Song by Song

Latest Episodes:

Rain Dogs, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [116] Dec 20, 2017

Show notes

We reach the apex of the album (and perhaps the best exemplar of this era of Waits) as Jon, Sam and Martin dig into the portentous imagery of this song as well as some of the real consequences of life on the street.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Rain Dogs, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet - 5. Tramp and Tom Waits with full Orchestra, Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Gavin Bryars/Tom Waits (1971/1993)

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Time, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [115] Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

The lyrical richness of Waits's writing moves into the foreground again as Jon, Martin and Sam deal with the sense of loss and isolation found in this track, as well as in Jon's feature film Frank.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Time, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) If I Should Fall From Grace With God, If I Should Fall From Grace With God, The Pogues (1988)

Hang Down Your Head, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [114] Dec 06, 2017

Show notes

Song by Song welcomes Jon Ronson to the show to discuss the way Waits inspires an image of a world beyond Cardiff, Wales. With the division between the heart and the head, as related to Waits vs. Springsteen, as well as a possible dairy-based spin-off show, we continue our meander through Rain Dogs.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Hang Down Your Head, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Thundercrack, Live Version (via YouTube), Bruce Springsteen (1973)

Diamonds and Gold, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [113] Nov 29, 2017

Show notes

For our final week with Eric Molinsky we discuss a Sesame Street crossover, oblique western storytelling, the dreamlike landscapes of Waits's worlds, and the power of group singing folk music.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Diamonds & Gold, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Deep Blue Sea, The Complete Bowdoin College Concert, Traditional/Pete Seeger (1960)

Big Black Mariah, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [112] Nov 22, 2017

Show notes

For a second week with Eric Molinsky, Martin and Sam take a look at the image of police as both a mortal figure as well as an existential threat, as well as Waits's role (through his music) as an ambassador for the strangeness of his worlds.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Big Black Mariah, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Sound of da Police, Return of the Boom Bap, KRS-One (1993)

Tango Till They're Sore, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [111] Nov 15, 2017

Show notes

As they continue through Rain Dogs, Martin and Sam are joined by Eric Molinsky of the Imaginary Worlds Podcast. Discussion focuses not only on the songwriting of Waits, but also the talk-show stylings of David Letterman, the idea of stepping into character for both songs as well as promotional appearances, and the Harvard witticisms of another singing Tom.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Tango Till They're Sore, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) The Masochism Tango, An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer, Tom Lehrer (1959)

Jockey Full of Bourbon, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [110] Nov 08, 2017

Show notes

Back in the studio, Sam and Martin regroup briefly for a discussion of some of the features in this fourth track from Rain Dogs. More magpie work from Waits, cherry-picking children's rhymes and pirate songs, as well as the unique guitar stylings of Marc Ribot in both collaboration and his solo work.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Jockey Full of Bourbon, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Fat Man Blues, Silent Movies/Live Version, Marc Ribot (2010)

Cemetery Polka, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [109] Nov 01, 2017

Show notes

For our third week at the London Podcast Festival, John and Helen help us pick apart some of the exaggerated family narratives at play in this third track from Rain Dogs. Waits's preoccupation with the exoticisation of deformity, the vocal effect of gauze scissors, and Helen's Aunty Susan all help wrap up our first set of live shows - thanks to everyone who came along!

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Cemetery Polka, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Lah-Di-Dah, Jake In The Box, Jake Thackray (2006/1967)

Clap Hands, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [108] Oct 25, 2017

Show notes

Returning for a second week of live shows, Helen, John, Sam, Martin and the rest of our London Podcast Festival audience dig into the next track from Waits's 1985 album Rain Dogs. With discussion of intertextuality with songs from the 1960s, debate around culture vs cultural reference, as well as some of the sexual extremity of Waits breakfast choices, Song by Song continues with season 10.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Clap Hands, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) The Clapping Song, The Clapping Song… and more, Shirley Ellis (2016/1965)

Singapore, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits [107] Oct 18, 2017

Show notes

Returning for season 10, Song by Song throws its hat into the live arena in a conversation with John Hodgman and Helen Zaltzman, recorded as part of the London Podcast Festival 2017. In this first of three special episodes, Martin, Sam, Helen and John discuss Singapore, the first track from Waits's 1985 classic, Rain Dogs.

Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order.

website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: songbysongpodcast@gmail.com

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Singapore, Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985) Sausolito, Western Union Band, Western Union Band (2003/1972)

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