Ruby's Arms - Big Time [157]

Returning from Heartattack & Vine, Vera Chok delivers her report for this live version of Ruby’s arms, angry at the recapitulation of the disconnected dismissive attitude Waits has towards Ruby. Meanwhile Martin struggles with the cognitive dissonance of critical analysis and Sam disses Ribot’s horn.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Ruby's Arms, Big Time, Tom Waits (1988)

Ruby's Arms, Heartattack & Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

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Ruby’s Arms - Heartattack And Vine [076]

Bring out the brass, it's the end of another album and another season of Song by Song. With some pretty serious frustration by our guest host over some of the gender stereotypes presented in this song (as well as our interval track), we bid farewell not only to Heartattack And Vine as well as Vera herself. We also take a little extra time to discuss not just Ruby's Arms, but the walk-away stylings of Matt Monro as well as the album as a whole. Seven seasons guys, we're actually doing this aren't we?!?

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Ruby’s Arms, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Softly, As I Leave You, Single, Matt Monro (1962)

… and in memory of Robert Bruce Banner…

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Mr. Siegel - Heartattack And Vine [075]

Sam and Martin welcome back Vera for another track from Heartattack & Vine, this week with 200% more jangly piano. We also welcome the contribution of listener Mike Smith, chipping in not only thoughts about Mr. Siegal but also the anthemic "so long luv" stylings of the east-end's finest. We get to compare some of the orchestral choices of both performers, as well as the brutality of Waits's lyrics and point of view.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Mr. Siegal, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Ain't No Pleasing You, Mustn't Grumble, Chas & Dave (1982)

Yes, The Sound Of McAlmont And Butler, McAlmont & Butler (1995)

Clip from Abandon Ship, dir./wr. Richard Sale (1957)

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On The Nickel - Heartattack And Vine [074]

With a warm welcome to this week's guest host Vera Chok, we immediately dive into UNNECESSARY KEY CHANGES, totally unnecessary (albeit pretty amazing) key changes. And Christmas time feels. We also look back at some of the themes that we've discussed throughout the life of this podcast, as well as the freeform improvisation of Canned Heat, and a brief examination of early solo albums of Sting.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
On The Nickel, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Fried Hockey Boogie, Boogie With Canned Heat, Canned Heat (1968)

On The Road Again, Boogie with Canned Heat, Canned Heat (1968)

Epic Key Changes, YouTube, Collective Cadenza (2013)

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'Til The Money Runs Out - Heartattack And Vine [073]

Is Waits telling a story of newspaper distribution this week? Perhaps the grim reaper's journeying through LA's suburbs? Is a spoon-player trying to blag a bit more sound-check time? All we can say with certainty is… we don't know. We just don't know. (Thanks for tuning in…) Explicit warning for Ronnie Barron's disco odyssey, as well as Martin's dance moves. Thanks for sticking with us this long Sarah.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
'Til The Money Runs Out, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

I Can Give It To You, 12" Single, Ronnie Barron (1980)

My Key Don't Fit, Gumbo Stew, Dr. John & Ronnie Barron (1993/2012)

Talk That Talk, More Gumbo Stew, Dr. John & Ronnie Barron (1993/2012)

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Jersey Girl - Heartattack And Vine [072]

More music discussion (that's what we're all here for, right, no surprises there?) with Sarah, Sam and Martin as we look at some of the… lighter lyrical writing of Tom Waits in this track from Heartattack and Vine. With various discussions about the impact of originals vs. covers, as well as the 20-year-leap time-travelling abilities of Sarah, we follow this album on yet another stylistic twist as we work through the album Song by Song.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Jersey Girl, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Tears On My Pillow, Enjoy Yourself, Kylie Minogue (1989)

Tears On My Pillow, We Are The Imperials, Little Anthony & The Imperials (1958/1998)

Jersey Girl, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live 1975-1985, Bruce Springsteen (1986)

History Of Lyrics That Aren't Lyrics, YouTube, Collective Cadenza (2011)

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Downtown - Heartattack And Vine [071]

We're back amongst the nightlife of the city with Tom Waits in this fourth track from Heartattack And Vine, with Sarah Cook as our latest guest-host-tour-guide. We discuss some of the issues tying danger and identity to this location, as well as society's perception of those issues, in another episode of Song by Song.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Downtown, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Downtown, Petula Clark, The Best of Petula Clark (1996/1964)

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Saving All My Love For You - Heartattack And Vine [070]

Sam and Martin are back for one more debate with Andy and Miranda over the musical stylings of Tom Waits, this time with 100% more lyrics. With some strong analysis of Whitney Huston's musical (and cricketing) pedigree, as well as a lot of description of the home life of the Zaltzmans, Song by Song grabs the reins of this particular hoss and holds on for dear life.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Saving All My Love For You, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Saving All My Love For You, Whitney Huston, Whitney Huston (1985)

Postman Pat Theme Tune, BBC, Bryan Daly (1981)

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In Shades (Instrumental) - Heartattack And Vine [069]

Song by Song re-tasks itself as Bid by Bid, as we start our in-depth examination of the auction history of Andy Zaltzman, keyboard by keyboard. With discussion of why on earth Waits includes this track on the album in the first place, we retain our laser-like focus on our project by discussing brand names of electric pianos, slooping to alleviated Ds and who knows what else.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
In Shades (Instrumental), Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Organ Donor, Endtroducing…, DJ Shadow (1996)

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Heartattack And Vine - Heartattack And Vine [068]

So here we are in season seven. Thanks for coming back, pull up a chair why dontcha and take a load off, we're just going to talk about Tom Waits for a bit. This week on Song by Song, Martin and Sam are joined by professional podcaster and Martin's landlord Andy Zaltzman, as well as first-time podcaster and landlord's wife Miranda Zaltzman, for some discussion of the birth names of blues artists, portfolio careers available in Hollywood circa 1980 and, of course, Benny Hill. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Heartattack And Vine, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980)

Heartattack And Vine, Best of the Bizarre Sessions (1990-1994), Screamin' Jay Hawkins (2000)

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Listening Party for Heartattack&Vine, 20:30 on Feb 22nd

Hullo folks.

We're gearing up for season seven of Song by Song, so why not join us for a little pre-discussion listen to the album with us over on Mixlr?

Martin and Sam won't interjecting as usual due to scheduling difficulties, but we'll both be in the chatroom, sharing thoughts and opinions, taking suggestions and discussing what excites (or disturbs) us all about this upcoming album.

We'll be there from 8.30pm (that's 12.30pm PST and 3.30pm EST), so come take a listen.