I was just browsing in the record store while I had some time to kill, I browsed for just under an hour and picked up lots of things before putting them back having changed my mind, then I saw ‘The Heart Of Saturday Night’ by Tom Waits and it was the one. I had played the CD to death and a vinyl copy was a must really.
This is the Rhino Re-Issue of the 1974 album, his second release, which they appear to have done a good job of. I played it as soon as I got home, it’s a brilliant album which I make no excuses or justifications for. I’ve read previously that it’s a late night album, the sort of thing you’d play at a poker night when he lights are low and the cigars are out. Not true. Play it whenever the hell you feel like it because the songwriting is damn near perfect. Yes, the title itself suggests that it’s a night time album and the laid back feel of it makes me almost smell that cigar smoke, but it’s 2 pm on a Wednesday and I’m listening to it now , so don’t save it for the night. I do rather fancy a bourbon right now though.
Tracklist
| A1 | New Coat Of Paint | |
| A2 | San Diego Serenade | |
| A3 | Semi Suite | |
| A4 | Shiver Me Timbers | |
| A5 | Diamonds On My Windshield | |
| A6 | (Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night | |
| B1 | Fumblin’ With The Blues | |
| B2 | Please Call Me, Baby | |
| B3 | Depot, Depot | |
| B4 | Drunk On The Moon | |
| B5 | The Ghosts Of Saturday Night (After Hours At Napoleone’s Pizza House) |
When I listen to this album it evokes a very real sense to me of what Charles Bukowski would have sounded like if he had been a singer/songwriter rather than a writer/poet/hell raiser. Perhaps also some Jack Kerouac in there as well, particularly around ‘Diamonds on My Windshield’:
Well these diamonds on my windshield
And these tears from heaven
Well I’m pulling into town on the Interstate
I got a steel train in the rain
And the wind bites my cheek through the wing
And it’s these late nights and this freeway flying
It always makes me sing
If you don’t have it I’d recommend getting it, vinyl, CD, Digital, it doesn’t matter, give it a listen.
verian.wordpress.com 
A great album. I have it on vinyl and will give it a spin soon. Haven’t listened to it in quite a long time.
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True short meet with Waits:
On a Saturday evening 00individual stepped outside the record store he co-managed in Westwood Village, CA in ’74 for a stretch, and saw Tom Waits across the street coming up the block toward the theaters. There was a panhandler about to approach him but Waits got to him first. 00individual crossed and met up with Waits and introduced himself as the manager of the record store across the street and told him that his latest release was outselling The Beatles and his reply was “cool”.
00individual mentioned that he saw his interaction with the panhandler and Waits went on to explain that he hit up the guy for change before he could do it to him and it kinda blew the guy’s mind, they both laughed, and Waits continued on his way, but on 00individual’s way back he turned and threw out a question, “Lookin’?” Waits turned around, got it and smiled.
As it turned out that night they both would be “lookin’ for the Heart of Saturday Night”.
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Well that’s about the coolest story ever! That’s wonderful.
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Good pick up Verian. I’ll be listening to this soon. It’s coming up on the rotation. Bought the LP back in the day. Bob Seger does a good version of ‘New Coat of Paint’
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