Everything Goes to Hell - Blood Money [303]

Back with Martin & Sam, Bárbara and Fran find a little more danceability this week, albeit in a more cliched image of doomed relationships and gender roles. With some consideration of cabaret numbers and cowboys, we take a look at how Waits shapes the tone of the album, and whether everyone needs a nap.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Everything Goes to Hell, Blood Money, Tom Waits (2002)

I'm Tired, Blazing Saddles Soundtrack, Madeline Kahn (1974)


Straight To The Top (Rhumba), Franks Wild Years, Tom Waits (1987)

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney, Whitney Huston (1987)

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Misery Is the River of the World - Blood Money [302]

Fran James and Bárbara Mendes-Jorge of the Over/Underrated podcast join Sam & Martin to kick off season 20 with a song about the saddest body of water you can imagine (feedback pending). We compare to other wet songs from musical theatre, discuss vocal quality and tone, and touch on the difference between enjoyment and analysis.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Misery Is the River of the World, Blood Money, Tom Waits (2002)

Old Man River, Showboat, Paul Robeson/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (1936)

Ol' Man River, single, Ray Charles/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (1963)

Ol' Man River, The Concert Sinatra, Frank Sinatra/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (1963)

Ol' Man River, Cilla, Cilla Black/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (1965)

Ol' Man River, Should Sister, Aretha Franklin/Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (1966)

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Woyzeck background - Blood Money [301a]

Returning to deliver our GCSE Drama lecture for the season, Callum Hughes chats with Martin and Sam about the theatrical history of Woyzeck, some of the themes present in the play, and gives us a jumping off point for the Waits album to come.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Misery Is the River of the World, Blood Money, Tom Waits (2002)

Woyzeck to go (Buechner in 9 minutes), Sommer's World Literature to go, via Youtube (2017)

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The Alice Demos - Alice [301]

Sam and Martin re-reconvene to dig into the Alice material that doesn't appear on the studio album. Great… because this show wasn't niche enough… We explore Waits's interpretation of Jabberwocky, his field-recording improvisations, the possible use of instrumentals in the play, and look back at the album as a whole.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
One Two and Through (Jabberwocky), The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

What Became Of Old Father Craft, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
Currently not found streaming
Falling Down The Lane, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Instrumental 5, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
(Note that instrumental numbering by this YouTuber is different from the order that appears on the album.)

Instrumental 4, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
Currently not found streaming
Instrumental 9, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Instrumental 10, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
Currently not found streaming
Alice Documentary, The Late Show (BBC, UK) - via YouTube (1992)

Alice Documentary, unknown origin - via YouTube (1992)

German language Alice Documentary, unknown origin - via YouTube (1992)

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Fawn - Alice [300]

Sam and Martin reconvene for their third centenary, concluding Alice with this delicate, pretty-yet-textured instrumental. We've got discussion of mythical creatures, we've got an unpacking of the value in novelty songs, and we've got a hard left-turn in the interval track choice.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Fawn, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

French Toast Man, Car Radio Jerome, Fred Lane & the Hittite Hot-Shots (1986)

Icepick to the Moon, live at the Saturn (Birmingham AL), Rev. Fred Lane & His Disheveled Monkeybiters via Youtube (2020)

The Mesopotamians (music video, dir. Cowles), The Else, They Might Be Giants (2007)

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Barcarolle - Alice [299]

Waits struggles against the passing of time (and perhaps the classical form of the song) this week, as Celine chats with Martin & Sam about beauty and clarity, song forms versus meaning, and why we don't do more opera on the show.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Barcarolle, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Belle nuit, o nuit d'amour (Barcarolle), The Tales of Hoffman (Act IV), Ann Murray / Jessye Norman / Jacques Offenbach (1988/1881)

I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You, Rough and Rowdy Ways, Bob Dylan (2020)

Tonight Is So Right For Love, G.I. Blues, Elvis Presley (1960)

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Fish & Bird - Alice [298]

Sound the klaxon; Martin reaches the apex of his Song by Song journey, as his discusses the beauty and elegance of this track with Celine and Sam. The contradictions of the narrative, the expression of the impossibility of (some) love, and a key link to Waits's collaboration with Brennan all feature in our conversation.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Fish & Bird, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Exit Music (For A Film), OK Computer, Radiohead (1997)

Reeperbahn, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
Not currently able to find a version online
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I'm Still Here - Alice [297]

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
I'm Still Here, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Playing Nancy, Groundhog Day The Musical, Rebecca Faulkenberry / Tim Minchin (2017)

Footage of Alice Liddell from her USA trip, via YouTube (1932)

Alice Documentary, unknown origin (I'm Still Here sung by Annette Paulman & Tom Waits, beginning to 1m54s) - via YouTube (1992)

Ten Thousand Years (Part 1), Imaginary Advice podcast 72, Ross Sutherland (2020)

Imaginary Advice · 72 Ten Thousand Years (Part 1)

Ten Thousand Years (Part 2), Imaginary Advice podcast 73, Ross Sutherland (2020)

Imaginary Advice · 73 Ten Thousand Years (Part 2)

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Reeperbahn - Alice [296]

Waits leaves the theatre and heads out to the streets, with Sean, Sam and Martin (as well as Udo Lindenberg) in tow. Discussion ranges from the image of Hamburg’s red-light district across the last 50 years, German re-purposing of US rock (and vice versa), and locational nostalgia from around the world.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Reeperbahn, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Reeperbahn (Penny Lane), Lindenbergs Rock-Revue, Udo Lindenberg (1974)

Reeperbahn, Bunte Republik Deutschland, Udo Lindenberg (1989)

Reeperbahn, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Reeperbahn, recorded live at the Thalia Theatre Alice premiere, December 19, via YouTube (1992)

Alice Documentary, unknown origin (cued to 7m18s - tour of the Reeperbahn) - via YouTube (1992)

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Watch Her Disappear - Alice [295]

Sean Real returns for a second week with Martin and Sam, to discuss a song that faces the complex and perhaps uncomfortable relationship between Dodgeson and Alice head-on. We talk about the intensity and intimacy of the recording sound, as well as the intensity and intimacy of naked women running through the streets of Coventry.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Watch Her Disappear, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Peeping Tom, Monkey Man, The Metals (1969)

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We're All Mad Here - Alice [294]

Multi-instrumentalist and 99pi music producer Sean Real joins Sam & Martin to discuss coherent and incoherent images of madness. Our discussion revolves around the song's gothic viscerality, the texture of both album and demo versions, and head back to a late 60s' image of the madness in Wonderland.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
We're All Mad Here, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

White Rabbit, Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane (1967)

Hang Me In The Bottle, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

White Rabbit, Conspicuous Only in Its Absence, The Great Society (1966/1968)

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Lost in the Harbour - Alice [293]

Never lost for a conversation, Jo, Miranda, Martin and Sam take a look at the theatrical and political context of Waits's less-mannered song of longing. We return to some conversations from recent episodes, consider Kathleen Brennan's presence in these songs, and break SbS rules to revisit Lotte Lenya's presentation of the music of Kurt Weill.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Lost in the Harbour, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Lost In The Stars, Lost In The Stars, Lotte Lenya / Kurt Weill (1943)


Lost In The Stars, Lost In The Stars, Todd Duncan / Kurt Weill (1949)

Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits on The Late Late Show (Ireland), via YouTube (1981)

Eva Gabors (Miss Bianca) & Bob Newhart (Bernard) in The Rescuers, dir. John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman & Art Stevens (1977)

Lotte Lenya (Rosa Klebb) in From Russia With Love, dir. Terrence Young (1963)

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Table Top Joe - Alice [292]

Miranda returns alongside Jo (not currently available on table-tops) to talk about parody and joy in this Waits track as well as it's 1992 demo version. We dig into a discussion of the entertainment industry, images of American exceptionalism, and the presence/absence of women in music.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Table Top Joe, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Wrote My Way Out, The Hamilton Mixtape, Lin-Manuel Miranda / Naz / Dave East / Aloe Blacc (2016)

Table Top Joe, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

House of Love, Kenny Craddock Sings Gardner-Pound, Kenny Craddock (2001)

The Rose That Never Grew, Slamalamadingdong (via Melbourne Spoken Word on YouTube), Miss Yankey (2019)

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Poor Edward - Alice [291]

As Waits takes a left-turn into a very different story from the 19th century, we're joined by Miranda Horvath and Jo Lewis to take a look at some of the gender politics in the tale of Edward Mordrake, and how nostalgia/fear/obsession are represented in this week's tracks.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Poor Edward, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

All Of My Mates Are Owls, from Imaginary Advice podcast 39 "I Heart 1984", Ross Sutherland (2017)
Timecode from 10m40s - 19m30s

Chained Together For Life, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

There Is Nothing Like A Dame, South Pacific 1988 London Cast Recording, Rogers & Hammerstein (1949/1988)

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Kommienezuspadt - Alice [290]

Waits mangles both minds and the German language, as translation expert Justine Houyaux rejoins Sam and Martin for this call to punctuality. We explore linguistic alterations in other directions, as well as the image of madness and the ways that meaning is projected onto misheard or uncomprehended language.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Kommienezuspadt, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Prisencolinensinainciusol, Super Best, Adriano Celentano (1992/1974)

Komme Nie Zu Spät, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Il Seme del Rap, Quel Punto, Adriano Celentano (1994)

You Know Me (music video, dir. Phil & Olly/Diamond Dogs), Reality Killed the Video Star, Robbie Williams (2009)

A collection of Mondegreens, via YouTube

Justine Houyaux' website for further reading
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No One Knows I'm Gone - Alice [289]

Our third week with Ashleyanne sees our hosts expressing some differing opinions on both the Waits and interval tracks. Portrait of bleak mortality or optimistic reach for freedom? Upbeat flirty plan for adventure or bloodless cover? All opinions are valid, except for the ones which are definitely wrong...

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
No One Knows I'm Gone, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Cups, Cold Water, Lulu & The Lampshades (2011)

No One Knows I'm Gone, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

When I'm Gone, single, The Carter Family (1931)

You're Gonna Miss Me, via YouTube (original), Lulu and the Lampshades (2009)

You're Gonna Miss Me (Cups), via YouTube, Anna Burden (2011)

Anna Kendrick 'Cups' Scene (via YouTube), Pitch Perfect, dir. Jason Moore (2012)

I Can Hear You, Factory Showroom, They Might Be Giants (1996)

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Flower's Grave - Alice [288]

There's some examination of the value and impact of this song, as Ashleyanne discusses the prettiness and depth of music with Martin and Sam. We talk about the context of the play, as well as the presence of hope and optimism in music with a fatalistic attitude.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Flower's Grave, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Flowers On My Grave, Aunt Ma Kwacha, Smokey Haangala (1976)

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Everything You Can Think - Alice [287]

Producer and DJ Ashleyanne Krigbaum joins Sam & Martin for the worst lullaby in the world, as Waits aggressively welcomes us into the body of the album. We discuss the sonic tone of this track, the use of sound effects, and the meaning of Dreamlands for Waits, Carroll and others.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Everything You Can Think, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Dreamland, Studio One Women, Della Humphrey (1972/2005)


Everything You Can Think, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

My Dream Island, single, Al Johnson/The El Tempos (1964)

Dreamland, Bunny Wailer sings The Wailers, Bunny Wailer (1980)

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Alice - Alice [286]

Carrollian scholar Justine Houyaux rejoins Sam & Martin to look at the eponymous opening track for our 19th season, Alice. We chat about the sorrow and violence in the song, the lyrical density and the overlap between the writing of Waits and Carroll, as well as other adaptations of the Alice stories.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Alice, Alice, Tom Waits (2002)

Alice falls down the rabbit hole from Alice (Neco z Alenky), timecode 13m0s - 16m0s (dir. Svankmajer, 1988)

Alice (Neco z Alenky), dir. Svankmajer (1988)
Available from Amazon Prime Video UK and Amazon Prime Video US.
There's Only Alice, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Is That All There Is?, Is That All There Is?, Peggy Lee (1969)

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Alice background - Alice [285a]

Before embarking on our Alice season, we thought a little context on the books, the play, and the biography of the major players would be relevant (for us as well as you, dear listener). So we welcome Carrolian scholar Justine Houyaux to talk about the writing of Charles Dodgeson, his friendship with Alice Liddell, and the adaptation by Robert Wilson, Paul Schmidt, Kathleen Brennan and... who's the other guy?

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
There's Only Alice, The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)

Untitled (Barcarolle), The Alice Demos, Tom Waits (1992 - unreleased)
Unable to find a link to this
Alice Documentary, The Late Show (BBC, UK) - via YouTube (1992)

Alice Documentary, unknown origin - via YouTube (1992)

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland with Angelika Zirker, Virginie Iché, and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, The Forum, BBC Sounds (2017)
Justine Houyaux' website for further reading
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