Mailbag Episode #2

Happy New Year! 2019 brings Song by Song back to take another look through the listener mail we've received over the last year or so. Check out the show notes below for more links and details of the songs discussed.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Just Another Sucker On The Vine, Swordfishtrombones, Tom Waits (1983)

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Pieces of a Man, Gil Scott-Heron (1971)

Don't Get Around Much Anymore, The Duke: The Columbia Years, Duke Ellington (1927-1962?)

Click here for the text of the play Frank's Wild Years, courtesy of The Tom Waits Library
Beulah Land, Complete Studio Recordings, Mississippi John Hurt (2000)

Beulah Land, Avalon Blues: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt, Gillian Welch (2001)

Click here for the ABC network 'Take 5' interview with Tom Waits promoting Bad As Me.
Bella Ciao, Songs of Resistance 1942-2018, Marc Ribot/Tom Waits (2018)

On The Nickel, via YouTube, Puddles Pity Party (2017)

Hang On St. Christopher (demo) via YouTube

Temptation (demo) via YouTube

Please Wake Me Up (demo) via YouTube

More Than Rain (demo) via YouTube

Train Song (demo) via YouTube

Log into the Spotify web player to hear these tracks.

Jockey Full of Bourbon - Rain Dogs [110]

Our conversation leaves the public space of Kings Place, returning to the seclusion of our normal recording environs (albeit separated by the North Atlantic Ocean) for another twofer with Martin and Sam. Talking through the lyrics and music found in this fourth song from Rain Dogs, we again visit some of the question of style vs substance, as well as spending some time discussing the unique musical stylings of Marc Ribot.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Jockey Full of Bourbon, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985)

Fat Man Blues, Silent Movies/Live Version, Marc Ribot (2010)


Log into the Spotify web player to hear these tracks.