Tom Waits 12-21-1983 pt. 1 Frank's Wild Years

[grilliard]

correction. the track 'franks wild years' was off swordfish

[grilliard]

franks wild years didn't come out til 87'. sure about the date?

[coyote2welve]

the only man to make cigarettes look cool. LETS GIVE A BIG HAND TO MR. WAITS FOR THAT!!!

[kattsand]

What Tom Waits does to words is what a good chef does to food. It's beautiful..

[DonVanVliet83]

coolest man on earth

[AK2927]

Tom keeps shakin' hands with Dave.

[makiavelli999]

WOW! The days of the LP!

[MrRunswithstick]

THAT HAIR IS EPIC!!!

[DaddyClb]

Priceless piece of television history! Thanx so much 4 sharing this gem.

[Eden264]

15 people did like that dog.

Sorry.

[Genghis338]

Tom Waits is cooler, then the rest of us?

[Blololololo]

He never did like that dog...

[baqir33]

big ups to tom.

[DrKnow1969]

Fucking genius

[Strifezilla]

its kinda funny, the older the interviews are with tom waits the louder the cheers are when he gets introduced

[UnrecycleRubdish]

than



[nippysweetie3]

Tom is COOLER than COOL

[gotyya]

He's always a good story teller. He sure has a lot of stuff memorized in his head.

[KipperBlatsy]

Exactly 29 years later, the world ended.

[SwingKiel]

Chuck Norris is Tom Waid's when he drinks

[waisinet]

The Joker!

[notoriega]

The Realest

[ShortestFuse]

Kramer!?!? Is that you!?

[Jeffko78]

@ShortestFuse EXACTLY what I thought! Same hair, same mannerisms, same voice... wow

[andrewptob]

He has to be in the "Great Head of Hair" Hall of Fame

[johannb92]

@andrewptob well he's about to be inducted into the Rock N' Roll hall of fame this year

[JuanDeSoCal]

@andrewptob

I think I'm even more jealous of his hair than his songwriting talent!

[pretorious700]

14 assholes just don't get it

[monkeyturdman7]

It's like a freakin Bukowski story!

[kennhiser]

@monkeyturdman7 Bukowski was a huge influence on him.

[Ingrid922]

I love Tom Waits.



[rangan88]

A cab combs the snake, Tryin' to rake in that last night's fare, And a solitary sailor Who spends the facts of his life like small change on strangers... Paws his inside P-coat pocket for a welcome twenty-five cents, And the last bent butt from a package of Kents, As he dreams of a waitress with Maxwell House eyes And marmalade thighs with scrambled yellow hair.

[thenewdeal38]

Tom waits Joker can make you laugh at poor dogs. Jeesus he is the joker.

[bitzeepapa]

i love this old set for the show... it has a really nice, genuine, comfy look to it.

[herzogsbuick]

Well sure that's what our stoves are here for Tom

[prettyX1]

song reminds me of something burroughs would write.

[indipigment]

fucking quintessential influence on everything i have done since i heard this 15 years ago. GOD BLESS TOM

[LandoftheShanks]

Look at Letterman with his oversized hair that looks like a wig. And Tom Waits with his big hair that is so freakin' hot LOL! Letterman just cannot pull that off. Sorry Dave <3

[taddeusvon]

has anyone seen him play the poolhall/bar tender in the movie "rumble fish"???

[Od1n90]

@taddeusvon Yes I did :) It was a short but funny scene with him. The whole film is totally worth watching it. It got a Tom Waits ambiente.

[rockalyptic]

gah, Letterman's such a moron, I don't know why old Tom spent so much time giving him interviews. I think I watched 3 interviews where Letterman asks if Tom was born in a cab and if he still lives in a car. C'mon, get some brains. Make interesting people interesting questions!

[Photochroming]

That's just amazing...

You could pick up all of the scattered interviews of Waits & Letterman - This is the oldest, I think...

There are interviews filmed in 1999, 2002, 2006 and so back and forth.

Check it out!

[93steven]

his voice sounds young there too (for him)... Over time it grew up

[Cooleemee43]

Tom Waits face almost looks out of place looking young. His face was just built to get old and more interesting as the years go by. The older he gets the more his face matches his voice and that is perfect.

[luckieblackkat]

Hmmm I concur, Heath Ledger must have taken vocal lessons from Tom Waits.

[jimthefin]

@luckieblackkat I though that Ledger was "doing" Tom in Batman too.

[jazzmanEE]

pure legend

i think Tom Waits had and still has one of coolest haircuts...

[iscream22]

Tom waits is making my day awesome now. Im snowed in listenin to Nighthawks at the diner, reading a favorite book, gettin a buzz on and cooking stuffing so im feelin bitchin, thanks tom

[gurcrist]

Just struck me.. Heath Ledger must have found inspiration to The Joker in Tom Waits :D

[louderthanlife2]

@gurcrist i always thought that tom waits would be the best actor for the joker, if they make another batman movie

[24KieferSuth]

Why does David always seem to be mocking him?

[KillAllCops]

doesnt he do that to everyone?...But yeh, i know what ya mean....thats letterman all over i guess.

[My6thAccount]

i think they have sort of a good relationship don't they? i mean, he's been on a million times

[Innacut]

awesome. genius. "spent piece of used jet trash". so good.

[danzxr]

Coolest guy in the world...Never could stand that dog...

[rock10unico]

FENOMENAL!

[rangan88]

"a 62 wagon with a black interior"

[rlegear19]

That hairdo must have inspired Kramer and Lyle Lovett....... aside from that , this was an aeesome interview that featured 2 outstanding songs.

[bmessiah]

No No No Tom was first with the Hair do:)

[JoeyNavinski]

Tom had that hair style well before either Kramer or Lyle

[rlegear19]

Hey Joey and you too bmessiah..... you two need to work on your reading comprehension. I`m saying that Tom`s hairdo , the hairdo that you are watching inspired Kramer and Lovett...... Jeeez

[JoeyNavinski]

Yep. Sorry I misread it. Honest mistake.

[ceedcorp]

Spent piece a used jet trash CLASSIC

[lsullboy]

I believe he was describing my ex-wife

[RubHerSoul1]

"never could stand that dog"

[thetmanfitness]

"all halloween orange and chimeny red", thats why i love tom waits

[notonpage7]

Just a class act. Very talented and funny as hell. Been a fan since he started out.

[JoelTarnabene]

Your profile says you are 22 years old. I'm impressed that you managed to be his fan for 35 of them.

[notonpage7]

So I lied about my age. You checking out my porfile is the reason. You never know who is checking. At any rate, I have been a fan of Tom's since Small Change came out. I was lucky enough to have a friend who was into him, and they introduced me. Best musical thing that ever happened. ; )

[Innacut]

lol! well put

[MagellansUnderwear]

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

There Ain't no devil, that's just god when he's drunk

[johnnyt471]

Interesting choice to play on Letterman. I love the song, but I think he performs this a lot better on Big Time.

[lladsbid]

tom waits: a magnificent weirdo

[ImFuckingUp]

Tom Waits > Chuck Norris

[danielclynn]

@ImFuckingUp duh!

[reprovo]

Chuck Norris moonlights as Tom Waits If you must know.

[KissMyAssWMG]

I think that's so irellevant.

[goosengreen]

i want to hear him talk and not hear people laugh at him for he has lived...

[mycupisempty]

oh well still searchin for a vid for "who are u" any links ?

[Lexilus]

Tom Waits is cooler then ALL of you!!

[StephenRoddy]

true true

[TheBeyondthezero]

Tom Waits is cooler than everybody

[franciscotoast]

But what if tom waits reads that comment

[jcfegz]

@Lexilus

Pfft NOt ME!!

[LucidDream]

@jcfegz Yeah okay...

[coyo7e]

@Lexilus I am totally fine with that.

[mrbunghole]

@Lexilus it should read, "Tom Waits is cooler then, all of you!"

[andygray]

Brilliant, thanks for posting.

[rlegear19]

I am amazed at the lack of negative comments on his songs. His music is not for the masses to be sure. I believe that this man is so fucking cool that even folks that may not like his music still root for him to succeed because he is so unique.

[zuck21]

not that tom could really give two shits but why is this man not in the rovk and roll hall..he is one of the greatest song writers and performers of all time...''G-d bless tom waits

[Dizkneelande]

he looks a bit like lyle lovett here.

[cattonlad]

all hallowen orange and chimeny red it dosnt get much better than this class act

[WorldOfTheWarlock]

Tom waits is my fucking idol

[yodro]

this guy just oozes style. love the finger twiddling at the beginning

[yodro]

his hair is awesome in this

[23flowergirl]

humor, wit, talent..he's got it all

[lenny121]

dont forget preformance ; )

[toddgreer]

he's taking the interview seriously and is very earnest and honest

so the laugh throw him off but he obviously has a good sense of humour

[gymnosophy]

he is very honest and earnest and has a great sense of homour but do you think he ever takes interviews seriously!

[rlegear19]

His interviews with Letterman are classic comedy teamwork with Dave acting as straight man and Tom coming back with perfect timing.I really believe that his personal charm is as much the reason for his success as his considerable talents. Dammit ... we like this guy even when we don`t like a song or an album , we wait for the next one cuz we want to see him do well.

[SKAman635]

All Halloween orange and chiminey red...

I love that line

[bifferspice]

one of the coolest men who ever lived!

[donniebrasco1888]

Anybody else notice when watchin tom on letterman or any interview he does he keeps reaching for his left pocket then pulls nothing out of it.

whats goin on there.

[ndean555]

hes just drunk and probably a little high on somethin...

[frankskin69]

Tom Used to smoke like a chimney and quit in 1980 when he got married. If you watch his videos prior to `80 he put his pack of smokes in that pocket so he has the reflex of reaching for one. Plus back then they could smoke on live tv.

[StoneChild9]

could be reaching for cigarettes that are not there?

[jdjisaok90]

Holy hell! I never knew he was (possibly) born in Valporaiso, Indiana! I'm from that general area! Bitchin'!!!!! I love Tom Waits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beanmartian]

Letterman is always respectful of Waits and his oddness.

[chlojob]

I agree Letterman was respectful, yet his crowd thought any weird, awekward word coming out of Tom's mouth was supposed to be funny.

I think those reactions made Waits anxious. He never meant to be blatently comedic during that interview. Maybe that's why he kept reaching for his cigarette pocket.

[guardcorp]

what a fucking legend

[JasonZConnors]

Let me make one thing perfectly clear . . .

Tom is from San Diego, CA USA.

San Diego weirdness.

We bow only to New Orleans.

San Diego weirdness.

Remember.

[jutotheli]

actually he is from Pomona just east of Los Angeles.

I have a biography.

[GeorgesBarras]

Wey

[dreadbet]

fuckin genious!

you goota love tom folks!

[sclogse1]

Tom misses a segment of this song on the show...or rap, if you prefer. Goota love the look he has here...of course, a bit too thin, but I'dkill to have this look with the hair and slim trim. Don't forget to notice what Heath Ledger took from this man's voice and mannerisms....

[Devmeister91]

I'm not the only one that noticed that about Heath taking from Tom!!!! Thank you sir

[voluptamors]

OMG true! it's like the joker w/o make up!! I love this man, he's like the epitome of musical genius!

[megaplayah]

letterman is for real. hate those people saying all that good shit about everyone. warshipping every "star".. slicks

[TurkishEcko]

he can have u laughing your ass off one song and crying your eyes out the next. thats talent

[rangan88]

I saw Tom in Charlotte,N.C. in 1974 at a afternoon concert at Univ. of N.C. He came out and said, I don't usually get up before the crack of noon.You gotta love this guy!!

[mWorldProductions]

The man is brilliant!!

[JuanDeSoCal]

that suit is the shit. i'm going to go buy one just like it tomorrow.

[AtheistAaron]

Tom Waits is a fucking genius.

[heartattacker4]

Never could stand that dog... He is unique

[oggendoggen2]

Letterman was a bit of a jerk here...

[reflux51]

Alot of people think he's a jerk but he's just giving a poke and having a laugh..Its all in good fun and I think the two are truly friends.

[Junt0000]

i wish he would have done the laugh

[spinskype]

frank drove a lil sedan

[NorthFlaMan]

This is the show that turned me on to this true American original. Tom Waits has that beatnik vibe and is one of the most radically enhanced freakouts you can throttle your gray matter with. I dig him so....much!

[vac]

is there a particular name for that jazzy-style backing music to Frank's Wild Years?

[AtheistAaron]

Vac - it's just jazz, pure and simple. You could further specify by saying it's "bluesy jazz" with a walking bassline. Tom's music spans all kinds of genres, though. The guy is amazing.

[WKRPinCINN]

this is why i love you tube, i was about 5 years old at the time this aired, but i can watch it now whenever i want. thanks for the post...

[cinecantina]

dude thank you so much for posting this-- i waited 16 years for this

[MissPrivate713]

Frank's wild years is the first Tom Waits ive ever heard, and I still mentally thank my mother for that experience every time I listen to his music

[JIWlocal396]

'I ran into a christmas tree in the hall' lmfao..

[aelkminsur]

that was an extremely awkward interview

[JoeyNavinski]

Not really awkward. Most of Tom's interviews are unique. Dave and Tom are great friends.

[benaurelius]

I really do love this guy he is raw witty and his music rocks.

[WhalesOnSunday]

This and a half a pint of Ballantynes each day.With a salvation ary band girl with a slide swatter banjo on her knee And me Beatifull lyrics- Tom.People just dont die they live on with music like yours Mr Waites.x

[kokoheal]

watching it burn...all halloween orange and chimney red....

[eatstatic3]

I love this.

It's sad to think that this would probably not be allowed on network TV today.

[eldonbennett]

he was on letterman again a couple years back

[jonnychrist1708]

2002 it was

[letmeintothebox]

he has a really unique sence of humor

[bluevanities]

I had a dream once about Tom Waits when I was in high school... I dreamt we were in some strange cobble stone alley way in Venice and I was coming on to him really hard... but he turned me down flat and said "I'm way too old for you babe."

[asy4]

Great dream!

[chrislc11]

Is a nightmare a dream?

[WEENIE666]

.....never could stand that dog

[MaxZorinVsMajorTom]

His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash. classic line i dont know how many times i have used it, thanks tom.

[asy4]

Yeah, Tom is eminently quotable. My favorite is still "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobatomy."

[Bill256256]

yeah he says that on the Fernwood Tonight Show (see video at right)...

[slessorpr]

frontal lobotomy quotable but not tom's originally, but he has good taste in humour repeating it.

[chug16]

"working hard, hardly working" from a sight for sore eyes is probably my favourite, but frontal lobatomy is good aswell.

[taxmonkey123]

I don't have a drinking problem, except when I can't get a drink.

[nikita7724]

very cool, never seen this before, he is an amazing artist

[Gweebo]

GREAT. Thanks for the upload.

[CostelloCostigan]

Love the hair. Everything about Tom's awesome!

[dmandtruth]

thank you thank you thankyou

[rangan88]

staticAcid...THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO POST.I MISTAKENLY TAPED OVER MY VHS COPY 10 YRS. BACK. I HAVE LOOKED FOR THIS LETTERMAN SHOW EVER SINCE. I'M SO HAPPY!

[qwerty7788]

one of a kind

Tom

your better that

Cruise

[gerryiam]

AMAZING. He's the definition of suppish to anyone who's played johnny rocketfingers in the past

[ChewieV2]

Never could stand that dog . . .

Classic!

[black1atrax]

the coolest guy on earth...

[scooprman]

This is seriously the reason I love Youtube. I feel like this is a treasured piece of musical history.

[leoface]

;_;

[dantralee]

love the waits.. anyone know of any live dvd out> or coming out?

[fillip27]

i've got a burma shave dvd, don't no if ther are any others.

[widelyunknown]

The man is a genious!

[machineinindia]

I live right by Valparaiso. FUCKING YES

[carlosVcomedy]

great post. Thanks for sharing.

[maxsdaddio]

pure genius

[INeedScissors61]

I had to double take on his hair, I thought it was a hat :)

Cool upload.

[MikeFac]

tom is the best. thanks for posting this, i wouldnt mind seeing more interviews.

[mojobat]

I believe he did that once...

[pumpkinheadsteve]

Tom should really write a book.

[skinnyhobo]

Awesome! Nice post, ty!