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Tom Waits — Ol'55
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ngunnell
(Deepest Oxfordshire, UK)
Posted: May 13, 2013 - 08:23
 
Lord, that's the most seriously awful song I've heard since tuning into Radio Paradise.  From the album Closing Time apparently.  Yes please, close and don't reopen.    Eagles version way better, to my ears.

Mostly I work to RP in the background but I couldn't ignore that.  Distractingly bad! 

casey1024
(Here and Now)
Posted: May 13, 2013 - 08:21
 
Just to make some space from the negativity.  Love this song.  Love Tom Waits. And, IMHO, the Eagles version was quite tolerable, too.

unclehud
(now 50 feet above the planet in Boston)
Posted: May 13, 2013 - 08:19
 
"I hate the f****ing Eagles,"  the Dude.  (I don't, however, especially their early stuff.)

This album cover always reminded me of a museum exhibit, possibly entitled: Frustrated Musician, circa late 20th century.

Athyrius
Posted: Jan 07, 2013 - 23:02
 
another fine failure from the king of shite.

ScottN
(Condo in Gaza needs remodeling. Still, I Thank TFSM I saw the divot where the landmine was placed.)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 14:06
 
I really appreciate how Waits survived through his "vocal troubles" to re-make himself and now sings songs like Get Behind the Mule!
He is underrated as an actor too, imo.

jesspra
(Killah Hill, Staten Island)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 13:58
 

Feels like home.



SweTex
(Swede living in Texas)
Posted: Oct 05, 2012 - 19:35
 
 tuttle99 wrote:
Tom just keeps getting better with age...like a 30-yr old single malt Scotch whiskey for the ears...
 
Yes.

leonswiatek
(The Greater Northeast)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 06:16
 
This is my all time favorite Tom Waits song, makes me stop what I'm doing and just star singing along, Love it.

nagsheadlocal
(North Carolina, the new New Jersey)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 06:15
 
 sieversfam wrote:

To me the beauty of this song is the "bar room" motif, and the perfection lies in it's..imperfection.

 
I'll always be a fan of "early" Tom Waits for this very reason - the sound of dives and juke joints, down-alley bars and the kind of bands you hear in out-of-the-way places.

I got to see him in '75 during the tour behind "Nighthawks at the Diner." Man, that was one of the best shows ever. Thanks, Jamie, for bringing Waits to my attention. 

Highlowsel
(New York City)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 06:15
 
 That_SOB wrote:

"Ol' '55" is a song written and recorded by Tom Waits. It is the first track on Waits' debut album, Closing Time, released in 1973. The song was covered with greater chart success by the Eagles, released on their 1974 album On the Border.

Waits himself has been critical of cover versions of the song, saying he was "not that particularly crazy about rendition of it ... I thought their version was a little antiseptic." - - - — —  - -:  From Wikipedia

 Henley probably took that as a compliment. I wonder what Tom would have said if the Beach Boys had covered the song ?

 
"I wonder what Tom would have said if the Beach Boys had covered the song ?"

HA!  Probably the same thing Pat Metheny thinks of Kenny G's jazz cababilities? 

Just thinkin' out loud...

Highlow
American Net'Zen

sieversfam
Posted: Jul 06, 2012 - 12:25
 
 Sasha2001 wrote:


Song = 3
Comment = 10 Someone's going to have to eplain to me how this is better than the (early 70s) Eagles because I cant figure out why I'm listening to this and not anything off of Desperado. Yeah, I know FM radio killed the Eagles for everyone, but this just sounds like a poor mans version of Frey and co.
 
LOL. Oh, Sasha.  You're a Top 40 Radio devotee, right?   I'll take this version over the Eagles "cover" any day, and 2x on Sunday.  If people want perfected, tight harmonies, in a pop-inspired song structure, well, have fun with that.

To me the beauty of this song is the "bar room" motif, and the perfection lies in it's..imperfection.

Now go back to your Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" CD.



earthbased
(By a Big Lake)
Posted: Jul 03, 2012 - 08:34
 
 Baketown wrote:

This the first time I have heard the original!   Thanks for playing

 
Are you a recovering addict from Image Music?

Baketown
(Maryland)
Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 12:07
 

This the first time I have heard the original!   Thanks for playing



Grammarcop
(i've successfully infiltrated the 1% without being detected!)
Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 12:07
 
 Sasha2001 wrote:


Song = 3
Comment = 10 Someone's going to have to eplain to me how this is better than the (early 70s) Eagles because I cant figure out why I'm listening to this and not anything off of Desperado. Yeah, I know FM radio killed the Eagles for everyone, but this just sounds like a poor mans version of Frey and co.
 
Sasha:

You've got me scratching my head. If the song is so bad, why do you think the Eagles felt compelled to cover it?

Best wishes. 

tuttle99
Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 12:07
 
Tom just keeps getting better with age...like a 30-yr old single malt Scotch whiskey for the ears...

Sasha2001
(I can see Zabars from my window)
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 18:44
 
 rdo wrote:
Shut up Waits.
 



Song = 3
Comment = 10

Someone's going to have to eplain to me how this is better than the (early 70s) Eagles because I cant figure out why I'm listening to this and not anything off of Desperado. Yeah, I know FM radio killed the Eagles for everyone, but this just sounds like a poor mans version of Frey and co.

ScottishWillie
(The Scottish Lowlands)
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 - 01:16
 

This not an artist I have ever cared for (this is the only album of his I can tolerate). But this album jumps me back 35 years to a time and to a group of friends that represented one of the happiest times of my life. Music as a time machine.



AndyJ
(Oregon)
Posted: Feb 27, 2012 - 08:36
 
Same words as always, but some salty,less beach town sound... more All-America flavor... Thanks

rdo
(DC)
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 - 15:42
 
Shut up Waits.

Stratocaster
(Bermuda)
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 - 15:41
 
The only Tom Waits album that I love.

A solid 9. 

helgigermany
(Germany)
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 13:56
 
 Umberdog wrote:
Tom waits is cool.
 
Many nice songs were written in that period! Very nice one, btw.!!


Umberdog
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 13:53
 
Tom waits is cool.

sirdroseph
(Yes)
Posted: Jul 21, 2011 - 04:23
 
 pinto wrote:


Actually it was Glenn Frey and not Don Henley, but who's counting?
 

Oh yea, my bad, I always mix those 2 up. I am sure they would be glad to hear that knowing how they hate each other!{#Lol}

pinto
(west meade)
Posted: Jun 19, 2011 - 12:10
 
 sirdroseph wrote:
I know, I know everyone hates The Eagles, but you gotta give em credit, this is a beautiful song and Don Henley (I know, I know, he is a prick) does a great job on vocals with it. I love Tom Waits, but prefer The Eagles version of this particular song. Both are great though!
 

Actually it was Glenn Frey and not Don Henley, but who's counting?

Cynaera
(South of Neanderthal)
Posted: May 18, 2011 - 21:15
 
 newwavegurly wrote:
I fully admit that I have come to the Tom Waits fan pool rather late. I've known who he is for quite a while, and recognized him in his various film roles/cameos, but it wasn't until I started listening to RP that I started appreciating him as a musician.
 
So thank you, BillG. Thank you for opening my mind and heart to another musician. You continue to do this on an almost daily basis and it's why I'm still listening after all of these years. 
 
I just wanna hug you.  Sometimes realization takes its own sweet time. I'm still learning, and, like you, I keep listening because I never know what I'll discover. This is the most bestest place to be. Got my metaphorical toes dug into the sand and a margarita in my hand - looking at the ocean and pretty much planning to stay in radioparadiseland forever. {#Sunny}

HearsayDave
Posted: Apr 17, 2011 - 07:46
 
Brilliant.  ...And I lead the parade, Just wishin' I'd stayed a little longer... 

sirdroseph
(Yes)
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 - 05:28
 
I know, I know everyone hates The Eagles, but you gotta give em credit, this is a beautiful song and Don Henley (I know, I know, he is a prick) does a great job on vocals with it. I love Tom Waits, but prefer The Eagles version of this particular song. Both are great though!

newwavegurly
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 - 05:22
 
I fully admit that I have come to the Tom Waits fan pool rather late. I've known who he is for quite a while, and recognized him in his various film roles/cameos, but it wasn't until I started listening to RP that I started appreciating him as a musician.
 
So thank you, BillG. Thank you for opening my mind and heart to another musician. You continue to do this on an almost daily basis and it's why I'm still listening after all of these years. 

That_SOB
(The Dark Side of the Tune)
Posted: Nov 10, 2010 - 23:03
 

"Ol' '55" is a song written and recorded by Tom Waits. It is the first track on Waits' debut album, Closing Time, released in 1973. The song was covered with greater chart success by the Eagles, released on their 1974 album On the Border.

Waits himself has been critical of cover versions of the song, saying he was "not that particularly crazy about rendition of it ... I thought their version was a little antiseptic." - - - — —  - -:  From Wikipedia

 Henley probably took that as a compliment. I wonder what Tom would have said if the Beach Boys had covered the song ?



helgigermany
(Germany)
Posted: Nov 10, 2010 - 22:55
 
I know this from eagles. Who is the composer?

bschrider
Posted: Oct 10, 2010 - 12:15
 
Godlike

 shmuelman wrote:
Godlike or Outstanding? I am having trouble deciding.

 



Cynaera
(South of Neanderthal)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 11:33
 
 _Donna wrote:
Love Tom Waits...this is on WikiPedia:  Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it 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."
 
That kinda sums it up perfectly.  But I still love his music. He once did an interview with Rolling Stone, and they talked about greasy-spoon restaurants. He said, "Yeah, there's this great diner I like - it's the only place you can order a tuna fish pizza with a fried egg on top... I love to chase it down with a tall, cool Janitor-in-A-Drum... I wanna walk away from there with enough gas to start my own Exxon station..."

I'm pretty sure I'm only paraphrasing part of the above quotes - wish I could find the original article, but it was in the 70's, which are sort of a blur for me now.  Still, Waits is one of the most quotable artists on the map today, if only because he's so darned FUNNY in his sardonicism (is that even a word?) {#Roflol}

Zeito
(Sieur du Lhut)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 11:27
 
Not really a version, the original and best!

helgigermany
(Germany)
Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 14:13
 
Very nice version!!

Pharlap
(Bahama, NC)
Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 14:11
 
there's a nice version out there from Ian Matthews, too

shmuelman
(Denver)
Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 14:08
 
Godlike or Outstanding? I am having trouble deciding.


BKardon
(Boulder, CO by way of State and Madison)
Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 09:07
 
This is a classic album, would love to hear other tracks from it on RP.

Jazbo
(Beautiful Valparaiso IN.)
Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 08:57
 
I think Toms' voice is perfect for his material. 9

Jim__Sheila
(St. Paul, MN)
Posted: Mar 01, 2010 - 18:30
 
 Ando wrote:


We can put a man on the moon, but we can't bring back Tom Waits' voice. What a shame.
 

Are you sure about that? I mean the part about the man on the moon...
I still appreciate Tom Waits' voice even through the changes.

_Donna
Posted: Mar 01, 2010 - 17:58
 
Love Tom Waits...this is on WikiPedia:  Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it 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."

Ando
(behind your couch)
Posted: Mar 01, 2010 - 17:55
 


We can put a man on the moon, but we can't bring back Tom Waits' voice. What a shame.

haresfur
Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 16:05
 
 NickDanger wrote:
sfearll wrote:
nothing like a little Waits on a grey Sunday morning
———————————————————————————————————
Or at closing time on a Saturday night.
 
In his world, aren't those the same?


WonderLizard
(2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise)
Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 06:42
 
Our old band used to do this one. Fast Eddie had only heard the cover, so he thought it was an Eagles song. We just looked at him.

sub-arctic
(63°50' N)
Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 06:40
 
Now, that's more like it! {#Clap}

Incredible album.

ronbellaz
Posted: Dec 28, 2009 - 20:16
 
the soul speaks from somewhere in time, 
guiding the spirit to who knows where
and this is the wave the pushes it all on down the road
feelin' like gettin' high again!! 

peyotecoyote
(London, Ontario)
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 11:34
 
 jgirl63 wrote:
His early, straight-up bluesy stuff still satisfies.
 

{#Yes}

peter_james_bond
(Lunenburg, NS)
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 11:32
 
Talk about hitting a home run in your first at bat! (This is his first album).

whistlercat
(Somewhere Near The Sea)
Posted: Jun 22, 2009 - 14:44
 
Don't care who does it, I love this song and always have.


redstorm
(East Coast!........ Lou!)
Posted: Jun 22, 2009 - 14:44
 
 Hairfarmer wrote:


Maybe just the first? To metion it I mean. Not everyone here is conviced that all artists who sell well and get lots of commercial airplay suck.
 

Hey, there is a reason things become "popular" and it does not mean the people that like them are idiots, it can mean the item was done well, and thus deserving it's "populartity" So yes i prefer the Eagles vezion as well

Tim_in_N_FL
(Florida)
Posted: Jun 22, 2009 - 14:43
 
 DrLex wrote:

This must be from before he started to smoke four packs a day.

 
I know this song from the many artists who've covered it over the years.  Tom is one helluva songwriter but his vocals, except for this release (I'm hoping), are simply a non-starter for me.