“The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)”
by Tom Waits
5 thoughts on “VOLUME 21.2.2”
2 classics that you can never get tired of. I thought maybe somebody jumped on the Tom Waits train because I did not recall submitting this one (trying to refrain from always having Nick Cave or Tom) Surprise, surprise, I did submit it.
Beatles – I don’t know if this is the studio take (I don’t think it is) I found it rather refreshing and renewed for a song I have heard almost too many times. It actually felt like an entirely new song.
The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The sadness is more palpable in this simple demo. Shines a light on what a great songwriter, and unique guitar player, Harrison was.
Tom Waits – The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
Somehow missed this one over my years of listening to TW.
I can picture the scene. The drunken piano playing and almost-slurred vocals perfectly suit the mood. With a healthy splash of wit it makes a fine juxtaposition to WMGGW.
“While My Guitar …”/The Beatles. Iconic pick for this round, and given a nice twist with this acoustic demo version, which is new to me. Arguably this solo, troubadourish treatment (albeit with Paul on luvly ‘armonies) is more suitable to the song’s despairing message. Or not. The LP version is so familiar to me it’s hard to unseat. But this is great too.
“The Piano Has Been Drinking”/T. Waits. A touchstone of Waits’ early career, when he was more of a quirky if highly talented saloon singer playing with small jazz combos, before he started making microsymphonies with bedsprings and broken skillets. I recall seeing a clip of him doing this on “Fernwood 2Nite,” with Martin Mull. “My necktie is asleep. … The jukebox has to take a leak.” Complete with intentional bum notes, it’s a boozy classic.
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles: I do not think I ever heard this acoustic version of the song. Lovely. Interesting how the double tracked vocals sound here. They are fairly loose but they still sound magical.
“The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)” by Tom Waits: This does bring to mind a very drunken, spinning night. Funny and I see it appeared on a Fernwood Tonight show….also funny.
post note: see Bill recognized the Fernwood connection as well
Tom Waits- “The carpet needs a haircut.” They don’t write ’em like this anymore. Talk about painting a scene. Wonderful details to evoke a scene. You can almost smell the stale beer and stickiness of smoke-imbued bar stools. Super effective as a musical snapshot.
2 classics that you can never get tired of. I thought maybe somebody jumped on the Tom Waits train because I did not recall submitting this one (trying to refrain from always having Nick Cave or Tom) Surprise, surprise, I did submit it.
Beatles – I don’t know if this is the studio take (I don’t think it is) I found it rather refreshing and renewed for a song I have heard almost too many times. It actually felt like an entirely new song.
Tom Wats – You ever get tired of him? Not Me!
The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The sadness is more palpable in this simple demo. Shines a light on what a great songwriter, and unique guitar player, Harrison was.
Tom Waits – The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)
Somehow missed this one over my years of listening to TW.
I can picture the scene. The drunken piano playing and almost-slurred vocals perfectly suit the mood. With a healthy splash of wit it makes a fine juxtaposition to WMGGW.
“While My Guitar …”/The Beatles. Iconic pick for this round, and given a nice twist with this acoustic demo version, which is new to me. Arguably this solo, troubadourish treatment (albeit with Paul on luvly ‘armonies) is more suitable to the song’s despairing message. Or not. The LP version is so familiar to me it’s hard to unseat. But this is great too.
“The Piano Has Been Drinking”/T. Waits. A touchstone of Waits’ early career, when he was more of a quirky if highly talented saloon singer playing with small jazz combos, before he started making microsymphonies with bedsprings and broken skillets. I recall seeing a clip of him doing this on “Fernwood 2Nite,” with Martin Mull. “My necktie is asleep. … The jukebox has to take a leak.” Complete with intentional bum notes, it’s a boozy classic.
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles: I do not think I ever heard this acoustic version of the song. Lovely. Interesting how the double tracked vocals sound here. They are fairly loose but they still sound magical.
“The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)” by Tom Waits: This does bring to mind a very drunken, spinning night. Funny and I see it appeared on a Fernwood Tonight show….also funny.
post note: see Bill recognized the Fernwood connection as well
Tom Waits- “The carpet needs a haircut.” They don’t write ’em like this anymore. Talk about painting a scene. Wonderful details to evoke a scene. You can almost smell the stale beer and stickiness of smoke-imbued bar stools. Super effective as a musical snapshot.