Looking for a definitive list of Tom Waits's spoken word tracks

January 12, 2008 10:17 AM

I'm looking for a definitive list of Tom Waits's spoken word tracks.

I realise that sometimes Wait's vocal style stretches the verb that is "sing" but I'm after things that are obviously spoken word, for example Army Ants; Children's Story; What's He Building In There and Circus. The One That Got Away has a tiny bit of singing in it, but probably passes muster for what I'm after. Thanks.

posted by TheDonF to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Response by poster: Well, people don't seem to be biting on the definite thing, so how about we compile our own and hopefully it'll end up definitive.
posted by TheDonF at 11:36 AM on January 12, 2008

Frank's wild years?
posted by kenchie at 12:11 PM on January 12, 2008

I just happened to listen to one. "Frank's Wild Years" on Swordfishtrombones (not on Franks Wild Years).
posted by Flunkie at 12:13 PM on January 12, 2008

Frank's Wild Years
9th and Hennepin

Maybe:
Lucky Day Overture
Crossroads
Flash Pan Hunter (every second or third line in this one seems more like singing, though)
posted by dilettante at 12:17 PM on January 12, 2008

The Ocean Doesn't Want Me

Forgot that one.
posted by dilettante at 12:22 PM on January 12, 2008

You will probably find what you're looking for at The Library
posted by growabrain at 12:55 PM on January 12, 2008

Trouble's Braids
posted by umbú at 1:12 PM on January 12, 2008

Watch Her Disappear, on Alice
posted by brookedel at 2:16 PM on January 12, 2008

Most of Nighthawks at the Diner:

• Emotional Weather Report
• Putnam Country
• Big Joe and Phantom 309
• Spare Parts II

The other tracks have plenty of spoken on there too.
posted by fvw at 4:42 PM on January 12, 2008

Step Right Up is sort of singy-talking. I never really thought of it as singing, but that's sort of what you were talking about in your question.
posted by chococat at 7:31 PM on January 12, 2008

Don't forget one of the most terrifying songs ever, What's He Building In There
posted by khaibit at 1:59 PM on January 14, 2008

Or I could have read the rest of the question
posted by khaibit at 1:59 PM on January 14, 2008

Along with your Army Ants and Children's Story examples, other spoken word tracks on the Bastards disc of his Orphans set: First Kiss; Nirvana; The Pontiac; and I would probably also include Spidey's Wild Ride.
posted by KatlaDragon at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2008

"Shore leave" is half spoken and half sung. Saw him do an amazing version of "9th and Hennepin" in Edinburgh last night.
posted by rongorongo at 1:09 AM on July 29, 2008