Critic Daniel Durchholz once described Tom Waits' voice 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." If he had been talking about any other voice, it would have come off as wildly overstated. But Tom Waits is not any other voice.

Wikipedia describes Tom Waits' albums as having "mixed commercial success" in the US. Though a few did manage to go gold in other countries. Maybe the three hundred thousand residents of Iceland finally got sick of Björk and overcompensated.

If you're reading this, you're either a diehard fan of Tom Waits or you absolutely can't stand his music. There is no inbetween. That said, if you fall into the latter category, we suggest you abandon this article right now, read this article instead, and stop beating yourself up about it. It's not for everyone.

If, however, you are a lover of all things Waits, you'll want to find your way over to Aquarium Drunkard via the source link below and download yourself a copy of his April 1974 show in San Diego. In it, Tom gives the band a night off, choosing instead to accompany himself on piano and guitar. We think you'll be quite pleased with the results.

Oh, and here's the track list so you can make sure your favorites made it onto the recording that night:

  1. Better Off Without A Wife
  2. The Heart Of Saturday Night
  3. On A Foggy Night
  4. Shiver Me Timbers
  5. Fumblin’ With The Blues
  6. Semi Suite
  7. San Diego Serenade
  8. Glad That You’re Gone
  9. Ice Cream Man
  10. Depot Depot
  11. The Ghosts Of Saturday Night

Source: Aquarium Drunkard