these so much more faves for me personal. BTW It’s so far in my little CA list only one other artist who’s got two album under his name: Leonard Cohen!
I think it’s very fitting they’re the only two artists because they seem major artists for in my life and it’s my own list. They’re Cohen and Waits like my The Beatles or something, yeah The Beatles have make my cut but only one album and everyone going to have to wait! I guess, some artists have already been including working under or in more than one act. They’re a few more artists who will get doubles to their name but that for another time, OK?
I’m telling you very little about Waits and this album, hey? What can I tell you now? Waits disappeared for almost all the 1990’s but what a bloody hell comeback! In any comeback of all-time at least one I was around to see happen or witness myself, Tommy wins by far as the greatness! Before he drop this album out of nowhere his last was 1992’s Bone Machine album, soundtrack Night On Earth album and collaborative album for the theater show 1993’s The Black Rider. Then only popping up with a few just one song on various artist soundtracks, which I did buy pretty much all of them because I missed him so much. Signing to a new label for him called Anti records and then releasing this masterpiece!
Now the Aussie version did have a the had a couple of extra songs and was released and was put out a week or so after my birthday. Maybe another reason I love it a little more and made it more special. With 18 songs and just over 75 minutes I was like a crazed squirrel with a tree full of nuts but some do says it’s a bit long. Mule Variations was his twelfth studio album and minus four tracks all were co-written with his wife and songwriting partner since early 80’s Kathleen Brennan.
That’s it for my classic album today, enjoy!
Mule Variations track list and times:
1. Big In Japan – 4:05
2. Lowside Of The Road – 2:59
3. Hold On – 5:33
4. Get Behind The Mule – 6:52
5. House Where Nobody Lives – 4:14
6. Cold Water – 5:23
7. Pony – 4:32
8. What’s He Building? – 3:20
9. Black Market Baby – 5:02
10. Eyeball Kid – 4:25
11. Picture In A Frame – 3:39
12. Chocolate Jesus – 3:55
13. Georgia Lee – 4:24
14. Filipino Box Spring Hog – 3:09
15. Take It With Me – 4:24
16. Come On Up To The House – 4:36
Australian, New Zealandian and Japanese bonus tracks:
17. Buzz Fledder John – 4:14
18. Big Face Money
So this list below are my 113 favorite albums, so far because I’m still counting them up. Now Mule Variations by Tom Waits is the 114th album post!
- Tales From The Australian Underground – Volume 1 & 2 by Various Artists
- Station To Station by David Bowie
- Unplugged In New York by Nirvana
- Rust In Peace by Megadeth
- Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins
- Henry’s Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Whatever You Love, You Are by Dirty Three
- Gala Mill by The Drones
- Black Monk Time by The Monks
- Ex Tropical by Lost Animal
- Work (Work, Work) by HTRK
- In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd
- Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
- Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones
- The White House by The Dead C
- Silence Is Sexy by Einstürzende Neubauten
- Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica
- Kaira by Toumani Diabaté
- Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants
- Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth by Dan Kelly And The Alpha Males
- Aerial by Kate Bush
- The Future by Leonard Cohen
- Rock For Light by Bad Brains
- Last Splash by The Breeders
- Sex by The Necks
- Emergency Ward by Nina Simone
- Paradise by My Disco
- Batman by Prince
- Sings Christmas Carols by Mark Kozelek
- What Are Rock Stars Doing Today by Magic Dirt
- Love Of Life by Swans
- Big Name, No Blankets by Warumpi Band
- Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
- In The Pines by The Triffids
- Where Joy Kills Sorrow by Various Artists
- TV Sky by The Young Gods
- King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime by Faith No More
- Jean Lee And The Yellow Dog by Ed Kuepper
- Law Of Nature by Laughing Clowns
- (I’m) Stranded by The Saints
- Super Ape by Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters
- The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound by Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes
- Mutiny/The Bad Seed by The Birthday Party
- Bahdeni Nami by Omar Souleyman
- Ascension by John Coltrane
- The Definitive by Blind Willie McTell
- Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
- Horses by Patti Smith
- Vespertine by Björk
- Hex Enduction Hour by The Fall
- Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood by DMX
- I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron
- Charcoal Lane by Archie Roach
- In My Own Time by Karen Dalton
- Stay Sick! by The Cramps
- Primary Colours by Eddy Current Suppression Ring
- Veedon Fleece by Van Morrison
- Trainspotting by Various Artists
- After School Session by Chuck Berry
- Body Language by Kylie Minogue
- Bricks Are Heavy by L7
- Trailer Park by Beth Orton
- Arular by M.I.A.
- Moon Pix by Cat Power
- White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground
- Y by The Pop Group
- The Human Jukebox by Scientists
- The Shape Of Things by Pere Ubu
- Congotronics by Konono Nº1
- High Voltage by AC/DC
- Self-tilted by The Seeds
- His Best by Bo Diddley
- Embracism by Kirin J Callinan
- Benji by Sun Kil Moon
- Betty by Helmet
- Late Registration by Kanye West
- Under The Western Freeway by Grandaddy
- What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have by Sarah Blasko
- Regret Is An Inevitable Consequence Of Life by Ricaine
- Tu-Plang by Regurgitator
- Hourly, Daily by You Am I
- In A Bar, Under The Sea by dEUS
- Gurrumul by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti
- Some Girls by The Rolling Stones
- Adult Themes For Voice by Mike Patton
- Candy Apple Grey by Hüsker Dü
- This Is It by The Strokes
- To Record Only Water For Ten Days by John Frusciante
- How I Love You by The Angels Of Light
- Soaking Red by Tendrils
- Rock Action by Mogwai
- Rock And Rollin’ With Fat Domino by Fat Domino
- The Axeman’s Jazz by Beasts Of Bourbon
- This Is Not The Way Home by The Cruel Sea
- Black & White Self-titled by Primitive Calculators
- Still Life by The Paradise Motel
- Messenger by Jimmy Little
- Conatus by Zola Jesus
- Zuma by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
- It’s Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- At Home With You by X
- Dear God, I Hate Myself by Xiu Xiu
- Cellulite Soul by Witch Hats
- We’re All Gunna Die by Don Walker
- Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
- Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
- Chocolate And Cheese by Ween
- Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales by William S. Burroughs
- Bish Bosch by Scott Walker
- Life’ll Kill Ya by Warren Zevon
Who else digs this Tom Waits album then? Or is it something else by him you like better?
Cheers 🙂
Leave a comment