Top 5 Tom Waits Tracks

(Subject to revision, of course, but these are the ones that would get 6 stars on the iPod if they could, and always get me going…)

1. Kentucky Avenue (from Blue Valentine) – “I’ll steal a hacksaw from my dad, and cut the braces off your legs, and we’ll bury them tonight in the cornfield” – so moving, it’s got to be no. 1.
2. If I Have To Go (from Orphans) – the ultimate bawler.
3. Tom Traubert’s Blues (from Small Change) – a lovely tune, beautiful lyrics, stunningly performed.
4. I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You (from Closing Time) – classic early Tom, a whole story in a few verses, so vividly told.
5. Innocent When You Dream (from Frank’s Wild Years) – his voice at its finest, precarious full stretch.