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Polls

The favourite album among Tom Waits fans seems to be: Rain Dogs (followed by Bone Machine/ Swordfishtrombones, and more recently Mule Variations). Most popular songs would probably be "Shore Leave" and "Invitation To The Blues" followed by "Tom Traubert's Blues" (Waltzing Matilda). These songs however are not the most covered ones.

Overview: favourite albums
Raindogs Listserv, 1996 1. Rain Dogs 2. Swordfishtrombones 3. Bone Machine
Raindogs Listserv, 1999 1. Rain Dogs 2. Bone Machine 3. Swordfishtrombones
Straydogs Yahoo Group, 1999 1. Rain Dogs 2. Bone Machine/ Franks Wild Years 3. Swordfishtrombones
The Black Rider (Russia), 2001 1. Rain Dogs 2. Franks Wild Years 3. Blue Valentine
Straydogs Yahoo Group, 2004 1. Rain Dogs 2. Swordfishtrombones 3. Bone Machine
Straydogs Yahoo Group, 2005 1. Rain Dogs 2. Swordfishtrombones 3. Bone Machine
The Black Rider (Russia), 2005 1. Rain Dogs 2. Mule Variations 3. Swordfishtrombones
Dutch Dogs Yahoo Group, 2005 1. Rain Dogs 2. The Black Rider 3. Bone Machine
VG Nett readers (Norway), 2007 1. Rain Dogs 2. Closing Time/ Swordfishtrombones 3. Orphans/ Mule Variations
Rateyourmusic.com, 2007 1. Rain Dogs 2. Swordfishtrombones 3. Orphans
Last.fm, 2009 1. Rain Dogs 2. Swordfishtrombones 3. Bone Machine
Eyeball Kid, 2010 1. Rain Dogs 2. Mule Variations 3. Bone Machine


 

Overview: favourite songs
Raindogs Listserv, 1996 1. Shore Leave 2. Johnsburg, Illinois/ Time 3. Invitation to the Blues
Raindogs Listserv, 1999 1. Cold Cold Ground 2. Invitation to the Blues/ Tom Traubert's Blues 3.Gun Street Girl/ Shore Leave/ Who Are You
Straydogs Yahoo Group, 1999 1. Shore Leave/ Invitation To The Blues 2. Tango' Till They're Sore 3. Gun Street Girl
MusicPolls, 2007 1. Tom Traubert's Blues 2. Invitation To The Blues 3. Shore Leave


 

Favourite album (1996)

  • Initiator: Conor McMahon.

  • Date: April, 1996.

  • Respondents: 56 subscribers to Raindogs Listserv Discussionlist.

  • Method: "Rank the 15 albums into an order 1 to 15".
Rank Title Number of votes Simple average Overall score (%)
1 Rain Dogs 55 2.96 78.62
2 Swordfishtrombones 49 4.47 68.42
3 Bone Machine 50 5.18 61.43
4 Frank's Wild Years 53 5.43 60.11
5 Small Change 51 5.43 59.07
6 Big Time 41 6.88 48.82
7 Blue Valentines 45 6.84 48.60
8 The Heart of Saturday Night 45 7.38 44.91
9 The Black Rider 45 7.67 42.58
10 Nighthawks at the Diner 47 7.92 40.68
11 Heartattack and Vine 48 7.92 38.74
12 Closing Time 44 8.43 38.11
13 Foreign Affair 39 9.90 26.30
14 One from the Heart 25 10.64 25.33
15 Night on Earth 29 10.86 25.02


 

Favourite song (1996)

  • Initiator: Conor McMahon.

  • Date: April, 1996.

  • Respondents: 56 subscribers to Raindogs Listserv Discussionlist.

  • Method: "Rank three songs in a 1,2,3 order".
Rank Title Number of voters Number of votes
1 Shore Leave 6 16
2 Johnsburg, Illinois
Time		 6
6		 12
12
3 Invitation to the Blues 5 12
4 Gun Street Girl 4 11
5 Jockey Full of Bourbon 6 10
6 Clap Hands
Hang on St Christopher
Ruby's Arms		 4
4
4		 10
10
10
7 Tom Traubert's Blues
Telephone Call from Istanbul		 4
4		 8
8
8 Anywhere I Lay My Head 4 6
9 Christmas Card from a Hooker
Rain Dogs		 3
3		 6
6
10 Whistlin' Past the Graveyard
Who Are You?		 2
2		 6
6
11 The Heart of Saturday Night 3 5
12 Temptation
Walking Spanish
On the Nickel
The Briar and the Rose		 2
2
2
2		 5
5
5
5
13 Train Song 3 4
14 Goin' Out West
Singapore
Tango Till They're Sore
November
Burma Shave
Whistle Down The Wind		 2
2
2
2
2
2		 4
4
4
4
4
4
15 Downtown Train
Grapefruit Moon		 2
2		 3
3


 

Favourite album (1999)

  • Initiator: Dan Stoffel.

  • Date: March, 1999.

  • Respondents: 87 subscribers to Raindogs Listserv Discussionlist.

  • Method: "Rank the 15 albums into an order 1 to 15".
Rank Title Number of votes Average rank
1 Rain Dogs 85 3.21
2 Bone Machine 79 3.87
3 Swordfishtrombones 81 4.78
4 Frank's Wild Years 77 4.97
5 Small Change 77 5.60
6 Blue Valentine 74 6.84
7 The Black Rider 69 6.94
8 Heartattack & Vine 72 7.43
9 The Heart of Saturday Night 71 7.65
10 Nighthawks at the Diner 71 8.08
11 Big Time 60 8.25
12 Closing Time 71 8.58
13 Foreign Affairs 61 9.90
14 One From the Heart 42 11.29
15 Night on Earth 43 11.98


 

Favourite song (1999)

  • Initiator: Dan Stoffel.

  • Date: March, 1999.

  • Respondents: 87 subscribers to Raindogs Listserv Discussionlist.

  • Method: "Rank three songs in a 1,2,3 order".
Rank Title Total votes Average rank Weighed total
1 Cold Cold Ground 10 2.30 23.0
2 Invitation to the Blues
Tom Traubert's Blues		 9
11		 2.44
2.00		 22.0
22.0
3 Gun Street Girl
Shore Leave
Who Are You		 8
7
7		 2.00
2.29
2.29		 16.0
16.0
16.0
4 Time 6 2.33 14.0
5 Goin' Out West
Kentucky Avenue		 5
6		 2.40
2.00		 12.0
12.0
6 The Briar and the Rose
Hang on St. Christopher
Rain Dogs		 4
7
7		 2.75
1.57
1.57		 11.0
11.0
11.0
7 Burma Shave
On the Nickel
Swordfishtrombones
Temptation
Train Song		 5
6
5
5
4		 2.00
1.67
2.00
2.00
2.50		 10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
8 Ruby's Arms 4 2.25 9.0
9 16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought-Six
Black Wings		 4
5		 2.00
1.60		 8.0
8.0
10 Martha
Step Right Up
Such a Scream
Whistle Down the Wind		 4
4
3
3		 1.75
1.75
2.33
2.33		 7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
11 Clap Hands
Earth Died Screaming, The
Innocent When You Dream
Jockey Full of Bourbon
Johnsburg, Illinois
Tango Till They're Sore
Yesterday is Here
I Hope I Don't Fall in Love With You		 3
4
3
3
4
2
3
3		 2.00
1.50
2.00
2.00
1.50
3.00
2.00
2.00		 6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0


 

Favourite album (1999)

  • Initiator: Stephanie Stone.

  • Date: November, 1999.

  • Respondents: 30 subscribers to YahooGroups Tomwaits Discussionlist (fka: Egroups Tomwaits Discussionlist & Onelist Tomwaits Discussionlist).

  • Method: "Pick one favourite album".
Rank Title Votes
1 Rain Dogs 10
2 Franks Wild Years
Bone Machine		 5
5
3 Swordfishtrombones 3
4 The Heart Of Saturday Night 2
5 Small Change
Big Time
Closing Time
Beautiful Maladies
Blue Valentine		 1
1
1
1
1


 

Favourite song (1999)

  • Initiator: Stephanie Stone.

  • Date: November, 1999.

  • Respondents: 30 subscribers to Yahoo Groups Tomwaits Discussionlist (fka: Egroups Tomwaits Discussionlist & Onelist Tomwaits Discussionlist).

  • Method: "Rank three songs in a 1,2,3 order".
Rank Title Total score
1 Shore Leave
Invitation To The Blues		 14
14
2 Tango' Till They're Sore 10
3 Gun Street Girl 9
4 The Heart Of Saturday Night 8
5 Hang On St. Christopher 7
6 Christmas Card From A Hooker
Cold Cold Ground
Tom Traubert's Blues
Ruby's Arms
Who Are you		 6
6
6
6
6
7 Falling Down
16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought Six		 5
5
8 Kentucky Avenue
The Briar And The Rose		 4
4
9 Burma Shave
Time
Blue Valentines
Rain Dogs
Singapore
Small Change
Train Song
Yesterday Is Here		 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3


 

Favourite album (2001)

  • Initiator: Serge Rusakov.

  • Date: 2001 (718 days, previous poll)

  • Respondents: 296 visitors from Serge's Black Rider site.

  • Method: "Vote for any album, no limitations".
Rank Title Votes %
1 Rain Dogs 25.7
2 Franks Wild Years 13.2
3 Blue Valentine 10.8
4 The Black Rider 8.8
5
5		 Swordfishtrombones
Closing Time		 7.8
7.8
6 Mule Variations 6.1
7 Bone Machine 5.1
8 The Heart of Saturday Night 4.1
9 Nighthawks at the Diner 3.7
10 Heartattack and Vine 3.0
11 Small Change 2.4
12 Foreign Affairs 1.7


 

Favourite album (2004)

  • Initiator: R.K.Cowles.

  • Date: March 6, 2004.

  • Respondents: 48 subscribers from Tom Waits Yahoo Group.

  • Method: "Pick one favourite album".
Rank Title Votes %
1 Rain Dogs 41.67%
2 Swordfishtrombones 20.83%
3 Bone Machine 14.58%
4 The Black Rider 8.33%
5 Franks Wild Years 4.17%
  The Heart of Saturday Night 4.17%
6 Nighthawks at the Diner 2.08%
  Heartattack and Vine 2.08%
  Mule Variations 2.08%


 

Favourite album (2005)

  • Initiator: Mikael Borg.

  • Date: February 15, 2005.

  • Respondents: 56 subscribers from Tom Waits Yahoo Group.

  • Method: "Pick one favourite album".
Rank Title Votes %
1 Rain Dogs 25.00%
2 Swordfishtrombones 19.64%
3 Bone Machine 10.71%
4 Franks Wild Years 7.14%
  Blue Valentine 7.14%
  Real Gone 7.14%
5 Small Change 5.36%
  Mule Variations 5.36%
6 The Black Rider 3.57%
7 Closing Time 1.79%
  The Heart of Saturday Night 1.79%
  Heartattack and Vine 1.79%
  Alice 1.79%
  Blood Money 1.79%


 

Favourite album (2005)

  • Initiator: Serge Rusakov.

  • Date: February, 2005 (1844 days)

  • Respondents: 1835 visitors from Serge's Black Rider site.

  • Method: "Vote for any album, no limitations".

 
Rank Title Votes %
1 Rain Dogs 14.1%
2 Mule Variations 7.5%
3 Swordfishtrombones 6.9%
4 Franks Wild Years 6.6%
5 Bone Machine 6.4%
6 Blue Valentine 5.9%
7 The Black Rider 5.3%
8 Closing Time 5.2%
9 Small Change 5.0%
10 Alice 4.8%
11 Blood Money 4.6%
12 Nighthawks At The Diner 3.8%
13 Heartattack And Vine 3.7%
14 The Heart Of Saturday Night 3.6%
15 Big Time 3.2%
16 Beautiful Maladies 2.2%
17 Foreign Affairs 1.8%
18 The Early Years Vol. 2 1.5%
  The Early Years Vol. 1 1.5%
19 Asylum Years 1.4%
  One From The Heart 1.4%
20 Alice (The Original Demos) 1.2%
21 Night On Earth 1.1%
22 Anthology 0.7%
23 Bounced Checks 0.6%
24 Real Gone 0.0%


 

Favourite album (2005)

  • Initiator: Pieter from Holland.

  • Date: March, 2005.

  • Respondents: 31 subscribers from the Dutch Dogs Yahoo Group.

  • Method: "Pick your 3 favourite albums".

 
Rank Album Votes %
1 Rain Dogs, 1985 13.98%
2 The Black Rider, 1993 10.75%
3 Bone Machine, 1992 9.68%
4 Franks Wild Years, 1987 8.60%
  Real Gone, 2004 8.60%
5 Nighthawks At The Diner, 1975 7.53%
  Swordfishtrombones, 1983 7.53%
  Alice, 2002 7.53%
6 Closing Time, 1973 6.45%
7 Small Change, 1976 3.23%
  Blue Valentine, 1978 3.23%
8 The Heart Of Saturday Night, 1974 2.15%
  Heartattack And Vine, 1980 2.15%
  One From The Heart, 1982 2.15%
  Big Time, 1988 2.15%
  Mule Variations, 1999 2.15%
9 Foreign Affairs, 1977 1.08%
  Night On Earth, 1992 1.08%
10 Blood Money, 2002 0.00%


 

Favourite album (2007)

  • Initiator: Christofer Bang (Norway).

  • Date: January, 2007.

  • Respondents: ca. 300 registered readers of VG Nett site (Norway).

  • Method: "Vote for any album 1 to 6".

 
Rank Album Points
1 Rain Dogs, 1985 1577
2 Closing Time, 1973 1489
3 Swordfishtrombones, 1983 1481
4 Orphans, 2006 1276
5 Mule Variations, 1999 1267
6 The Heart of Saturday Night, 1974 1255
7 Blue Valentine, 1978 1199
8 Nighthawks at the Diner, 1975 1124
9 Heartattack and Vine, 1980 1098
10 Bone Machine, 1992 1087
11 Alice, 2002 1065
12 Frank's Wild Years, 1987 1063
13 Blood Money, 2002 1042
14 Real Gone, 2004 1039
15 Small Change, 1976 1027
16 Asylum Years, 1986 953
17 Used Songs 1973-1980, 2001 925
18 The Black Rider, 1993 916
19 Big Time, 1988 864
20 Foreign Affairs, 1977 843
21 The Early Years Vol.1, 1992 792
22 Beautiful Maladies, 1998 744
23 One From The Heart, 2004 712
24 The Early Years Vol.2, 1992 711
25 Anthology of Tom Waits, 1984 685
26 One From the Heart, 1982 676
27 Night On Earth, 1992 664
28 Bounced Checks, 1981 658


 

Favourite song (2007)

  • Initiator: Steven Michels.

  • Date: January, 2007.

  • Respondents: ca. 60 voters on MusicPolls site (top-10).

  • Method: "Vote for any song 1 to 10".

 
Rank Song Score
1 Tom Traubert's Blues 83.84
2 Invitation To The Blues 83.20
3 Shore Leave 82.41
4 Ruby's Arms 82.17
5 Christmas Card From A Hooker 81.81
6 Jockey Full Of Bourbon 81.42
7 Innocent When You Dream 81.33
8 Strange Weather 80.95
9 Rain Dogs (Big Time version) 80.62
10 Burma Shave 80.55


 

Favourite album (2007)

  • Initiator: rateyourmusic.com.

  • Date: July, 2007.

  • Respondents: ca. 2300 subscribers of rateyourmusic.com.

  • Method: "Vote for any album".

 
Rank Album Overall Rating
1 Rain Dogs, 1985 4.32
2 Swordfishtrombones, 1983 4.23
3 Orphans, 2006 4.22
4 Bone Machine, 1992 4.13
5 Small Change, 1976 4.09
6 Closing Time, 1973 4.04
7 Frank's Wild Years, 1987 4.02
8 Mule Variations, 1999 4.01
  Alice, 2002 4.01
9 The Heart of Saturday Night, 1974 3.90
10 Blue Valentine, 1978 3.89
11 Blood Money, 2002 3.87
12 Nighthawks at the Diner, 1975 3.81
13 Real Gone, 2004 3.78
14 Heartattack and Vine, 1980 3.73
15 Big Time, 1988 3.63
16 One From The Heart, 1982 3.61
17 The Black Rider, 1993 3.60
18 Foreign Affairs, 1977 3.48
19 Night On Earth, 1992 3.15


 

Favourite album (2009)

  • Initiator: last.fm

  • Date: August 2009

  • Respondents: 668,198 listeners (31,225,422 plays)

  • Method: online plays through http://www.last.fm

 
Rank Album Listeners
1 Rain Dogs, 1985 259,950
2 Swordfishtrombones, 1983 117,787
3 Bone Machine, 1992 107,742
4 Small Change, 1976 101,206
5 Closing Time, 1973 86,252
6 Alice, 2002 86,203
7 Real Gone, 2004 81,441
8 Mule Variations, 1999 80,535
9 Frank's Wild Years, 1987 72,334
10 Orphans, 2006 71,338
11 Blood Money, 2002 60,609
12 The Heart of Saturday Night, 1974 46,468
13 Blue Valentine, 1978 41,010
14 Heartattack and Vine, 1980 40,991
15 The Black Rider, 1993 37,001
16 Nighthawks at the Diner, 1975 32,957
17 Big Time, 1988 26,592
18 Foreign Affairs, 1977 20,524
19 One From The Heart, 1982 7,625
20 Night On Earth, 1992 5,909


 

Favourite album (2010)

  • Initiator: Eyeball Kid blogspot (Henk Tack)

  • Date: April 2010

  • Respondents: 1638 votes of visitors of the Eyeball Kid blogspot (Heartattack And Vine left out)

  • Method: "Vote for one favourite album"

 
Rank Album Votes %
1 Rain Dogs, 1985 25%
2 Mule Variations, 1999 15%
3 Bone Machine, 1992 12%
4 Swordfishtrombones, 1983 8%
5 Frank's Wild Years, 1987 7%
6 Small Change, 1976 5%
7 Real Gone, 2004 4%
  Orphans, 2006 4%
8 Closing Time, 1973 3%
  Alice, 2002 3%
9 The Heart of Saturday Night, 1974 2%
  Nighthawks at the Diner, 1975 2%
  Blue Valentine, 1978 2%
  The Black Rider, 1993 2%
  Blood Money, 2002 2%
10 One From The Heart, 1982 1%
  Big Time, 1988 1%
  Glitter And Doom, 2009 1%
11 Foreign Affairs, 1977 0%
  Night On Earth, 1992 0%