(via Far Out) by Tim Coffman
Tom Waits has never been known as someone who minced words about how he felt about music. Throughout his career in front of the microphone, there was no doubt that Waits would deliver something 100% authentic to the story he wanted to tell. Though his intuition may have led him to multiple classic records like Rain Dogs and Bone Machine, he wasn’t afraid to talk about songs that he thought were below average either.
When first cutting his teeth in the rock scene, Waits was a far more dynamic presence than what he would become known for. Although many may associate Waits’ cadence with its off-kilter demeanour, many knew him as the kind of lonely barfly on his first handful of albums, sitting behind a piano and delivering biting songs about loneliness.
Out of all the tracks he wrote during that period, ‘Ol 55’ remains a particular highlight from his early years. Taking the basic premise of the titular car, Waits paints a dark tale on top of it all, delivering the kind of gruff voice that only he could muster in those days. If there were anyone who knew a thing or two about both lonely songs and cars, though, it would be the Eagles.
As Waits was starting his career, Glenn Frey and Don Henley had already been two of the kings of the California rock scene. Having already made their living with songs like ‘Take it Easy’ and ‘Tequila Sunrise’, the band were looking to go beyond their country roots on the album On the Border...
Read more: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/band-tom-waits-watching-paint-dry/
Every Moment Has A Song 