Big fan of Tom Waits (since a gift of "Franks Wild Years" on CD), and yet I'd heard of NONE of this! Good for him for suing the pants off those companies. His voice, phrasing and songs are SO distinctive that copying them is almost foolish, like, "You're asking to be sued!"
He’s an artist, for sure. Bone Machine is a great album. Alice is a favourite, plus Mule Variations. Not a bad album in the bunch, although I do not reach for Orphans.
Great writing here. This presents some really astounding 80's information that is new to me. I thought Tom had abstained from all commercial endorsements but the dog food one was new to me. I knew about the Frito Lay lawsuit and I figured it probably got Tom a house in Petaluma or something. The legendary art he created puts Tom in a league with other legends like Mark Twain or Norman Rockefeller. Tom created music in the 70's that already put him in a legendary status. On top of that, his 80's and 90's works cemented that reputation. At this point, Tom could have probably had a vast fortune if he had taken all the cheesy offers he probably received. Thankfully, Tom is, in my estimation, someone who understands when enough is enough.
Thank you, Owen. The Purina commercial was news to me as well. I came to Tom during the 90s when I heard a roommate playing Bone Machine. I’ve been a huge fan ever since, and agree that his lyrics put him up there with the greats.
I love Tom Waits. His comments about other artists lining up to do ads reminds me of that Bill Hicks bit where he talks about any artist doing commercials is off the artistic roll call forever, except for Willie Nelson because he had that huge tax bill to pay lol.
They probably would have, I wonder if they ever crossed paths. I've always wondered what would have happened with Hicks had he lived to see the world we're in now.
Lifelong Waits nut here - ever since I accidentally picked up a copy of the bootleg "Early Years" sessions, which is a much easier intro than Bone Machine! Thought I'd heard everything, but that Purina ad was new to me. It's kind of charming in its own way, but then Tom can do no wrong.
I mean, you can't hear the opening to Earth Died Screaming and not freeze in your tracks, wondering what the hell is happening. I always know I'm in the presence of art when I think to myself, "You can do that?"
Exactly. "What IS this?" It's rare to come across someone who is totally unlike everything else, but who still wears his (many, many, many) various influences on his sleeve. Why listen to anything else, when Bone Machine has bone xylophones, gospel, rock and even a sweet wee song about not wanting to grow up? It's all there.
It remains one of my favorites to this day for many of the reasons you mentioned, and then some. Another “You can do that?” moment I experienced (and one that’s perhaps more pertinent to your newsletter) was the first time I saw 8 ½ by Fellini. I must have walked around for a week uncertain which way was up.
I saw Waits for the first time in '75 or so. A friend at university had turned me on to "Heart of Saturday Night" and we decided to blow off a Friday and drive up to DC to catch a show at The Cellar Door. Saw him again about a year later, touring behind "Small Change" at The Pier in Raleigh. Two great shows and I've been a fan since.
This is an interesting post - as others have noted, this issue was completely unknown to me. I don't recall seeing anything about this in the trade press, oddly enough. Thanks for the run-down.
As for "Step Right Up" I could, at one time, do the complete rap. And to this day when I run into a difficult situation I find myself saying: "Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy."
It was more than 20 years ago that I stumbled upon a strange CD with the title "Bone Machine" in a little thrift store just a few blocks from my house.
This man is more of an influence on me than I can adequately express with words.
Big fan of Tom Waits (since a gift of "Franks Wild Years" on CD), and yet I'd heard of NONE of this! Good for him for suing the pants off those companies. His voice, phrasing and songs are SO distinctive that copying them is almost foolish, like, "You're asking to be sued!"
Excellent article as always, Sonny! Rock on!
Thanks, Sheila! I’ve loved him since the moment I heard Bone Machine. There’s just nobody else like him, is there?
He’s an artist, for sure. Bone Machine is a great album. Alice is a favourite, plus Mule Variations. Not a bad album in the bunch, although I do not reach for Orphans.
Thanks so much for this post. I loved it, not just because I’m a major Tom Waits fan.
Thank YOU, Lou!
Long ago, Rickie Lee Jones became a follower, probably because I posted a thing about Tom.
Great writing here. This presents some really astounding 80's information that is new to me. I thought Tom had abstained from all commercial endorsements but the dog food one was new to me. I knew about the Frito Lay lawsuit and I figured it probably got Tom a house in Petaluma or something. The legendary art he created puts Tom in a league with other legends like Mark Twain or Norman Rockefeller. Tom created music in the 70's that already put him in a legendary status. On top of that, his 80's and 90's works cemented that reputation. At this point, Tom could have probably had a vast fortune if he had taken all the cheesy offers he probably received. Thankfully, Tom is, in my estimation, someone who understands when enough is enough.
Thank you, Owen. The Purina commercial was news to me as well. I came to Tom during the 90s when I heard a roommate playing Bone Machine. I’ve been a huge fan ever since, and agree that his lyrics put him up there with the greats.
I love Tom Waits. His comments about other artists lining up to do ads reminds me of that Bill Hicks bit where he talks about any artist doing commercials is off the artistic roll call forever, except for Willie Nelson because he had that huge tax bill to pay lol.
I bet Waits and Hicks would have made great friends.
They probably would have, I wonder if they ever crossed paths. I've always wondered what would have happened with Hicks had he lived to see the world we're in now.
I’m sure he’d never stop ranting and throwing up.
Lifelong Waits nut here - ever since I accidentally picked up a copy of the bootleg "Early Years" sessions, which is a much easier intro than Bone Machine! Thought I'd heard everything, but that Purina ad was new to me. It's kind of charming in its own way, but then Tom can do no wrong.
I mean, you can't hear the opening to Earth Died Screaming and not freeze in your tracks, wondering what the hell is happening. I always know I'm in the presence of art when I think to myself, "You can do that?"
Exactly. "What IS this?" It's rare to come across someone who is totally unlike everything else, but who still wears his (many, many, many) various influences on his sleeve. Why listen to anything else, when Bone Machine has bone xylophones, gospel, rock and even a sweet wee song about not wanting to grow up? It's all there.
It remains one of my favorites to this day for many of the reasons you mentioned, and then some. Another “You can do that?” moment I experienced (and one that’s perhaps more pertinent to your newsletter) was the first time I saw 8 ½ by Fellini. I must have walked around for a week uncertain which way was up.
This is a great essay. I had no idea any of this happened. You may be innocent when you dream, but not when you steal Tom’s voice.
Thank you, Daniel, I’m happy you enjoyed it. Now keep your voice where I can see it.
Love this!
Thanks, Jim!
I saw Waits for the first time in '75 or so. A friend at university had turned me on to "Heart of Saturday Night" and we decided to blow off a Friday and drive up to DC to catch a show at The Cellar Door. Saw him again about a year later, touring behind "Small Change" at The Pier in Raleigh. Two great shows and I've been a fan since.
This is an interesting post - as others have noted, this issue was completely unknown to me. I don't recall seeing anything about this in the trade press, oddly enough. Thanks for the run-down.
As for "Step Right Up" I could, at one time, do the complete rap. And to this day when I run into a difficult situation I find myself saying: "Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy."
Get away from me, kid, you bother me . . .
Tom Waits- a true original
what a fucking legend
Thank you for the post! Inspiring ✌️🔥
Thank YOU, SirJo!
It was more than 20 years ago that I stumbled upon a strange CD with the title "Bone Machine" in a little thrift store just a few blocks from my house.
This man is more of an influence on me than I can adequately express with words.
Bella Ciao, mon ami!