Tom Waits – Franks Wild Years – Vinyl Record

Description

Tom Waits penned a track called “Frank’s Wild Years” for his 1983 Swordfishtrombones record, then devised the title (without its apostrophe) into a theatrical production he created with his better half, Kathleen Brennan, and toured with in 1986. The Franks Wild Years LP, sourced from the show, is dubbed “un operachi romantico in two acts,” although its songs don’t carry the storyline. On the other hand, this is just another weird part of Waits’ Island Records album series where he seems to be heavily influenced by German art song and carnival music, delivering songs with minimal particulars, such as marimba, baritone horn, or pump organ, and singing with a strained vocal that is artificially compressed and distorted. Despite this, the songs commonly are sentimental snippets, though with the additional quirks of instrumentation, arrangement, and production.

1. Hang On St. Christopher
2. Straight To The Top (Rhumba)
3. Blow Wind Blow
4. Temptation
5. Innocent When You Dream (Barroom)
6. I’ll Be Gone
7. Yesterday Is Here
8. Please Wake Me Up
9. Franks Theme
10. More Than Rain
11. Way Down In The Hole
12. Straight To The Top (Vegas)
13. I’ll Take New York
14. Telephone Call From Istanbul
15. Cold Cold Ground
16. Train Song
17. Innocent When You Dream (78)