MUSIC SOOTHES THE SOUL: TOM WAITS ENCORE
Once I re-entered the gritty world of Tom Waits´ music, it is almost impossible to leave it again.
His voice, the voice I had to grow up a bit to learn to love, was once described by a critic as something that was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car. How true! Listening to him feels like having your ears sanded with music.
Waits´ voice has not always been so rough. This craggy, emery-paper-like quality came with time and cigarettes – and I would venture a guess that nicotine played a bigger role than chronology here.
In the spring of 1972, at the time when I was not even born yet, he stood in the studio in Hollywood, California recording one of the most beautiful Waits-Songs ever.
When his first album, Closing Time, was released in March 1973, this song appeared as Number 6 Side One title. Being 9 months old, I was not actually in a position to appreciate it or not. I am glad, however, I made up for it later. And with every year I appreciate it more and more.
The song is called Martha.
Jonny Whitlam Photography
do listen to “You can never hold back Spring”.
Just returned from three days in Berlin with it running in my head.
I just have – and I do know what you mean. It sticks:) In fact, all his songs do. My Hit of The Day has been “Never Talk To Strangers” sang with Betty Midler. I want to be Tom Waits crossed with Bette Midler;-) Both vocally and visually.