Reviews (page 5 of 9)
My first Tom Waits album from this list. And kind of an odd one to start with. I know that a lot of people sort of took offense to the 'fake jazz lounge' concept of the album. I think it would have been cooler to be a real jazz bar for sure but maybe this is a little more controlled and less real life which I think was probably the intent. Tom Waits seems like he'd be an interesting guy to talk to. Especially back in 1975. Especially now, for that matter. I've always liked his music - he's got such a unique and fantastic voice. Particularly as he got older. It's definitely not for everyone. This album specifically, he sounds great as ever. I love the loose feeling of this record. The upright bass, piano, drums with brushes, sax - it all comes together and fits so well with what he's doing. I know it's a fake lounge but take it as you would a movie - you know it isn't real but you can imagine being there in person to experience it. It would have been so much fun. I think a lot of people (most?) would get a little bored with this. It plays basically like a long monologue accompanied by music. I love it. 5/5
What even is this suppose to be
Eggs and Sausage // Nighthawk Postcards // Warm Beer and Cold Women // Spare Parts I // Big Joe and Phantom 309 //
I like Tom, but this is low effort Tom that I'm not sure even Tom completists would vouch for. The back up band is solid, but Tom's ramblings add nothing. Don't let this album turn you off Tom though. This just happens to be in the bottom tier of Tom's discography.
I feel like Tom Waits did singing as a laugh and then someone signed him and the joke became lost. He has been forced to maintain it. Well the jokes not lost on me.
It's a really cool concept, sounds nice as well. But I don't see myself revisiting this all that often
I was waiting for Tom Waits! This one didn’t really do much for me, apart from that voice, it sounds more like A Nightclub, which isn’t my scene. Holding out for Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, Blue Valentine, and Frank’s Wild Years.
Loved this, I’ve listened to a lot of Tom waits, but never gave this album a try. Definitely a 10/10 and will be in constant rotation for me
2.5
Ik vind het wel nice, maar de manier hoe hij praat doet me denken aan trump, verpest het wel een beetje.
Not a huge fan
Not my jam. But a fun concept nonetheless. Tom Waits + jazz band ain't too bad
That one drunk guy at the bar who is also somehow quite talented. Delightfully unhinged, weird, raw. Love his raspy voice, creative and sometimes hilarious wordplay mixed with the smooth and well played jazz in the background. Ngl it feels like a one take impro where the band starts playing and he just start shittalking and half singing, but im all here for it.
Not terrible. But too long. Just a drunk at a bar telling stories over some light jazz. Would definitely be entertaining live, with a drink in a dark bar atmosphere. Going to be generous with a 3. But it’s just over the 3 line for me.
Originally ruined my day seeing another tom waits album. This was surprisingly tolerable
I see the significance of this album regarding influence on other musicians (also a lot of Rolf/Dr.T from the Muppets) but it’s just not my thing, the spoken lounge/jazz music - although the lyrics are impressive.
Lo escuché, pero no es lo mío
Oh god, this was terrible. I feel so bad for a 1 rating for the background musicians because they were the only good part of this whole thing. Too long, just talking or sing-talking for over an hour. I'd rather go to an actual jazz club. 1/5
This is like a raspy voice telling blues stories at a comedy night (with the crowd laughing). I have to say This is not my thing but I am really enjoying it. The little story intros before the songs really add to the experience.
LOVE the opening intro...until he 'sing talks' So honestly I didn't expect to like it this much - but it's 100% because of the jazzy tones behind him. Most Tom albums will sit at alike a 2-2.5 for me. But this might be a 3.5. Once again wish we could give it halves...but here we are! Keys are absolutely awesome. Also fun that the sax player is the same sax soloist from Steeley Dan's 'Deacon Blues'. An underappreciated legend who worked with: Chet Baker, Quincy Jones, Count Basie, Vince Guaraldi, and of course Mr. Waits. Music's a funny thing, man. You have gifted lyricists with incredible voices, you have incredible voices with shotty lyrics, and then you have Tom Waitts. Who during the recording, allegedly turned around to face the band and read the classified section of the paper while they played. 'It was like Allen Ginsberg with a really, really good band'
I can cope with jazz in small doses, but this was over an hour long and it bored me, despite the spoken word element.
Ma piace davvero a qualcuno?
This pretentious motherfucker.
Bit odd but ok
my high school's mascot is the nighthawks
2/10 - can bro just shut up omg. I am listening a music album not a comedy special. While I’m hating the people in the audience seem to like it. I don’t like the music too much and he’s just talking way more than necessary
Waits’ other album was at least strange in an interesting way. This one was a little disappointing; a lot more spoken word poetry which I don’t really like. Still an alright album
Aight
I promised myself to listen to this without skips and try to understand what the deal with Tom Waits is but ... Nah, couldn't make it. The album becomes boring too soon. The music itself is not bad at all. But the songs are all the same and those intros and laughs are annoying as hell.
Tom Waits’s voice is famously divisive, and for some listeners, it can be downright grating. It’s a gravel-pit growl that sounds like he gargled razor blades and whiskey for breakfast, with a tone that often borders on unintelligible muttering or aggressive barking. For those not attuned to his style, it can feel more like a test of endurance than a listening experience, making even his most heartfelt ballads feel like they’re being delivered by a malfunctioning garbage disposal. While some call it raw and authentic, others hear little more than an off-key croak dragging over a piano’s funeral. Pity really because beneath the voice were some engaging tunes. 2/5 7/6/25
The first Waits album I was exposed to. I think my wife loves it even more than me (if that’s possible). Great sound, great playing, great songs and the wonder that is Tom Waits.
Enjoyable enough, I liked the second to last song
Da bini chli schlecht worde mit de Albe willi mi ide erste wuche noni getraut han zum eigni musig z lose. Bim Tom Waits hani aber au ned so viel verpasst. Ischs en musiker oder en stand-up comedian? Han ufjedefalls wenig z lache gha. “Chlopf Chlopf” - “wer isch da?” - “Nurzwä” - “Nurzwä wer?” - “Nurzwäi Pünk für de Lustig”
Also has letst wuche glosst und sisch scho sehr speziel. Aber au fun. Findi cha mer mache. 3 motivierti biz verrücktig eichhörnlis
ABFAHRE! das hed mi also wüki fast scho hässig gmacht – isch es de allgemeini vibe? d'intros zu jedem track? d'live audience? de fact dass er nebebrueflich en chline comedian isch? oder eifach sini dummi stimm? weiss es nöd, aber wasi weiss isch, dass weni d'wahl ha zwüsched em gemälde «nighthawks» vom edward hopper und em album «nighthawks at the diner» vom tom waits, würdi mi i 1000 vo 1000 fäll für's gemälde entscheide
I appreciate the lyricism, delivery and musicianship of this, but it's a bit of a hard listen from end to end for me. This would probably land around a 4 for me if it were shorter.
Best Tom Waits album of the three we’ve had on this list so far.
There is no artist whose body of work rewards the listener for going in chronological order the way Tom Waits' does. Here, as Prince would later do on 1999, the artist refines his persona and his technique across an impressive, sprawling double album into something incredible, heretofore only partially glimpsed in his previous work. In both cases, the best was yet to come, but it's incredible to hear Waits see the whole picture, to feel it all click.
I liked this album. And I don't usually like live albums, but this one feels more like a comedy album set to music, and I like that about it. I like pretty much all of the songs, and though his voice is unconventional, it's only really off-putting on a few tracks. Overall very enjoyable. 3.75
Really cool live feel, entertaining
Well, I'd heard about Tom Waits for years but never made the effort to listen to him before. I've got catching up to do.
Brilliant
Not for me
Listened before?: No Tedious, for me.
Tough one to rate. I thought I was starting to get a taste for Tom Waits after Heart Attack and Vine. I didn't enjoy this one so much. The actual songs are pretty good here when he decides to perform something that sounds like music. Some great lyrics and storytelling as you'd expect, but about half the album is just talking and intros. That puts a cap on my score
One long monologue with some music in the background
Koncept jest niesamowity. Muzyka na żywo, instrumenty, śmiech, mówione wstawki. Jak w jazzowym lokalu, pełnym dymu i niedomytych szyb. Czułam się jakbym siedziała na wysokim stołku i sączyła łychę z kwadratowej szklanki. No ale… sama muzyka niezbyt domaga. Jest zbyt monotonna. Lubię waitsowy bełkot, ale tu każdy kawałek był taki sam. Nużyło mnie to. 6/10
Really fun album, I liked pretty much every track but due to the pseudo live nature of it I’m not sure how easy it’ll be to come back to
I liked this album, I like the sound of his voice doing spoken word over jazz. It makes me feel like I’m homeless, or a loner or something. It was cool, I’d like to listen to more Tom Waits.
wasnt expecting this to be a live album. also so different than the tom waits that im use to but it was great. loved the beatnik sound, so interesting to see the beginning of his sound start to be introduced through this.
I didn't get much out of this one. He always keeps it interesting though, it really does transport you to sitting in an intimate jazz-club. After a while the laughter did annoy me, it felt like hiring a laugh track Rating: 2.0
What the hell did I just listen to? I'm really regretting my decision to listen to all of each of these albums. Waits is not funny, and I hate every moment he is talking (and singing, but there is much more talking). +1 for the decent bluesy/jazzy music which I could probably like as an instrumental. +2 for the bassist who is way too good for this. -100 for the talking (and singing).
It is doing nothing for me, sounds like the drunken ramblings of an old man, where you kind of have to smile politely and edge away. Was it meant to be funny? The laughter reminded me of the canned laughter on friends when the joke wasn’t even funny
Wel leuk, maar iets te verhalerig
Really great idea - a kind of live concert, excelt it was plannned, by special invitation only and in a recording studio. Great performance and top class musicianship - but the songs aren't particularly memorable. I love Tom Waits, so I'm haappy listening to it, but it isn't one of his best in my view..
I own this record. It's been in my collection for 25 years. It's beat. I've tried to get into it multiple times. It flies over my head. Is it jazz? Is it a live album? Is it stand up? It feels like less than the sum of its parts. I don't know. It don't get it. I keep holding on to it because i feel like one day it will click. I guess it could see putting it on in the background because all the song are the same. But some of these long ass songs are tedious.
It's a vibe.
Felt like I was really there in a bar. I think it helped I listened to it on my Sonos speakers in my room while the sunset and I planned my week ('tis Sunday night).
This is the hundred eleventh album I’m rating. This is the second Tom Waits album I'm listening to. I hear this one is very different. Adding to my Playlist - On a Foggy Night, Better Off Without a Wife Not Adding to my Playlist - Opening Intro, Emotional Weather Report, Intro to on a Foggy Night, Intro to Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson), Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson), Intro to Better Off Without a Wife, Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street), Intro to Warm Beer and Cold Women, Warm Beer and Cold Women, Intro to Putnam County, Putnam County, Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission), Nobody, Intro to Big Joe and Phantom 309, Big Joe and Phantom 309, and Spare Parts II and Closing. Opening Intro - Weird but the jazz is nice. All in all I liked 2/18 songs. A concept album but I hate the concept. Also, for some reason I had to edit this because my thing didn't save.
Stories. Humor. Captures an atmosphere.
The music is wonderful and I can tolerate Tom Waits’s voice on here compared to his later work
Didn’t really get into it.
9/10 far from his best album, but he’s having fun and I like it :D
Another gem.
Good album
If I wanted to listen to jazz, I'd listen to jazz. If I wanted to listen to spoken word, I'd listen to spoken word. I would NEVER try to create both at the same time.
Emotional Weather Report is so smart - love his little laugh at the end of 'emotional situation' a bout a minute in. Fun lyrics on this album in general, but nothing stands out musically, so I preferred the 'intro' tracks. Gave up a few tracks in, as I can just read the lyrics without listening to nondescript music alongside!
I don't know, Tommy. I liked some of your other albums and admittedly this is the easiest it's been to hear you in 3 albums, but his is pretty corny. It's so over the top with the acting and skits, it hardly feels organic. Like I'm watching a sitcom with a laugh track. And it sucks becsuze I actually liked most of the music in this album, kind of an old school sleepy jazz, but this album is just really weird in its concept. Doesnt really do it for me. Also an hour and 15 mins was too long for basically all the same song.
This is my first time listening to Tom Waits and I really like it! This made me laugh a ton, his voice fits the music, and the intros and interludes and stuff are engaging (even if a few of them didn't have to be separate tracks). I do think the album fell off a bit after Nighthawk Postcards (from like a 9 to an 8) but besides that I really really enjoyed this. I hope Rain Dogs is like 10x better because I think that's his magnus opus, right?
I liked the live show format. I was completely unfamiliar with the artist before this.
Still not the biggest Tom Waits fan, but listening to this made me feel like I was in the crowd. There's a lot of fun in this very intimate setting, listening to a wild poet share some strange stories and play the hell out of the piano.
The glasses clink, and the laughter ensues, as Waits offers a live glimpse into his wildly witty mind unraveling over smoke-swirled jazz and beat poetry confessions.
I'm disappointed by the amount of hate that this album gets from some reviewers. Sure, it's a recreation of a live show in a smoky bar, by a gruff voiced dude, but I find it an excellent change from the usual overproduced glossy carp. Tom seems to love the banter and slipping into song, and the support band are on-point. "Better Off Without a Wife" always raises a wry smile from me.
единственное, что могло возвести в моих глазах это творение - какая-то ахуевшая история. почитал перевод. понял, что я ебал тома вейтса
It was just ok. Nothing more nothing less.
Egg and Sausage
Initially I had to get used to the gravel voice of Tom Waits, as I never listened to any of his songs before. Didn't expect it to be a live album. Decent album, didn't finish listening to it, even though I tried.
This is the third Tom Waits album I’ve gotten here, and I’m so tired of his gravelly voice. This combo of jazz, singing, comedy, and pseudo-intellectual philosophical insights might have been entertaining in person, but it’s not want I want to sit down and listen to. And from reading the comments I’m learning that the whole jazz club vibe is fake, which makes it that much worse.
I love Tom Waits so fucking much :-)
I fall into the camp that does not understand the appeal of Tom Waits. I find his growly, mumbling, booze-soaked sounding voice to be very annoying. His hipster patois as well. I don't find his sing-song, spoken patter/poetry(?)/stories to be humorous or appealing either. I couldn't finish this one. The only thing that is saving it from a one-star rating is that I like the jazziness and might actually see something pleasant in this if it were done by someone else.
Interesting album, really like the voice... not to sure about the talking parts Like the vibes tho 2/5
далековато от меня. на концерт бы сходил
Tom at his best. He has me at “I’m so god damn horny the crack of dawn better be careful” He’s great, the band is great, the crowd was great. Love it.
Tom Waits is like Marmite - you either love him or hate him, and I fall in the latter camp. As intended, the album conjures up the image of a smoky late night Jazz club, which is why I'm not really a fan.
I remember this night. Houmous & chutney were the warm up act. Tom was late. We managed to keep the crowd buzzed for some time. We weren’t sure when he’d arrive. When he did, 4 hours late, he tried to apologise. Without taking a breath Len looked at him straight in the eye and said ‘Tom Waits For No Man’ a remarkable moment! 4.8
Gillar inte hans röst!
This album really gives the vibe of a live jazz performance, and I've never heard an album of his, it was great, and the segments, the commentary really bring everything together. A notable record.
He’s so horny the crack of dawn has to watch out for him. Three parts jazz album, one part comedy routine? Definitely a vibe, but I don’t think I’ll return to it anytime soon.
Слишком высокие требования к знанию английского языка, спокенворд сплошной.
Surprised how much I enjoyed this given how long it is. I listened while at work so didn’t fully pay attention to what was said and missed some of the jokes, but it was generally pleasant to listen to and what I did pay attention to was good. I especially liked Big Joe and Phantom 309
What a vibe to listen to in the gym. I did really like it though. ‘I'm so goddamn horny the crack of dawn better be careful around me‘ Simpsons: guest star
Did not enjoy this. Does this need to have mini intros into multiple songs? It slows everything down and makes what's already an unnecessarily long album even longer. The lyrics aren't half bad, but the graverly voice over the top of them did grate on me after a while.
Was a vibe and I absolutely loved it. The talking bits were great, the songs were great, the piano. It was just perfect for me.
Decent jazz musicians but I don't know why anyone would ever listen to this
What a lovely evening this would be
I am surprised how much I liked this. It's like Raymond Chandler with a fantastic band.
I was not prepared for this album, but the raw and unfiltered energy that comes from this mournful grizzled old crooner who jumps from beatnik poetry to smooth jazz vocals to highly hilarious crowd work is both personal and breathtaking. I couldn't look away.
We've had at least one Tom Waits album on this list until now, and I was not that impressed with him then. But I must say I think I'm starting to change my mind about him. This album is thematically quite dark and moody, but it's very nice to listen to. It makes me want to go to some worn down jazz club in New York and smoke and drink Whiskey (even though I do neither). Also, I now see that Tom Waits always brings something new and unexpected with every album, which is very impressive! Perhaps not a single song that I felt "wow, what a banger", but the overall tone and feel of the album was great. Weak 4!
I like Tom Waits, his albums are always interesting and even his early work is just plain good. This is one of the earlier ones where he more is a jazz singer that anything else. I've listened to quite a few of these songs like "Eggs and Sausages" and "Better off without a Wife", both great songs. The band is great, special shout-out to the bass and piano player (maybe Waits?). So listening to it I was wondering if this was going to be a 5 star. As the album when on many songs felt very formulaic. Waits talks a bit with rhymes and about staying out late, being horny etc, then the songs kind of all sounds the same. Still the sound is great "Better off without a wife" has some great talk and lyrics, but it is slightly watered down by the other songs having similar tones. A good album just a little bit disappointed, weak 4 star.
Not my favourite Tom Waits album, but always enjoyable, with some great moments along the way.
even less-good tom waits albums aren’t that bad.
Like a (very) extended inside joke you're not in on. His heavily affected shtick is so punchable and none of his punchlines land. One star for the phrase "precarious pandemonium."
Ok, interesting but not my thing
no
Tom Waits blows!
Das Album ist so spaßig wie Wandern im Nieselregen. Dad braucht man nicht. Club Jazz und Blues zum vergessen. So oft wie in dieser Albumserie dieser Interpret erscheint lässt vermuten er selber oder der Chef seines Fanclubs beherrschen die Jury.
Tom Waits is perfect as always! Super album.
I don't get this. Is it supposed to be a jazz album? Comedy? Okay, so it is a jazz comedy album. I don't like that choice. I also really don't like the half-assed singing/talking. And I also don't like live albums. So, this is just kind of checking all my "don't like this" boxes. I feel bad for the other musicians, because they played great. The piano work is excellent. If this was an instrumental jazz album, I'd probably love it, honestly. Favorite Song(s): Better Off Without a Wife
An interesting one, if you can get past Waits’ voice which is as smooth broken glass soaked in gasoline and lit on fire. The quasi-live setting for the “jazz club” make you feel like this was recorded in a smoky barroom, not in the studio. Good stuff here.
3/5
Jazz, with spoken-word style vocals. Some entertaining lyrics
It’s incredible to me that a resurrected Civil War soldier can talk and eat and drink among us in the present day., and “sing” such terrific songs. This album came out in 1975, and he YET WALKS AMONG US TO THIS DAY. Tom Waits is the Unkillable Nicotine Troubadour.
Love me some tom
Tom Waits est certainement un interprète unique en son genre, mais on constate ici qu’il est aussi très charismatique, lui qui charme son public à chaque tournant. Un moment capté sur le vif, qui nous donne le goût d’y être
-this was a very interesting idea! Fake live album set in jazz club… I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like this in the list so far. Tom Waits has some cool ideas -it was a pleasant and convincing thing to have sort of on in the background, with some great individual songs, but definitely went on a bit long. oh well I guess that was part of the bit -Favorites are Eggs and Sausage and Better Off Without A Wife
ts better be funny or im gonna be pissed tom waits more like im tom waiting for this to end amirite im two tracks in and im already sick of it, why does this have to one and half hours. this the type shit madlib would sample at the end of a doom or quasimoto song, but its goes on for an hour. this just listening to your drunk uncle yap but theres jazz band accompanying him, and like he's mostly spewing bullshit but there randomly he says something really insightful im don't hate the lyricism (idk if its lyricism he's just yapping), this album just so arduous i can't stand it.
I loved this.
I thought this was going to be boring but boy was i wrong! I would have loved to be there
Incredible listen. I knew something like this would exist somewhere and i never expected to learn about it from here. Amazing stuff.
Two Tom Waits albums in the same week. And the same rating, same reason - I see the appeal, so not going to give it a 1, but I also just don’t like it. Also are there really 5 Tom Waits albums on this list but not a single Heart album??
This does nothing for me. Interesting style of music (playing jazz and talking over it) but it’s too hard to follow.
Overall: 9/10 This album is all about the mood. I feel like I'm in a seedy dive bar, half in the bag with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other. It's the kind of album you truly need to give full attention to and let the atmosphere wash over you to fully enjoy it. Tom Waits is the ultimate showman. He has more charisma and charm in his pinky finger than the rest of us have in our whole bodies combined. He seems like the type of man who would treat everybody like his best friend. It's no wonder that he ended up getting into acting as it seems like that was the next logical step. The idea to make an album like this is honestly genius in my opinion. If you don't want to hear a man basically do standup over some light jazz then this may not be for you. If you want to lose yourself in another world and vibe then you'll not find anything better than this. This may also be the highest rating I give to an album I don't plan on listening to often. Fav Song: Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission) Least Fav Song: Putnam County
Smooth listening jazz and blues. Great storytelling. Raw and expressive vocals.
## In-Depth Review of *Nighthawks at the Diner* by Tom Waits Tom Waits' 1975 album *Nighthawks at the Diner* is a unique hybrid of live performance and studio recording that showcases his early jazz and beat poetry influences. It is a record that combines spoken-word interludes, humor, vivid storytelling, and atmospheric music to create an immersive experience. Below is an in-depth analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Nighthawks at the Diner* are among Tom Waits' most evocative and imaginative works. Waits employs a variety of literary techniques—metaphor, personification, and vivid imagery—to craft a world that feels simultaneously familiar and surreal. For example: - **"Emotional Weather Report"** uses meteorological metaphors to describe the narrator's mental state: "With tornado watches issued shortly before noon Sunday / For the areas including the western region of my mental health / And the northern portion of my ability to deal rationally"[1][4]. This poetic approach turns introspection into a dramatic weather forecast. - **"Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson)"** animates diner food in a humorous way: "A veal cutlet left the plate, walked down the counter, and tried to beat the shit out of [his] cup of coffee"[1]. The absurdity of these lines underscores Waits' ability to transform mundane settings into extraordinary narratives. Waits also excels in creating characters that feel like archetypes of Americana—drunks, loners, diner patrons—while imbuing them with depth. Songs like **"Warm Beer and Cold Women"** lament heartbreak and alienation: "All these double-knit strangers with gin and vermouth / And recycled stories in the naugahyde booths"[4][5]. His lyrics are steeped in melancholy yet often punctuated with humor. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Nighthawks at the Diner* leans heavily on jazz influences, particularly swing rhythms and bluesy undertones. The album features live instrumentation from an accomplished band, including upright bass, saxophone, piano, and guitar. Highlights include: - The swinging rhythm section that propels tracks like **"Better Off Without a Wife"**, where Waits cheekily discusses bachelorhood with a mix of humor and resignation[2]. - The sultry saxophone lines and piano flourishes that create an intimate jazz club atmosphere throughout the album. While some critics have wondered whether these songs might have benefited from a traditional studio recording setup, the live setting breathes spontaneity into the performances. The interplay between Waits' growling vocals and the band's tight arrangements adds vitality to tracks like **"On a Foggy Night"**[3]. --- ### **Production** The production of *Nighthawks at the Diner* was designed to simulate a live jazz club experience. Recorded at Los Angeles Record Plant studio in front of a small invited audience, tables were set up with refreshments to recreate the ambiance of a late-night performance[6]. This approach makes the album feel intimate and conversational. Waits’ spoken-word introductions between songs are integral to its charm. These interludes blend stand-up comedy with storytelling, inspired by figures like Lenny Bruce. Lines such as “I’m so horny the crack of dawn better be careful around me” showcase his wit while deepening his persona as a bohemian raconteur[2][4]. However, some listeners might find this format polarizing; while it adds character to the album, it occasionally overshadows the music itself. --- ### **Themes** *Nighthawks at the Diner* explores themes central to Waits’ early career: 1. **Urban Nocturnal Life:** The album paints vivid scenes of late-night diners, smoky bars, and aimless wanderers. Tracks like **"Eggs and Sausage"** capture this milieu perfectly. 2. **Melancholy and Isolation:** Songs such as **"Warm Beer and Cold Women"** delve into loneliness and heartbreak. 3. **Humor Amid Despair:** Despite its somber themes, Waits injects humor into his narratives—whether through absurd imagery or witty banter. 4. **Americana:** The characters populating his songs embody distinctly American archetypes: drunks, vagabonds, diner waitresses—all inhabiting a world that feels timeless yet gritty. These themes establish *Nighthawks at the Diner* as more than just an album; it’s an immersive experience into Waits’ universe. --- ### **Influence** *Nighthawks at the Diner* was pivotal in shaping Tom Waits’ artistic persona—a drunken poet-philosopher chronicling life’s underbelly. The album marked his transition from romantic balladeer (as seen on *Closing Time*) to gritty storyteller—a persona he would refine further on subsequent albums like *Small Change*[3][5]. Its blend of spoken-word poetry with jazz influenced later artists who sought to merge music with narrative performance art. While not commercially successful upon release (peaking at #164 on Billboard), it has since been recognized as an important milestone in Waits’ career[6]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Unique Concept:** The hybrid live/studio format creates an engaging atmosphere unlike most albums. 2. **Lyrical Brilliance:** Waits’ wordplay is masterful, blending humor with poignant observations. 3. **Atmospheric Music:** The jazz instrumentation complements his storytelling beautifully. 4. **Character Development:** Waits’ persona shines through both his songs and interludes. 5. **Immersive Themes:** The nocturnal urban setting is vividly realized. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Polarizing Format:** Spoken-word interludes may detract from musical flow for some listeners. 2. **Uneven Song Quality:** A few tracks feel less essential compared to standout moments like "Emotional Weather Report." 3. **Limited Accessibility:** Waits’ gravelly voice and unconventional style may alienate casual listeners. 4. **Underappreciated Legacy:** Despite its artistic merit, *Nighthawks* remains overlooked compared to other albums in his catalog. --- ### Conclusion *Nighthawks at the Diner* is an ambitious record that captures Tom Waits at a critical juncture in his career. Its lyrical depth, jazzy musicality, innovative production style, and richly drawn themes make it an enduring work of art—albeit one that may not appeal universally due to its idiosyncratic format. For fans of storytelling in music or those seeking an introduction to Tom Waits’ early work, this album is essential listening despite its minor flaws. It stands as both an entertaining performance piece and a testament to Waits’ ability to turn ordinary settings into extraordinary worlds filled with humor, heartbreak, and humanity.
Jazzig und ganz sweet
After the last Tom Waits album I got, he got tossed in the Bob Dylan area of my brain. That is to never be listened to again. So I skipped this, and glad I did. I read other reviews from the challenge site, and I saved myself from agonizing torture.
I like his weirder records. This is too normal. Kind of boring.
Eclectic Tom. More like a slam poetry album.
I don't like Tom Waits, so this album was quite a surprise. I did like this album, but I likely won't ever listen to it again. The atmosphere created for this album makes me want to have attended the "show." The crowd sounds fun, and the seemingly improvised nature of Waits' performance sounds like a good time. The band is great too. I don't much care for when Waits actually attempts to sing, as he does in Warm Beer and Cold Women
Not as good as Rain Dogs (obviously) or Frank's Wild Year, Swordfishtrombones or some of the later efforts, but still worth hearing and entertaining for the most part, particularly in the right circumstance/mood. "Upon a Foggy Night," "Eggs and Sausage," "Warm Beer and Cold Women" and "Nobody" are the highlights. The best jokes are about the ambulatory veal chop beating up the coffee that "wasn't strong enough to defend itself" and of course the bit about " The playing is spot-on, if direct and expected in this context. This is borderline too talky / schtick-y at times and could be accused of sameyness, though one gets that talky, schtickiness and consistency of effect/vibe is sort of the point. If doing this floor show routine is what it took to revise his career, then so be it. He's a unique artist – a case could be made for sui generis – and this is a worthwhile entry in his canon.
Tom Waits as a quirky jazz lounge singer. What more could you ask for? The band is super tight, and Tom is at his gregarious and saucy best. I am not sure how much I'll put it in the rotation, as it does seem a little like a stand alone episode in a great series. Still, Tom is always engaging and an interesting listen.
A double album, lots of ambient noise, spoken word...this is not getting off to a great start. In my mind, I like Tom Waits...but this is just him talking...it's closer to a Mitch Hedberg album. Finally some singing on Better Without A Wife. There is just so much album. And now an eleven-and-a-half minute song. This is not a relaxing listen. I'm counting down the minutes until this album is over. Warm Beer and Cold Women is the best song to this point, not a hard bar to cross, but it's good. Each "song" is mostly the same. Nobody is an improvement. I like jazz trios but there's something pretentious and phony about this album.
1.75/5 I liked some of the faster jazzier parts but the intros and super dragged out songs made this a painful listen for me.
Arguably the best (possibly?) Tom Waits album I’ve had so far, but still bloody bad. Annoying voice, annoying little chuckles here and there, and background jazz. Not for me.
I think this album helped me to understand Tom Waits a lot more and I think would probably make his studio work more accessible. He clearly has a sharp wit and intelligence.
This album definitely has a vibe!
The recording setup is great, and the show is quite entertaining to listen to. :)
3.5? Kind of interesting for something different. Gravelly stranger voice but an interesting album.
An odd record for me. Blues / jazz spoken word, which intros to each ‘song’ that are barely distinguishable from the actual song itself. Not bad, but I would definitely need to be in a certain mood, and I’m not sure what that mood actually would be, to want to listen again.
This was an 8.5/10 for me-- it would have been higher if not for the second half of the album. I know Waits' vocal style isn't for everyone, but I had a lot of fun hearing his weirdly phrased anecdotes and strangely lyrics. It felt like being transported into old New York. The highlights for me were "Emotional Weather Report" "Eggs and Sausage" and "Better Off Without a Wife." I've heard Tom Waits a bit before, but this encouraged me to go deeper into his catalog!
really enjoyed this, love his voice and how he interacts with the crowd, works really well over some intricate musicianship, really good album
I knew absolutely nothing about Tom Waits before listening to this album. I love his raspy voice and delivery. I love that this is comedy/live and the laughter from the audience makes it even better. I did think I would get bored with it, but I didn’t!
I’m not really sure how I want to feel about this one. Waits certainly succeeds in capture the Jazz club “vibe”. I feel like he’s sitting right in front of me, puffing smoke right in my face. This is difficult to rate. Because it doesn’t really feel like Waits is the performer I came to see this night at the diner. It feels more like I came to the club and he sat across from me and drunkenly tries to have a conversation with me while I try to listen to the jazz band performing on the stage. I don’t know. Maybe if I spent some more time with it, it could grow on me. And maybe I could get into some other of Waits projects because my favorite moments are when he’s actually singing. I find his voice to actually work really well against the backing band. And can I say, the band playing is pretty fantastic. The bassist constantly steals the show for me - I’m a real sucker for upright jazz bass. I don’t know. Difficult one to give a rating since it’s just sooo different from other studio albums.
#525. Halfwayish through, and I've come to realize that list is not as good as it wants everyone to believe, and Tom Waits is one of the reasons why. At this point I'm kinda torn about quitting or pushing through when I know full well there's still a lot of trash of this caliber coming, there's no getting around that. 1/5: terrible
I like a few Tom Waits songs but i find this kind of music insufferably pretentious.
I didn't dislike it, but it got very repetitive quite quickly. I did make it the whole way through so it's a minimum 2 stars. However, at the basic level it's a jazz album and there are numerous other jazz albums I own that I consider way better than this, and they are not on this list. So I'm going to stick with 2 stars.
Live levy mikä ei oikeasti ole live. Äijällä härö nauru ja ääni. Joku huutistelee yleisössä. Spoken-wordia ja jazzia, kai jollain tavalla yrittää olla komiikkaa. En pysty keskittymään sanoihin. Eka se ärsytti, mutta ei tämä sit niin paha ollut. Kuitenkin lyriikoiden ymmärtäminen olisi isossa roolissa. Parhaat: Big Joe And Phantom 309 (Kappale kertoo rekkakuskista xd), Nighthawk Postcards
Didn't know what to expect, loved it. Very funny too
This was surprisingly good. It's so palpably Tom Waits, but also funny, earnest, and endearing at times. It's long, but it's a worthwhile listen. Shout out to the production crew for really capturing the ambiance.
I get what he's trying to do, and it kind of works, but it's not something I'd choose to listen to. I might enjoy reading an illustrated book of the lyrics more.
Album #500!! Every interlude track here is unnecessary. I don't like them in genuine live albums either, but this is especially egregious because the live element is completely manufactured here. Tom Waits could have easily let each track bleed into the next without the two minutes of gravelly boomer-banter separating each song. The lyrics and general attitude remind me of George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Sort of a "Hey, you old guys, you manly men, you with me? Wives are bad, eh? Drinkin' whiskey, heck yeah, it's sure darn good bein' Murican." Boomer-pleasing at its finest. But heck, at least George Thorogood has a pretty good rock-esque vocal. Tom Waits's voice is incredibly grating, especially after the first half hour when you realise you're only a measly 40% through the album. And normally the word "grating" in my review warrants an immediate 1-star rating – but there's some good stuff here too. I do like the pianist and especially the bassist on this album. The latter is clearly having a blast (or is putting on an extremely convincing façade of blastness) with his complex walking lines. The style is aggressively jazzy, almost begging for a better singer than the hostile mob that is Tom Waits. With a Fitzgerald, Vaughan, or Holiday, this could easily be a 4- or 5-star album – and a big improvement on the slog that is Fitzgerald's Gershwin Songbook. A missed opportunity for sure. All in all, Nighthawks At The Diner is of slightly worse quality than the other Tom Waits entry I've listened to, Rain Dogs. But not quite bad enough to warrant the "rating of shame". 2/5 Key tracks: Eggs And Sausage, Better Off Without A Wife, Nobody
Brilliant.
A smoky dive bar album. Loose, rambling, and a little too in love with its own coolness. Feels like Leonard Cohen and Dr. John met at a diner and spent the whole night chain-smoking and bullshitting. The stories are good, but the performance winks too much. You either sip along with it or walk out before last call. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Emotional Weather Report - Better Off Without A Wife
I guess no matter how far you get in this project there's always some more Tom Waits coming. I've rated previous albums 5, 4, 4, 2. This is straight ahead Waits, jazzy and fun but doesn't really need to be on this list, doesn't add much to my understanding of his work. Plus one star, though, for rhyming "typsy hacks" with "insomniacs".
I like Tom Waits… I hate this. He sounds exactly like what he’s referencing with his characterization of a drunk crooner, it just comes off more as comedy and performance art instead of engaging tuned.
Tom Waits is an acquired taste. I think I've finally acquired it. But not for this record. I dislike live albums generally, on the theory of "I guess you had to be there." I guess you had to be there.
strange
Sehr jazzig, die rauhe Stimme passt gut in die Atmosphäre, war für meine Stimmung am Morgen aber nicht geeignet. 2/5
jfc
I love this musically, but the spoken word, beat poetry vocals are not my favorite thing in the world. Lyrical content is good, sometimes funny, sometimes makes you think, but I find when I listen to Tom Waits, I want to be a fan of his more strongly than I actually enjoy his music. So who knows, maybe I’m just a poser?
Is there an instrumental version? I'd really like to hear this jazz band without their vocalist/comedian...
Live album that sounded way more loungey/jazzy than I anticipated for a Tom Waits album -- no nearly as mournful, raspy or dejected sounding as some of his other stuff. I liked it but it wasn't very memorable.
My favorite Tom Waits work I've heard thus far. Thanks for sending it over.
Here's another Tom Waits album that is not in my regular rotation, but which I thoroughly enjoyed.
This album is a feeling. Jazzy nightclub vibe with Waits crooning over the top. Unique. Very cool 1001 album worthy: Yes - 51/92
Cool concept, but still pretty boring and overly long.
2.8
Rating: 6/10 Pretty entertaining, Tom Waits is pretty funny but it sounds like one very long song.
What in the fuck is this guy talking about
incredible record, i can smell the smoke through the speakers. definitely not an album for all occasions. 7/10
How do I experience this album live this shit was so funny
Weird but decent
Better than the other one I listened to
loses a bit of the fun spontaneous sounding energy and jazziness towards the back end but brings it back solidly with the last track,l. I understand the change in vibe/ tempo from a composition point of view but the less jazzy slower songs are generally weaker than the rest. I really enjoyed the live jazz bar feeling, feels like a jam with great musicians at points. Production and sound design is super on point and really helps setting the stage/ ambience. Vocals take a second to get used to if you haven’t heard any Tom Waits before but it’s very soulful and I personally quite enjoy it. Instrumental performances are tight but don’t feel overly rehearsed and feel like they can breathe. A little bit too long though, could really benefit from dropping a couple of the weaker tracks. 3.5/5
Tom Waits music sucks
Het is een soort café optreden. Wat interactie met de gasten, vrijwel alleen piano, etc
Jag gillade det här. Lite oväntat. Tom Waits röst är väldigt behaglig att lyssna på. Kommer lyssna igen.
Brorsan lyssnade en del på tom waits, det finns ju grymma låtar. Det känns som en artist som hit and miss. Detta var en miss. Rätt jobbig "musik". Hoppas få höra bättre skivor med Waits (albumet downtown train är på kanske?)
Att det är studioinspelat med fejkad jazzklubb ger lite avsmak. Eggs and sausage är en bra låt och jazzen är det inget fel på, men på det stora hela är det för mycket ointressant snack och i övrigt inte så spännande.
Cabaret Jazz Comedy - not a popular genre. Entertaining for sure.
Vrlo specifičan i simpatičan album ali mi spada u red slabijih waitsova
Another artist I had heard the name but knew nothing about, this was quite the pleasant mix of jazz and comedy. I did know the Red Sovine version of Fantom 309 (my dad played a lot of Red Sovine). Very fun album.
Tom Waits is weird but I always like it. Enjoyed this one more than expected.
This is definitely not my favorite Waits album by far, but I still loved it and want to give him four stars for the few great songs on here.
1/5
Now that I properly know who Tom Waits is and cleared up the Petty confusion, I was excited to hear more. I had just finished up a witty album before this one and you'd think I'd be all over this. However, I just didn't vibe with this one. It was a bit to slammy? Or just talky in general. There were a few good tracks and had I been present at the recording it probably would have been ok to go along with a nice multi-course meal, but I probably did a disservice listening during weekend chores. A couple of songs were relatable, but I was mostly waiting for it to end. Still optimistic about more from Mr. Waits later on, I just hope those have a little more music and a little less talking. Favorite track "Better off without a wife" 2/5
Although I ended up enjoying this album for the most part, the beginning filled me with dread, with the extended monologues. I would have much preferred a shorter album with the majority of the jokes and spoken introductions removed. I imagine that they would grow tiring on repeat listens. I'm still going with 4 stars, because the atmosphere was compelling.
8.5/10. Wow, THAT is entertaining. After trying to gather some information about this album, it appears that it is a faux live album, or a studio album that was recorded with audience ambience. The concept is really interesting, and Tom Waits is quite fun to listen to. It's awesome!!! :)
Now that’s a good use of a live album. Feels like I’m at the fake jazz club in LA, enjoying his charisma, and vibey jazz band, and everyday lyricism.
Sipping coffee while listening to Waits yapping over a saxophone just hits different.
I was surprised to find out that this is a live record? The instrumentation is sharp, and Waits' is as entertaining of an MC as he is a crooner. Relaxed, sexy, and breezy.
Just not really my bag at all. He's like a comic. Idk it's weird. Times have changed lol. I just personally didn't find this very thrilling. I don't like his raspy voice. Of all the albums I've listened to so far, this was absolutely the hardest for me to get through, sorry Tom. I just didn't really like anything about it, unfortunately. I honestly couldn't even listen to it all the way through. It was like nails on a chalkboard to me.
I like tom waits but this album was not for me
++: (Opening Intro), Emotional Weather Report, (Intro), On a Foggy Night, (Intro), Better Off Without a Wife, Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street), (Intro), Warm Beer and Cold Women, Putnam County, Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission), Nobody, Spare Parts II and Closing +: Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson), (Intro), Big Joe and Phantom 309 +-:(Intro) -: (Intro) 7,7/10
It might be the Beat poetry aspect of his style, but it kinda sounded like an old drunk guy sitting around telling stories with some musical interludes. Not as terrible as that description makes it sound though.
WHEEEE!!!!! idk if i will ever be a full on tom waits convert i think i just can't like... get INTO into it in the way i want... but i really enjoyed listening to this as almost like a stand-up set. fun!
Tom waits for nobody
sorry, this is too white for me
this is basically an old chap just chirping over some late night jazz. his voice has a distinct, smoky, laidback tone to it. eggs & sausage and both of the “spare parts” songs were the highlights. honestly felt like some songs on the album were too long, and it felt like he lost direction at one point
had not previously heard tom waits' earlier stuff. stylistically, the differences from his 80s output is striking. this seems a tom waits who had not yet subsumed the ethos of trout mask replica. here, waits is content to play the part of eccentric blues man. normally not crazy about live albums; broadly, my issue is that live albums despite the purported intention of immersing the listener—making them feel as if they were actually there—tend to fall flat by artificially refining the setlist and "flow" of the performance. what we typically end up with is compilations of inferior—albeit sometimes rawer—recordings of already released tracks. at that point, the live album merely draws attention to the fact that you are not in fact there. nighthawks at the diner transcends that trope. this is the live album executed to its prophesied intention. the recordings feel very much alive, delicately maintaining a nocturnal jazz-club intimacy. the intros are mostly great (and funny). lyrically, exactly what i'd want from tom waits. imagery is wonderfully evocative, verging on poetry. does not fully justify the 80 minute runtime, so could benefit from tighter tracklist. also can't help but crave the oddball affectations and beefheart-esque production that define his later works. at its best, feels like listening in on the ramblings of a sage drunk. sidenote: tom waits has an elite face, oddly congruent with his music (physiognomic determinism?). a face like that is not capable of making sanitized pop music. a face like that can only make music for sickos.
Lot of talking over jazz. Got bored, didn't have the attention to really pay attention to what he was saying. More listens definitely needed. Will these listens happen anytime soon? i think not.
Definitely captures jazz club atmosphere. Burger and fries, hashbrowns with that swinging piano, crezy. I love the atmosphere this creates, but seems full enjoyment of this album requires time to listen to what Tom is saying, and like him as a person. 3.5
Good storytelling, but the music was not my thing.
It was weird but good
This album is a delight. Tom Waits is in late-night drunken poet mode and he has an excellent jazz band backing his spoken word stories and wordy one-liners. There are too many good lines here to write them all down but I jotted down two in the moment. One is right at the top: “I’m so goddamn horny, the crack of dawn better be careful around me.” And later, describing himself walking down the street drunk, he says he’s “using parking meters as walking sticks.” Puts the image right in your mind. The story behind this album is interesting and the Wikipedia write-up is worth a quick read. It's technically a studio album but to recreate the live feeling of a jazz club, they invited audience members to drink and sit at tables in studio and recorded a total of four performances across two days. They even had a burlesque dancer as the opener. Such a cool idea. The energy of the live recording is perfect.
Tom's sound is raw and rough and rugged and yet also refined, and in some ways warm and comfortable. I really enjoyed listening to this and appreciated how well the production captured his dynamic qualities. It all sums up into a nice album. It's a good thing I'm not hungry because Tom really does take you to the diner here. His crooning on "Eggs and Sausage" feels like I'm back to my late teenage years and trying to sober up at a New Jersey 24 hour establishment and my eyes are scouring an oppressively long menu and not ever finding something I want to eat until I land on one magical item that is actually exactly what I want.
Either genius or a terrible open mic night.
Classic
Rly jarring voice. Music is alright
Darn.... this isn't available on Spotify. I'm devastated /s Normally I would find this on YouTube or something, but considering I've utterly despised the other 5 Tom Waits albums on this list, I'm going to go ahead and save myself the trouble.
So good. So Tom waits
Love.
Love me some Tom Wait - especially live and intimate!
My usual reaction to Tom Waits... interesting, but not entertaining. I rather like his persona and storytelling, also versatility in the compositions. It listened at times like theater or a comedy album. Probably decently fun as a live show. Just not my bag-of-bananas.
This is a very well realized concept album. There are many shades of Tom Waits. This version, entertaining though it may be, is not my favorite. I'm all about the ballads. This still has some charm, and his Seth Rogan-like laugh in the intros to songs gets him bumped up to a 3 star.
Am more of a fan of his later works but this is still great
listened to again this is poetry at its finest
I'm on the fence with this one. I get it, its a cool set-up, at least in the appearance of a "live jazz club". But Tom kind of drones on and one sometimes and I loose the focus of what is actually going on. I also struggle to hear him sometimes. It's like a lot of mumbling and grumbling. The album is different for sure and I can see it as something to check out at least once, but I struggle to think of actually wanting to listen to this ever again.
Tom can sing a weather report (albeit an emotional one) and I dig it.
Tom's "neo-noir hangdog vagabond persona", as someone else here described it, hits me like nails on a chalkboard. The music and songs are good, I just can't listen to the man.
Unless you know what you’re getting into with this album, it might catch you off guard. The first time I listened, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but now I know to save it for when I’m in the right mood. When I do, it really pulls me in. Despite the album title and the audience engagement, this isn’t actually a live album, it’s his third studio album, recorded in the studio with a small audience to capture that live feel. The whole thing feels like a performance in a smoky, dimly lit jazz club. Along with the shift in musical style, Tom Waits’ voice takes on a much more gravelly tone and a laid-back, almost lazy delivery. As for the singing, it’s more of a blend of spoken word and beat poetry.
Sort of hard-boiled, noir-ish comedy as much as music (albeit the band are brilliant). Amazing storytelling; sad, grimy, lonesome yet richly compelling. Nocturnal melodrama indeed. This might have baffled me a bit as a youngster but Tom Waits seems to sneak up on me with age. Like.
Waits is absurdly compelling and magnetic on this faux-live recording from the greatest fictional venue since the Star Wars Cantina. And JESUS that is a well-playing band!
“Okay, so how did you imagine getting that live sound on your upcoming album?” “Hear me out. We will all play at the same time - in front of an audience!” “Oh, so it is a live album then?” “WHAT?! No! I must be explaining it badly … You see … “
yikes
I'm still trying to figure Tom Waits out, but I guess we all are. Whatever this genre is, it's awesome.
Hilarious and classic. I love it.
Kiva konsepti, hassua että tätä kuuntelee ihan mieluusti levyltä kuin tällaista voisi livenä kuunnella. Ok hauska, mutta käy vähän tylsäksi jatkaa suht samaa melodiakulkua, tai siis taustaa, tunnin verran puheen taustalle. Mutta erottuu joukosta. Kaks puol.
Kornista "klubi"-asetelmasta huolimatta jollain tapaa sympaattista. Jopa jazz menee, koska se on riittävän New Orleans. Saattaisin jokusen biisin kuunnella toistekin.
“$h1tehawks at the Diner” I want to buy the vinyl version and melt it into an ashtray apposite for this gravelly-voiced, unfunny and dull effort. Would make it onto my list of 1000001 best albums. I suppose you had to be there.
The Good: First Tom Waits album on the list The Bad: The smirky giggle he does ones too often The Ugly: That the album is classified as Folk and Singer Songwriter Consider me a Tom Waits fanboy, which means I’d love to have a talk with all the people who give this album a 1* star, and complain about his voice… it is all an act, one large monologue almost, while playing the piano, and improvising… Pure poetry. Having said all that… not my favorite Tom Waits album. This is one where you really need to sit down, in an environment that oozes disconnect, with an ample supply of your favorite spirits… As a fanboy, I should give 5*… right? After all, there’s a blur drizzle down the plateglass, as a neon swizzle stick is stirring up the sultry night air...
It was okay - I like to imagine me being in a little club watching and listening to this. Funny that it was kinda faked, and done in a studio. Still invokes thoughts of the way it used to be. somewhere.
He sounds like a drunken sailor
Thought I hated Tom Waits, but got proved completely wrong.
Really, this guy again? At least this time it was listenable.
Boy oh boy this man must have some serious hold over the critical consensus. Because this is one tough listen, essentially one jazz track with mumbling over the top. Trout Mask Replica at least had the decency to stay a single album.
It's very jazzy, oddly comforting somehow. But it's not my favorite Waits album, and I think this one kinda dragged on for too long, being a double album. 3/5
Not a big fan and if I like an album it’s Closing Time.
I never listen any album of Tom Waits - now I know why
Emotional Weather Report 2025 My little fluffy dog's got an appointment at the salon and I've got my Ugg boots and black Columbia puffer jacket on. It's winter with no hint or notion of spring or suntan lotion, just snow showers and snow plowers and a slow two hours browsing spare parts in Target instead of driving around in the slushy mush. There's a weak warm front coming in the form of a Starbucks Cortado, no rush in this suburban El Dorado. This coffee's not strong enough to defend itself from the hurricane of Karens tropical storming the shelves. I'm on a mission for diapers and a new brush for my windshield wipers. Listening to Nighthawks at the Diner and laughing at each one-liner. Yeah, Saturday morning expect things to be uncool but cold, that's getting old, that's life but I'm still better off with a kid and a wife. From Monday to Friday, we anticipate high pressure and slogginess, Friday night may bring a pleasant fogginess and the weekend's precipitation is familial frogginess, so I'm slogging through errands while I wait for her dogginess. It's freezing. Sneezy breezes with a high percentage of drips and coughs and congestion will recede following Mucinex ingestion. They're calling for 4 to 5 inches of the white stuff, and 20 minutes of labor shoveling out my neighbors because I've still got the right stuff. The emotional forecast improves with the introduction of tunes that move and groove, an album that is boisterous and humorous for a morning moisturous and cumulus. “Shopping music that's not too interruptive” might not have been the goal, but I'm a cold woman in need of chili in a bowl and Tom Waits for the soul and a warm beer. It's a high of ‘25 with a real feel of feeling real good this year.
Great story telling; a special live album.
God help me, I listened to a fair bit of this album. I just don't like his voice. Some of the instrumental aspects were quite nice though like the piano on better off without a wife
When someone mentions Tom Waits to me, two things come to mind: "The Wire" and Nick Cave, the first one being one of the greatest TV shows that have graced our screens, the theme song of which is created by Waits, and the second one being one of the most profound and ingenious songwriters whose sound, heavily influenced by Waits, has graced our sound systems. Where to start? The excellent five-piece band led by Waits, the fact that this was his third album, at only 25 years of age, the fact that, even though it is a studio album, gives the listener a feeling of a live, unplugged album set in a jazz bar, his audience, his lively and humorous intermezzos between songs, his coarse voice, which adds to the realism of this record... I could go on, but none of this could present you even one percent of the record as well as listening to it would.
Led to some coffee shop jazz but couldn't get into it.
What an enigma… not my favorite, but definitely interesting!
Enjoyed the jazzy bluesy vibes. Could have done with some of the filler tracks being edited out.
Well that was awful
I enjoyed it for a couple of tracks but did not need that much of this guy just rambling
Tom Waits is so good, this is maybe not his best work but it’s still a great record.
So fucking cool
Definitely going back to hear this one again.
It's alright, kind of a live musical comedy show. I'm not sure I enjoyed it since I was relieved when it was over. I'm sure he is legendary for doing this type of work but it isn't my thing.
What an interesting atmosphere creating album. This puts you in a certain place and time like not many albums can. Dim bar type of vibe, funny storytelling in between songs. Music isn't anything groundbreaking but a cool find
Good music and nigh unbearable logorrhea. Tom Waits seems like one of those dudes who’s drunk on his own shoddy poetry.
Overall the cutesiness ran a bit long, but Nobody and Big Joe rounded out the set with sincere sweetness
Kosmisk kaos stemning på = Eggs and Sausage. Det er klart det nummer som jeg er gladest for. Albummet er den, indtil nu, mest hyggelige, atmosfæriske, og intime live plade oplevelse. Det er langt, men der er ens tid værd.
Fantastisk stemning. Fantastisk stemme. Et suverænt album til at drikke øl med gutterne til
Better than the previous Tom waits album I listened to (heart attack and vine) excellent band and a more cohesive album but he’s still not for me
Mein erstes Tom Waits Album! Hat viel Spaß gemacht beim hören, sehr athmosphärisch, wenn ich jetzt nur noch verstehen würde, was es da zu lachen gibt!!?
This was an interesting album. Waits is a strange cat. He talks at various parts in the album and, to be honest, his singing is not much different than the way he talks. He is a storyteller through song and as you listen you can imagine the scenes he describes. In the end, a little Tom Waits goes a long way. I struggled to make it thru the album.
It's kind of hard to call this an album. It does a great job of capturing the feel of the performance though. Worth being on the list. Can't imagine I'll come back often but I'd like to be in a room where this was happening.
The audio quality is great. I enjoyed this listen and I'm glad this exists. Wouldn't be in a regular rotation. I don't think this needs to be on this list.
Such a defining album that helps appreciate the groove Waits finds and rides like a wave.
Love Tom Waits but really struggling with this album. Finally got to Big Joe and Phantom 309 and dig that one a little more
Tom Waits. Always recognized. This is the perfect diner experience.
Went on a bit too long. I got the point after 4 songs. 3/5
Tom Waits is one of my guys, if not my definitive guy. That said, I've not listened to too much of his pre-Frank's Wild Years albums. This was a delight start to finish. I would have loved to be in that audience. I would start smoking just so I could be at a little cabaret table with a tiny lamp in the middle, smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes. Album Cover: (A)
I loved everything about this album. Tom's voice is awesome, the lyrics are funny, the crowd interaction is fantastic, and the jazz is immaculate. It's a very unique album. I love the concept. It was recorded in a few sessions at an LA club with the aim of emulating a classic jazz club. They definitely succeeded in that. It all blended together in a good way for me. It felt like one long experience rather than individual songs. I don't have any specific songs to shout out. It was super long, but that didn't bother me. 9/10
Do people actually like listening to an album like this? Definitely not me. It’s just a bunch of rambling that you can barely understand. I wanted to turn it off after about 30 seconds and it didn’t get any better over the next 75 minutes. No thanks.
Spoken word is not my thing.
This is the kind of Jazz I like! Loved having this on in the background while I worked. Made me feel very cozy!
Die Musik gefällt mir ja recht gut, interessante Stimme. Die Texte scheinen recht lustig zu sein, jedenfalls lachen die Zuschauer öfter. Aber ich verstehe kein Wort, auch nicht, wenn ich mir den Text anzeigen lasse.
Especially for an over an hour album, I really enjoyed this rambling over jazz playing lol.
I'd give it negative points if I could. A drunk man rambling. How did this make the list. This album gave me AIDS
vibes
I love jazz and a good storyteller! The atmosphere is really cool. The big flaw of this album is the lack of immersion. There is a very specific chemistry between Tom and the audience that was captured for the album, but the only feeling it gives me is the desire to be there live and enjoy that moment. Under no circumstances would it make me go out of my house to buy this album, because it is not the same. Performances like Tom Waits' are intimate and have something very special, but only at the moment of the performance. It does not work well on a recording. In short: Great performance, terrible album. I will give it 3 stars because I like storytellers!
This put a smile on my face when it came up. First time I heard Tom Waits I was blown away. I enjoyed this album tremendously for several reasons. 5 stars.
The weirdest Tom Waits album I've heard to date I think, and I doubt I'll listen to it much. The jokes are kind of sometimes hard to understand, but hey, it's Tom Waits.
The great Tom Waits improvising live jazz with great jazz musicians. What could go wrong with it?
Like a dream of an authentic nightclub experience.
I’m not a massive fan of Tom Waits in general, based on my previous exposure to his music, but I gotta say, I liked this. It was recorded in front of a small, invited audience at Record Plant LA studios over two days (nights?) in July of 1975, so it has a nice live and loose feel to it, with a touch of the Jack Kerouac’s in Waits’ delivery of the material, and backed by an excellent jazz band. In fact, they probably steal the show and are the unsung heroes of the album. These guys are first rate musicians and deserve their own record. So, overall then, sure ‘Nighthawks At The Diner’ is probably a bit of a slog to listen to in one hit, but there’s a lot to like here, and it certainly, unexpectedly won me over.
70 minutes of a guy telling unfunny jokes over bland jazz music. "I don't have to ask permission if I wanna go out fishing" Fuck off.
This did not appeal to me.
I just can't.
Not my thing at all however I appreciate him as an artist.
Working mans jazz. Strips away any pretentiousness. They songs all flow seamlessly. A good listen. It can run a bit long, but a good time overall.
Very difficult to listen to
1.5
Not my type of music
Bob Dylan sounds like a Classically trained opera singer in comparison to Tom Waits. Like nails on a chalkboard.
i’m sorry. no i am not actually. some of the music really slaps tho could i write poetry to this? n
A double album?!? For me, the schtick wears thin pretty quickly. I know that most people think that Tom Waits is just the coolest cat there is. I don't see (or hear) it. But, he's made the schtick work for over fifty years, so what do I know? One star from me. Plus a half-star because Waits' piano player's daughter is Wendy of Prince & The Revolution.
Look, I probably like Tom Waits more than anyone else in this group. But this is a bit much.
I actually liked this one a lot more than Heartattack and Vine. But it's just too much. The same thing for over an hour. No thanks.
I turned on the first song and hated it. Once I started paying attention to the music, I thought it was the best thing I'd heard in my life. I'd definitely sit at that damn with a slice of pie and some tomatoes for times he won't shut the fuck up. Fav Songs: Eggs and Sausage, Warm Beer and Cold Women, Putnam County
I like Tom Waits' storytelling approach to his music, and the recording of this album in front of a small audience to simulate a jazz club is a pretty cool concept, it definitely hits that vibe. Its not exactly my jam, but I can appreciate it. I have a hard time picking out one or two songs to focus on, the nature of the way it was recorded translates into listening to it the same way, as a whole. Pretty cool concept.
Tom Waits seems like a charming, affable low life and I it’s very endearing. This is a fun album. I couldn’t imagine listening to individual songs on it as it plays better as a whole. Good stuff!
Hideous
One's a fan but this is a bit too talky and floor-showy for one's tastes, but glad it helped revive/sustain his career. Certainly it feels authentic and seems like the crowd was into it. "Upon a Foggy Night" and "Warm Beer and Cold Women" and "Phantom 309" are the highlights. Piano and sax playing are here and there inspired. This is a full notch below Rain Dogs and Swordfishtrombones and even Frank's Wild Years. Still, rounding up for its uniqueness; few, if any, other artists coulda pulled this off.
From the heart of Saturday night (ISH). Although not a truly spontaneous live record it is a live record nonetheless and a beautiful Tom waits record. As much songwriting as theatre but buy the ticket and take the ride into the seedy underbelly of neon lit night inhibited by the wild side of life and the mundane flip side of existence. A genius 5*