Cold Water - Mule Variations [260]

Waits returns to stories of wandering America with a chainsaw guitar and a towel in this sleeper hit from Mule Variations. Justin, Sam and Martin discuss the revivalist gospel sound, the image of water in this and other music, and take an extended diversion into possible Tom Waits/Guillermo del Toro collaborations. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Cold Water, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Water Me Down, Vagabon, Vagabon (2019)

Water Me Down - Official Music Video, Vagabon (dir. Maegan Houang) via YouTube (2019)

Song Exploder episode 177: Vagabon - Water Me Down, Hrishikesh Hirway/Song Exploder (2020)

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House Where Nobody Lives - Mule Variations [259]

Justin returns to discuss the nature of abandonment and housing with Martin and Sam, as well as our feelings about Waits's sentimental tone. We dig into Kathleen's involvement in the composition, his vocal quality, and then get massively side-tracked by the recording history of the deepest man in showbiz.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
House Where Nobody Lives, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

This Ole House, single, Rosemary Clooney (1954)

The Heidelberg Project by Tyree Guyton, The Art of Looking via YouTube (2015)

Please Mr. Kennedy, scene from Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Coen Brothers) via YouTube (2013)

You're a Mean One Mr Grinch, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)

The Many Voices of Thurl Ravenscroft, Saturday Morning Rewind via YouTube (2018)

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Get Behind The Mule - Mule Variations [258]

The breadth and intimacy of Waits's writing is highlighted by our new guest host, director Justin Audibert, who joins Martin and Sam for this quasi-title track from Mule Variations. We discuss the emotional expression of singing through popular music, how Waits paints a portrait of America with specifics and generalities, and yodelling. Lots on yodelling. You didn't ask for this, but you're getting it. Yodelling. You're welcome.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Get Behind The Mule, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues), Jimmie Rodgers (1930)

Labor Blues, The Memphis Blues 1927-1931, Tom Dickson (1928)

He's Misstra Know-It All, Innervisions, Stevie Wonder (1973)

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Mule Variations teaser [254a]

A couple of weeks out from the return of Song by Song to your podcatcher, here's a little preview of some of the conversations we've already recorded.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Big In Japan, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

Chocolate Jesus, Mule Variations, Tom Waits (1999)

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