Guest Edit: Tom Waits

To mark the release of his new album Real Gone, Tom Waits moves into the guest editor's chair and talks about some of his favourite albums for Amazon.co.uk.

Let The Buyer Beware by Lenny Bruce: Awesome in its scope and depth. Hal Wilner compiled this from thousands of feet of tape. It is the road that all comics of today are driving on.

In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra: Actually, the very first "concept" album. The idea being you put this record on after dinner and by the last song you are exactly where you want to be. Sinatra said that he's certain most Baby Boomers were conceived with this as the soundtrack.

The Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Church Choir by the Abyssinian Church: Tony Bennett said this is the greatest rock and roll record ever recorded. You can feel why in these wild powerful performances - produced by John Hammond in the early 60's. (John was, among other things, an avid fan of gospel) This choir is barely containable. It puts you in the choir with them. Astonishing, awesome. You will be saved.

Y Los Cubanos Postizos by Marc Ribot: This Atlantic recording shows off one of many of Ribot's incarnations as a prosthetic Cuban. They are hot and Marc dazzles us with his bottomless soul. Shaking and burning like a native.

Purple Onion by The Les Claypool Frog Brigade: Les Claypool's sharp and imaginative, contemporary ironic humor and lightning musicianship makes me think of Frank Zappa. "Dee's Diner" is like a great song your kid makes up in the car on the way to the drive-in. Songs for big kids.

The Delivery Man by Elvis Costello: Scalding hot bedlam, monkey to man needle time with his sharp. I'd hate to be balled out by him. I'd quit first. Grooves wide enough to put you foot in and the bass player is a gorilla of groove. Pete Thomas, still one of the best rock drummers alive. Diatribes and rants with steam and funk. It has locomotion and heat. Steam heat, that is.

Ompa Til du D�r by Kaizers Orchestra: Norwegian storm trooping tarantellas with savage rhythms and innovative textures. Thinking man's circus music. Way out.

Flying Saucer Tour by Bill Hicks: Bill was trying to get free of the nagging hunger for mainstream acceptance. These gems were recorded in towns barely on the map and he sometimes had to make a mad dash for the car, outrunning an angry mob. Hicks was our Lenny Bruce. R.I.P.

Masked Man by Charlie Patton: Beautiful retrospective on one of the pillars of the Delta Blues. Clearly not only a blues man but a songster as well and a teacher to all who would follow.

The Specialty Sessions by Little Richard: The steam and chug of Lucile alone pointed a finger that showed the way. The equipment wasn't meant to be treated this way. The needle is still in the red.

Notes:

⁽¹⁾ Similar articles printed in: "Tom Waits artist choice, A poet's heart on Saturday night" (HearMusic.com. October 1999), "It's Perfect Madness" (The Observer (UK). March 20, 2005).