Definitely overdue to have a thread dedicated to everyone's favorite gravel-throated troubadour.
Rain Dogs was my initiation (as it was for many of his younger listeners). But once I fully digested that LP I dedicated myself to the task of surveying his complete catalog in chronological order.
There is a well-organized megatorrent of his body of work organized into folders based on the label he was with at each stage of his career. The Asylum years (1973-1980) showcase his early development as an artist, followed by his gritty transformation when he moved to Island Records (1983-1993). A quick detour at CBS for the
One From the Heart soundtrack leads listeners to his latest period from 1999 onward with ANTI- Records, which includes the impressive
Glitter & Doom Live tour record from 2009 and the celebrated 7LP box set from 2006 titled
Orphans, Brawlers, Bawlers, & Bastards. And that's the set I find myself returning to more than anything else from his catalog.
The torrent also includes 26 albums of compilations and live sessions which are a welcome addition to any Tom Waits library.
Pictured below is the
Orphans set, along with a live promo 7" from the
Glitter & Doom tour, the
Lowside of the Road biography, and an unofficial documentary titled
Tom Waits: Under Review 1983-2006.
It's impossible to choose a favorite release. There are so many gems spanning the entirety of his career. I'm just thankful that I can enjoy it all in my lifetime.