The Old Favourites pt 1 - Where do you begin? - Final Season Specials

Having done the work, put in the hours and carefully considered all the options, Martin and Sam discuss exactly where they think a new listener to Waits's music might want to start, considering the various angles and perspectives one might have, as well as a little discussion of Tom's compilation albums.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Classic Tom Waits starter playlist - Sam's picks from Closing Time (1973)

Lyrical Tom Waits starter playlist - Martin's picks from Rain Dogs (1985)

9th & Hennepin, from Big Time concert film, Tom Waits, dir. Chris Blum (1988)

Theatrical Tom Waits starter playlist - Sam's picks from The Black Rider (1993)

Beat-Poet Tom Waits starter playlist - Martin's picks from The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974)

Comic Tom Waits starter playlist - Sam's picks

Experimental Tom Waits starter playlist - Martin's picks from Bone Machine (1992)

Bounced Checks, compilation album, Tom Waits (1981)

Anthology of Tom Waits, compilation album, Tom Waits (1984)

Asylum Years, compilation album, Tom Waits (1986)

Beautiful Maladies, compilation album, Tom Waits (1998)

Used Songs - 1973-1980, compilation album, Tom Waits (2001)

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Big Face Money (bonus track) - Mule Variations [271]

Sam and Martin return for a bonus episode and a bonus track, as Waits collaborates for the first time with his son on this short explosion of music from the special edition of Mule Variations. We also look back at our feelings on this fin de siècle album, consider the positives and the negatives and try to put them in their proper perspective.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Big Face Money, Mule Variations (Australian/New Zealand/Japanese bonus track), Tom Waits & Casey Waits (1999)

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Come On Up To The House - Mule Variations [270]

We're a bit mixed on this final Mule Variations track, with Shelley questioning whether Waits completely captures the gospel sound and energy. We compare it with older revivalist music, talk about the earthly imagery in songs about the afterlife, and discuss the presence of onanism in the work of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Come On Up To The House, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

This Train, The Authorised Sister Rosetta Tharpe Collection (recorded live in Manchester, UK), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1963)

This Train, TV recording live in Manchester UK via YouTube, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1963)

Basket Case, Dookie, Green Day (1994)

Pachabel's Canon feat. Green Day, via YouTube (2012)

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Take It With Me - Mule Variations [269]

After a week away, Shelley Maxwell returns to celebrate this emotionally affecting track with Martin and Sam, one that seems to hit both the personal and the universal. We dig into the specifics of the lyrics, the memories linked to physical sensation and activity, and different ways "end of life" songs can be heard.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Take It With Me, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Two Slow Dancers, Be the Cowboy, Mitski (2018)

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Filipino Box Spring Hog - Mule Variations [268]

Helen Rosner returns after a week away for one more episode with Song by Song. She brings her culinary expertise to the party, explaining for Martin & Sam (and the audience) some of the gastronomic details Waits is bringing in this Bone-Machine-era rework. We discuss the musical and geographical locators in the song, and contrast this American perspective on the Philippines with a 1990s opposite.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Filipino Box Spring Hog, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Not All The World Is America, Smokey Mountain, Smokey Mountain (1990)

Filipino Box Spring Hog, Born To Choose/Bone Machine outtake, Tom Waits (c. 1992)

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Georgia Lee - Mule Variations [267]

Shelley Maxwell joins Martin and Sam to discuss the haunting and brutal true story of Georgia Lee Moses, and Waits's description of circumstances surrounding her death. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Georgia Lee, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Tom Waits Library entry for Georgia Lee, including many news clippings from the era.
TLC Child and Family Services, who continue the work of Lia Rowley's Sonoma Children's Village, inspired to help "future Georgias".
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), for support, resources and donations covering England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Save The Children for International support, resources and donations.
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Chocolate Jesus - Mule Variations [266]

Is Waits talking about confectionary, Christianity or something else in this track? Helen Rosner returns to discuss her perspectives on all sides of the equation with Sam & Martin, along with communion wafer recipes, Brazilian religious statuary, and exactly how one goes about eating a saviour.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Chocolate Jesus, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Christo Redemptor, Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's South Side Band, Charlie Musselwhite (1967)

Cristo Redentor, A New Perspective, Donald Byrd (1963)

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Picture in a Frame - Mule Variations [265]

Food writer and Tom Waits fan Helen Rosner joins Martin and Sam to curate her end-of-life mixtape, as well as interrogate the central message of this tender and minimal love song.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Picture in a Frame, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, First Take, Roberta Flack (1969)

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, New Briton Gazette vol. 2, Peggy Seeger/Ewan MacColl (1962)

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Eyeball Kid - Mule Variations [264]

As Tom Waits explores his frustrations around the business of music/entertainment, Amrita shares some of her own experiences with Martin and Sam. We discuss the managerial perspective of the song, how that compares to Wait's own position in the industry, and the different strategies The Ting Tings use to express similar sentiments.

Note: Sam refers to Eddie Campbell as Australian; he is actually Scottish and just lived in Australia for a number of years.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Eyeball Kid, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

That's Not My Name, We Started Nothing, The Ting Tings (2008)

Rule Not The Exception Podcast, Sagar Radia & Amrita Acharia (2020)

The Sister, TV drama, dir. Niall MacCormick & w. Neil Cross (2020) - purchase via YouTube below or watch in the UK on ITV Player

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Black Market Baby - Mule Variations [263]

Images of illicit women blur with dangerous spousal descriptions, as Amrita rejoins Sam and Martin for a second Mule Variation. The value of heartbreak in the production of art, the prevalence of the male gaze in popular music, and feline solutions to romantic difficulties all feature in our discussion this week. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Black Market Baby, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Undercover, Music for People in Trouble, Susanne Sundfør (2017)

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What's He Building? - Mule Variations [262]

Actress Amrita Acharia joins Martin and Sam to kick off the new year with voyeurism and construction in this creepy Mule Variations classic. We chat about musical intention, whether Sam is funky (spoilers; he's not), and images of neighbourhood in 1970s America.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
What's He Building?, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

We Are Neighbours, (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People, The Chi-Lites (1971)

Crazy In Love, Dangerously In Love, Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z (2003)

If Everybody Looked The Same, Vertigo, Groove Armada (2000)

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Mailbag Episode #4

A brief seasonal diversion into listener mail sees Martin and Sam discussing Elton John, winters in South London, and of course the second SbS appearance of Australian spin-bowler Mike Whitney . Nothing says Christmas like Mike Whitney. Happy Holidays all - we'll see you in 2021 for the second half of Mule Variations!

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Big In Japan, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Innocent When You Dream (Barroom), Frank's Wild Years, Tom Waits (1987)

Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels), You Don't Mess Around With Jim, Jim Croce (1972)

Mike Whitney, I Will Always Love You, The Late Show (1993)

Downtown Train (NME Version), NME Big Four Feb '86, Tom Waits (1986)

Fishing With John - Episode 2 - Tom Waits, via YouTube (1991)

Link to Amazon Prime (US) streamable version of Big Time
Mojo scene from Almost Famous, Terry Chen as Ben Fong-Torres, dir. Cameron Crowe via YouTube (2000)

City of Angels trailer, dir. Brad Silberling, via Youtube (1998)

Ghost Rider trailer, dir. Mark Steven Johnson, via YouTube (2007)

Wings of Desire trailer, dir. Wim Wenders, via YouTube (1989)

Woman on the Tier, Dead Man Walking OST/RetroSpective: The Best of Suzanne Vega, Suzanne Vega (1996/2003)

Tom Waits - The Acting Years, video essay via Vimeo, Leigh Singer (2019)

Moanin' Parade, C-Side/Petit Mal/Tom Waits (2000)

Swarm Warnings, C-Side/Petit Mal/Tom Waits (2000)

Sideshow Séance, various/Tom Waits (2007)

Thirsty?, various/Tom Waits (2012)

Waits Waits Don't Tom Me podcast (2020)

The Making of Tom Waits' Mule Variations by Jacob Paul Nielsen from Tape Op Magazine #140 (Nov/Dec 2020)
Thousand Bing Bangs, Devout Catalyst, Ken Nordine/Tom Waits (1991)

The Movie, Devout Catalyst, Ken Nordine/Tom Waits (1991)

THE STREET TOM WAITS GREW UP ON - Posted by Tom Gauld on Monday, 22 October 2012
It's Quarantime Podcast Ep13 (2020)

Ragbag Podcast Ep69 (2020)

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Pony - Mule Variations [261]

Martin and Sam fly solo this week, discussing Waits reaching back to his hyperbolic storytelling style of the 70s, how mixing draws the eye and ear to certain elements of film and music, as well as the mechanics of equine taxonomy. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Pony, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony?, Chocolate And Cheese, Ween (1994)

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Cold Water - Mule Variations [260]

Waits returns to stories of wandering America with a chainsaw guitar and a towel in this sleeper hit from Mule Variations. Justin, Sam and Martin discuss the revivalist gospel sound, the image of water in this and other music, and take an extended diversion into possible Tom Waits/Guillermo del Toro collaborations. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Cold Water, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Water Me Down, Vagabon, Vagabon (2019)

Water Me Down - Official Music Video, Vagabon (dir. Maegan Houang) via YouTube (2019)

Song Exploder episode 177: Vagabon - Water Me Down, Hrishikesh Hirway/Song Exploder (2020)

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House Where Nobody Lives - Mule Variations [259]

Justin returns to discuss the nature of abandonment and housing with Martin and Sam, as well as our feelings about Waits's sentimental tone. We dig into Kathleen's involvement in the composition, his vocal quality, and then get massively side-tracked by the recording history of the deepest man in showbiz.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
House Where Nobody Lives, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

This Ole House, single, Rosemary Clooney (1954)

The Heidelberg Project by Tyree Guyton, The Art of Looking via YouTube (2015)

Please Mr. Kennedy, scene from Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Coen Brothers) via YouTube (2013)

You're a Mean One Mr Grinch, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)

The Many Voices of Thurl Ravenscroft, Saturday Morning Rewind via YouTube (2018)

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Get Behind The Mule - Mule Variations [258]

The breadth and intimacy of Waits's writing is highlighted by our new guest host, director Justin Audibert, who joins Martin and Sam for this quasi-title track from Mule Variations. We discuss the emotional expression of singing through popular music, how Waits paints a portrait of America with specifics and generalities, and yodelling. Lots on yodelling. You didn't ask for this, but you're getting it. Yodelling. You're welcome.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Get Behind The Mule, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues), Jimmie Rodgers (1930)

Labor Blues, The Memphis Blues 1927-1931, Tom Dickson (1928)

He's Misstra Know-It All, Innervisions, Stevie Wonder (1973)

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Hold On - Mule Variations [257]

Waits returns to the vignette form (at least by Sam's estimation) in this sentimental track that (in Martin's estimation) doesn't manage to hit on all levels. The value of sentiment, the origins of songwriting and the "truthfulness" of expression in music writing, and the ever-present question of authenticity all feature in this third conversation with Chad Clark.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Hold On, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Fast Car, Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988)

Instant Night, single, Beauty Pill (2020)

TOM WAITS - THE ACTING YEARS from Leigh Singer on Vimeo.

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Lowside of the Road - Mule Variations [256]

Chad Clark rejoins Sam & Martin to discuss the second track of Mule Variations... or is it just a retread of the first? We pick apart the synthesis of old/new Waits, alongside more modern music fusions. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Lowside of the Road, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Old Town Road, 7 EP, Lil Was X (2019)

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Big In Japan - Mule Variations [255]

We return and begin again, this time with Chad Clark of Beauty Pill joining Martin and Sam for the first track of 1999’s Mule Variations. We discuss Chad’s perspective on music label relationships, the production choices and where the album sits at the end of the 20th century, plus how Waits relates to the energy of punk music. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Big In Japan, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Making Plans For Bison, Pretty Little Baka Guy, Shonen Knife (1986)

Making Plans For Nigel, Drums and Wires, XTC (1979)

Do You Like Me, Red Medicine, Fugazi (1995)

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Mule Variations teaser [254a]

A couple of weeks out from the return of Song by Song to your podcatcher, here's a little preview of some of the conversations we've already recorded.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Big In Japan, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Chocolate Jesus, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

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