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Track Listings
| 1. Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen) |
| 2. Step Right Up |
| 3. Jitterbug Boy (Sharing A Curbstone With Chuck E. Weiss, Robert Marchese, Paul Body And The Mug... |
| 4. I Wish I Was In New Orleans (In The Ninth Ward) |
| 5. The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) |
| 6. Invitation To The Blues |
| 7. Pasties And A G-String (At The Two O'Clock Club) |
| 8. Bad Liver And A Broken Heart (In Lowell) |
| 9. The One That Got Away |
| 10. Small Change (Got Rained On With His Own .38) |
| 11. I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue) |
Editorial Reviews
Tom's audience vastly increased as he went #89 pop with this 1976 LP, which was recorded directly to two-track tape over six days that July. That's the legendary Shelly Manne on the skins, backing slinky saxophone runs and Tom's atmospheric song-stories: Tom Traubert's Blues; The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me); Bad Liver and a Broken Heart; Pasties and a G-String; The One That Got Away perhaps his quintessential '70s album!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By K. Brown
Format:Audio CD
First off, I think this entire album is excellent, from the tormented "Tom Traubert's Blues" to the hysterical "The Piano Has Been Drinking" to the mellow "Jitterbug Boy." But even if abovementioned tunes did nothing for me, it would be made with the title track.
"Small Change" is one of the most chilling tunes I have ever heard. The combination of Waits' raspy voice, the instrumentals being a lone saxophone, and the bleak lyrics describing the crime scene and the gunned down gambler are more haunting than any ghost story you were told as a child. This is Tom Waits at his poetic best.
The bonus is that while this song steals the show, there is plenty to enjoy on the rest of the cd. The mood of the album gravitates toward the down & out pool hallers, hucksters, and all-around tormented souls. From heavy to humorous, this release has it all.
"Pasties and a G-String" is a hysterical salute to the old burlesque haunts, and the dancers and droolers that inhabit them. Like "Small Change," the focus is on one instrument, the drums, albeit in an entirely upbeat manner.
Other standout pieces are "Jitterbug Boy," a rare calming piano piece, singing the Jitterbug Boy's unlikely claims of places he's been and people he's met; "The One that Got Away," another hard-boiled hard-luck song showcasing some wicked saxophone, and "Invitation to the Blues."
This is easily one of Tom Waits' greatest efforts, though you can't go wrong with any of his earliest albums. Like I said, everything here is excellent, but "Small Change" alone is worth the money.
"Small Change" is one of the most chilling tunes I have ever heard. The combination of Waits' raspy voice, the instrumentals being a lone saxophone, and the bleak lyrics describing the crime scene and the gunned down gambler are more haunting than any ghost story you were told as a child. This is Tom Waits at his poetic best.
The bonus is that while this song steals the show, there is plenty to enjoy on the rest of the cd. The mood of the album gravitates toward the down & out pool hallers, hucksters, and all-around tormented souls. From heavy to humorous, this release has it all.
"Pasties and a G-String" is a hysterical salute to the old burlesque haunts, and the dancers and droolers that inhabit them. Like "Small Change," the focus is on one instrument, the drums, albeit in an entirely upbeat manner.
Other standout pieces are "Jitterbug Boy," a rare calming piano piece, singing the Jitterbug Boy's unlikely claims of places he's been and people he's met; "The One that Got Away," another hard-boiled hard-luck song showcasing some wicked saxophone, and "Invitation to the Blues."
This is easily one of Tom Waits' greatest efforts, though you can't go wrong with any of his earliest albums. Like I said, everything here is excellent, but "Small Change" alone is worth the money.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Bud Kinch
Format:Audio CD
Sometimes Tom Wait's 70's stuff sounds something like if you read Jack Kerouac over Kind Of Blue-era Miles Davis. If that's not enough to tempt you, he also has ballads that are musically rich, lyrically depthful and heartbreakingly beautiful all at once. Small Change is probably the most all-round example of this. If you want extremes, buy Nighthawks At The Diner for the former and Blue Valentine for the latter. Lot's of these tunes are already the stuff of legend - Tom Traubert's Blues, the title track, I Can't Wait To Get Off Work - but a lot of the gems on this you probably haven't heard of. I Wish I Was In New Orleans is perfection, no other word for it. Some may call this music too maudlin, too schmaltz - including Waits himself - but if you ignore the cynic inside of you, what you'll find is something that's not like any other record out there. There is no such thing as a bad Tom Waits record, and I'm not usually one to make such fanatic claims. Nowadays he's doing this great, mysterious, musically challenging and innovative thing. In the 80's he was mutating his 70's work into something very unique and magic indeed. In the 70's he was making music that made his world yours, completely sensational. Every song on Small Change is like a novel, every note is like gold. Listen to Invitation To The Blues, Bad Liver & A Broken Heart, Step Right Up - from ballads to beat, this guy is a heavyweight. Always has been, always will be.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
On this album Tom takes the listener to the same place "Notes from the Underground" takes the reader. It's a real world that daylight doesn't penetrate and heartbroken loners like Mr. Waits portrays wander the darkened streets alone. Anyone with a broken heart can relate to "Tom Taubert's Blues" and enjoy the fact that misery loves company and the singer is sharing a bench with you. In other words, this ain't no party cd. This is for listening and learning about another way of life.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
OHMIGOD this c.d. is choice. I am listening to it right now. There is a sensual beauty in the music but the real brilliance comes out in the lyrics. "You ask me what I'm doin' here, hold this old lamppost, flippin' this old quarter, tryin' to make up my mind... If it's heads I'll go to Tennessee, if it's tails I'll buy a drink, if it lands on the edge I'll keep talkin'... to... you..."
Waits' nostalgia and grinning, drunken comraderie come in his devastating growl and the pure poetry of his language. Gloomy yet headshakingly happy. "The Piano Has Been Drinking" is one of the best songs I have ever heard- "the carpet needs a haircut and the spotlight looks like a prison-break and the telephone's out of cigarettes and the balcony is on the make..." This album can actually change the atmosphere in the room- it is enlightening and intimate. There is nothing self-indulgent about it- it is about real life- waitresses and dead-end jobs, late-night liquor and broken down cars on bad streets. This is the blues, done with lots of hope and heart. I fell in love with this music instantly.
Waits' nostalgia and grinning, drunken comraderie come in his devastating growl and the pure poetry of his language. Gloomy yet headshakingly happy. "The Piano Has Been Drinking" is one of the best songs I have ever heard- "the carpet needs a haircut and the spotlight looks like a prison-break and the telephone's out of cigarettes and the balcony is on the make..." This album can actually change the atmosphere in the room- it is enlightening and intimate. There is nothing self-indulgent about it- it is about real life- waitresses and dead-end jobs, late-night liquor and broken down cars on bad streets. This is the blues, done with lots of hope and heart. I fell in love with this music instantly.
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By David Kinney
Format:Audio CD
How much do I love this recording? Well, let's go back to the 70's. There was always someone at a party who would troll through the hosts' record collection and select some atmosphere killing LP by Steely Dan, or Zappa, or Todd Rundgren, and, get this, they'd want you to love it too.I always left for the kitchen when this happened, but one party I guess I was a little slow afoot and I got hooked into hearing a couple of cuts from this wonderful album.So I went out and got it for myself. The first and last time a party troll ever influenced any record purchase of mine. On this ,Tom's fourth release, he completely succeeds in melding the Barfly-Bukowsky-Boho-meets The Beats influences into a cohesive and focused (if a barfly's eyes can focus)piece of work that is unmistakably Tom's own. It's hilarious (The Piano Has Been Drinking), sentimental in a good way (Tom Traubert's Blues, a song so good even disco era Rod Stewart couldn't ruin it)and hip,or hep as the case may be (Step Right Up). Everything on here is wonderful and the small authentic bopster/cool combo headed by L.A. jazz drummer Shelly Manne keeps everything swinging madly.Tom Waits is by no means an idiot and he realized he couldn't keep going to this same well.He handed the keys to his Caddy to Rickie Lee Jones and set out to make "serious" music that certain of my egghead friends assure me is a wonderful mix of Kurt Weill, musique concrete and a whole bunch of modern classical composers.Hmm...okay. Me, I'd rather be rained on with my own .38 .So I'll stick to old fashioned Tom Waits straight up with a twist. That's how much I love this record.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential
If you are even remotely interested in Tom Waits this in an essential album, BUY IT!!! Then go pick up swordfishtrombones.
Published 27 days ago by Trey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tom Waits - Small Change
I had a former boyfriend who was insistent on listening to this record every day - so, I got used to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jane E. O'Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small Change
This was a great CD at a great price. this was purchased as a gift and it arrived very quickly.
Published 2 months ago by Cindy Rudy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Original and early Tom Waits.
The CD arrived in good condition and was an accurate order.I have enjoyed all of the music and play this alot on my cars' CD player as it makes for excellent travel and cruise... Read more
Published 2 months ago by zoner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must
Had this copied on cassette. Time to actually buy it on CD. What was I waiting for? I ...lots...of Tom Waits and I love this one. There are some I just really, really like. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jon Celesia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small Change
Aclassic. First album I ever heard of Tom's, became an instant fan. I would recommend this album to anyone who who enjoys the beat generation of 60's Grenwich Village coffee shop... Read more
Published 5 months ago by george marnicio
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece.
Excellent artistic quality cd and beautifully written. I recommend to all. This cd needs to be well reproduced from an audio quality first, so its technical qualities are... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Paulo A. Albuquerque
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tom Waits "Small Change" is timeless
Tom Waits "Small Change" is a timeless album. I owned it on vinyl. This is some super creative stuff and I highly recommend.
Published 8 months ago by jack goldman
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorites
This album has been on top of my favorites list since it first came out. Tom Waits made the perfect album, an incredible mix of songs, from the truly chilling "Small Change" to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by JGE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music
Tom Waits is the real thing, I think everybody should listen to Tom Waits, Tom Waits Rocks! Go man Go!
Published 11 months ago by DAN
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