Tom Waits : NPR

Accessibility links

NPRPodcast Directory

Search

Tom Waits Tom Waits artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Tom Waits

Subscribe to Best of NPR Newsletter

Hozier: Why The Civil Rights Movement Still Resonate

Andrew Hozier-Byrne joins NPR Music's Bob Boilen in the studio to discuss the music that informed his 2018 EP, Nina Cried Power. Mulography - Anthony Mulcahy hide caption

toggle caption

Mulography - Anthony Mulcahy

All Songs Considered

Hozier: Why The Civil Rights Movement Still Resonate

October 2, 2018 • Irish singer/songwriter Hozier sits down with NPR Music's Bob Boilen to discuss the lifetime of listening that led to his new EP, Nina Cried Power, and what American blues means to him.

Guest DJ: Hozier On Why Music From The Civil Rights Movement Still Resonates

Listen · 38:21 38:21

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/652158038/653404258" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tom Waits Sings 'Bella Ciao' For Marc Ribot As An Act Of 'Resistance'

A still from Marc Ribot's "Bella Ciao" video. YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

New Music

Tom Waits Sings 'Bella Ciao' For Marc Ribot As An Act Of 'Resistance'

September 12, 2018 • Ribot's new collection, Songs of Resistance 1948-2018, is a collection of protest music with special guests — including Tom Waits, who makes his first recorded appearance in two years.

A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen (left) and Robin Hilton, high on ice cream sandwiches, music. Brandi Fullwood/NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Brandi Fullwood/NPR

All Songs Considered

A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

July 12, 2016 • Even though it was a rocky road, we whipped together a show sprinkled with some of our favorite ice cream tunes.

A Lot Of Songs About Ice Cream

Listen · 52:55 52:55

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/485537014/485718475" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Deep Thoughts With Tom Waits

A scene from a PBS animated interview with Tom Waits. YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

All Songs Considered

Deep Thoughts With Tom Waits

October 3, 2015 • Tom Waits lays down his belief in mole democracy and New York City surrealism in a recently unearthed, freshly animated interview on PBS.

The Songs That Make Us Cry

The music that makes one of us emotional doesn't always make sense to others. William Lovelace/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

William Lovelace/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

The Songs That Make Us Cry

May 19, 2015 • This week: results from our survey about the songs that bring tears to your eyes. Hear listener submissions, as well as personal picks from the All Songs crew.

The Songs That Make Us Cry

Listen · 42:00 42:00

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/406500138/407758169" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

The Songs That Make Us Cry

The music that makes one of us emotional doesn't always make sense to others. William Lovelace/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

William Lovelace/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

The Songs That Make Us Cry

May 19, 2015 • This week: results from our survey about the songs that bring tears to your eyes. Hear listener submissions, as well as personal picks from the All Songs crew.

The Songs That Make Us Cry

Listen · 42:00 42:00

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/406500138/407758169" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

A Braid Of Words: Guest DJ Eduardo Halfon, Author Of 'The Polish Boxer'

Guatemalan author Eduardo Halfon's most recent book, The Polish Boxer, mesmerized us. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

A Braid Of Words: Guest DJ Eduardo Halfon, Author Of 'The Polish Boxer'

May 10, 2013 • This week on Alt.Latino, the Guatemalan author joins us to discuss his latest book, The Polish Boxer. Hear a conversation about Guatemala, Judaism in Latin America and, of course, music.

A Braid Of Words: Guest DJ Eduardo Halfon, Author Of 'The Polish Boxer'

Listen · 34:00 34:00

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/181136776/182804858" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

New Music From Tom Waits & Keith Richards, Ra Ra Riot, Villagers, More

Clockwise from upper left: Lisa Germano, Ra Ra Riot, Tom Waits, Keith Richards, Blaudzun. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Music From Tom Waits & Keith Richards, Ra Ra Riot, Villagers, More

January 8, 2013 • Veteran musicians Tom Waits and Keith Richards recorded a new song for a compilation called Son Of Rogue's Gallery, and we guarantee it's not at all what you'd expect.

New Music From Tom Waits & Keith Richards, Ra Ra Riot, Villagers, More

Listen · 49:35 49:35

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/168805385/168812828" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Music Reviews

Can Scarlett Johansson Sing? Who Cares?

May 20, 2008 • Esquire music critic Andy Langer previews this week's new album releases, featuring music from actress-turned-singer Scarlett Johansson, Green Day side project Foxboro Hot Tubs, bluegrass banjoist Abigail Washburn, and the Flobots.

Can Scarlett Johansson Sing? Who Cares?

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90619251/90619205" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Review

Song Of The Day

Tom Waits' 130 Seconds of Rock Bliss

January 2, 2007 • "Lie To Me" isn't the best song on Waits' overstuffed Orphans, but it's one of the most disarming ones, with a roar that can knock listeners sideways. That makes it a perfect tone-setter for the immense, thematically arranged outpouring that follows.

Music Interviews

Tom Waits: The Whiskey Voice Returns

November 21, 2006 • Known since the 1970s for his distinctive, gravelly voice, singer-songwriter Tom Waits has since given up whiskey for family life. But echoes of his hard-living ways can still be heard in his music.

Tom Waits: The Whiskey Voice Returns

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6519647/6520076" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Songs Of Love And Loathing

The Sounds of Love: Valentine's Day Music

February 8, 2006 • Gen-Xers love "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, while their parents prefer "At Last" as sung by Etta James. Those are two of the most popular tunes NPR listeners selected in a recent NPR.org online poll on Valentine's Day music. Hear the songs and read the stories behind them.

Music News

Tom Waits Fights to Stay Out of Advertising

May 6, 2005 • Singer-songwriter Tom Waits' unique vocal style and devoted following has such appeal to advertisers that they have resorted to using sound-alikes when Waits turns down requests to use his original music. That has led the artist to take legal action.

Tom Waits Fights to Stay Out of Advertising

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4633751/4633752" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Review

Music Reviews

Waits Departs from Conventions on New Album

November 3, 2004 • Tom Waits' change in approach on Real Gone can make the new album a challenge to hear, but worth digging into. Hear critic Tom Moon.

Waits Departs from Conventions on New Album

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4142385/4142386" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

Tom Waits Speaks On Songwriting

Fresh Air

October 8, 2004 • Since the 1973 release of his first album, Closing Time, Waits has won over fans with his original songwriting and distinctive, gravelly vocal style. His newest CD is Real Gone. (This interview was originally broadcast in 2002.)

Tom Waits Speaks On Songwriting

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4077216/4077217" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

Music Reviews

Tom Waits: 'Blood Money' and 'Alice'

May 29, 2002 • Music critic David Greenberger reviews Blood Money and Alice, two new releases — with different sounds — from singer-songwriter Tom Waits. The CDs are 2002 releases on the Anti- label.

Tom Waits: 'Blood Money' and 'Alice'

Listen · 3:53 3:53

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1144127/144127" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

Tom Waits: On 'Alice' And 'Blood Money'

Fresh Air

May 21, 2002 • Since the 1973 release of his first album, Closing Time, Tom Waits has won fans over with his original songwriting and distinctive, gravelly vocal style. He has two new CDs out this month: Alice and Blood Money.

Tom Waits: On 'Alice' And 'Blood Money'

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

Music Interviews

John Hammond, Meet Tom Waits

April 1, 2001 • Blues musician John Hammond has spent his entire career covering the works of great American songwriters like Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Mose Allison. For his latest project, Wicked Grin, Hammond selected twelve songs by Tom Waits. In an unconventional twist, he asked Waits himself to produce the record. Liane speaks with John Hammond about his friendship with Tom Waits and the recording sessions that yielded this CD.

John Hammond, Meet Tom Waits

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

Best CDs of 2006

NPR Listeners Pick the Best CDs of 2006

December 7, 2006 • Find out the number one album of the year as selected by NPR listeners. Count down the top ten CDs with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen as he chats with reviewers Robert Christgau, Will Hermes, Meredith Ochs and John Richards.

Watch Tom Waits' Bracing, Beautiful 'Hell Broke Luce' Video

Tom Waits. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Watch Tom Waits' Bracing, Beautiful 'Hell Broke Luce' Video

August 7, 2012 • Waits' dim view of war and those who wage it is anything but softened in a video by Matt Mahurin.

Tom Waits: How The Skid Row Balladeer Found His Voice

Courtesy of Anti-Records

Opinion

Music Interviews

Tom Waits: How The Skid Row Balladeer Found His Voice

March 1, 2011 • The singer-songwriter, famous for his gravelly growl and tales of downtrodden working stiffs, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this month.

Tom Waits: How The Skid Row Balladeer Found His Voice

Listen · 4:10 4:10

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134143230/134154372" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Waits: Paying Homage To Outcasts On 'Bad As Me'

Tom Waits.

Jesse Dylan hide caption

toggle caption

Jesse Dylan

The Best Of Fresh Air 2011

Waits: Paying Homage To Outcasts On 'Bad As Me'

Fresh Air

December 26, 2011 • The darkness of Tom Waits' lyrics is accentuated by the rumble and rasp of his voice, which sounded old even when he was young. On Bad As Me, Waits reflects on loneliness, life, death and heartbreak. Here, he talks to Terry Gross about performing, being a father and writing his haunting melodies.

Waits: Paying Homage To Outcasts On 'Bad As Me'

Listen · 32:27 32:27

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/144069269/144069562" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

More from Tom Waits

Browse archive or search npr.org