Tom Waits For No One AKA A Tom Waits Primer by Darren DeVivo

First off...a round of applause for Russ Borris for that incredible post earlier today. Do yourself a favor and make sure WFUV is tuned in on weekdays at 5AM so you can hear Mr. Borris do his thing!!

Russ did get me to thinking 'bout Waits. I've been a Tom Waits junkie since 1985...getting introduced to him through the now out of print collection Anthology Of Tom Waits and his album Rain Dogs (both released in '85). A friend of mine had told me to check out Tom Waits. I'd heard the name, but that was about it. Around this same time, the two albums I just mentioned were brand new, so I started playing some tracks here on WFUV. It was a perfect way to get into his music - Rain Dogs introduced me to his cutting edge, newer sound while Anthology Of Tom Waits provided a sampler of the 70s "bohemian barfly" Waits, which to my virgin ears was a little easier to digest at first. So, 21 years later, I am still a Waits man and I have put together this guide for appreciating Tom Waits.

Tom's recorded history can be divided into three parts:
A) The "early" stuff covers the years 1973 through 1982. This is the singer/songwriter, nightclub/bar act, beatnik jazz stuff! His albums for Asylum Records are in this period and most of them are produced by Bones Howe. This era ends in 1982 with the soundtrack to the movie "One From The Heart" (originally on Columbia Records) which Tom did with Crystal Gayle.
B) Tom reinvents himself after changing his management and record company and taking over as his own producer. This "radical" era covers the years 1983 through 1993. He is now with Island Records.
C) The third period is really an extension of the '83-'93 era. After a six year gap between albums, Tom returns in 1999 on the indie label Anti-/Epitaph Records. This is the era we are presently in.

COMPILATION ALBUMS/ANTHOLOGIES:
If you are looking for one stop shopping, then the "best of" albums may work for you. Readily available today are:
* Used Songs 1973 - 1980 (2001) - This Rhino Records collection does a nice job covering the early stuff for Asylum Records.
* Beautiful Maladies The Island Years (1998) - The best of the Island Records recordings from 1983 through 1993.
(The "early" stuff for Asylum is also summed up on these albums, if you can find them: Anthology Of Tom Waits (1985), Bounced Checks (released in 1981 only in the U.K. and features rarities never issued here in the U.S.) and Asylum Years (released in 1986, also only in the U.K. ...and, by the way, the LP and CD versions differ).

ORIGINAL ALBUMS:
Tom has released 18 albums in his career, not counting compilations and soundtracks.
---The Asylum Records years ('73-'80) contain seven albums. I recommend all of them, but the first purchases should be:
* Nighthawks At The Diner (1975) - Tom's third album was recorded live and features Tom the nightclub act in fine form. Funny stuff combined with killer songs.
* Closing Time (1973) - Tom's debut album.
* The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974) - The second album.
* Foreign Affairs (1977) - The fifth album.
---The Island Records albums ('83-'93) are more of an acquired taste and can be difficult to swallow for the uninitiated. That said, check out:
* Rain Dogs (1985) - Tom's second album for Island and his ninth overall. This is the best album of his career.
* Swordfishtrombones (1983) - Tom's Island debut (eighth album) is a drastic musical departure from the "early" stuff. If you have got this far, then get:
* Bone Machine (1992) - Tom's first studio album of new material, not counting soundtrack work and a live album, in five years. His twelfth overall.
---As for his current period for Anti- Records ('99-present), I recommend all of his albums, but the ones that stand out are:
* Mule Variations (1999) - His Anti-/Epitaph debut. His fourteenth overall.
* Real Gone (2004) - Album number seventeen.
* Orphans Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (2006) - His new one is a triple album featuring 56 songs...some new and some rare odds and ends.

And one more thing...will someone release Tom's concert movie "Big Time" on DVD!

Darren DeVivo
11/29-30/06

Tom Waits

Today is Tom Waits Day on WFUV in honor of the new Orphans collection. I just wanted to take a second and encourage ANY Waits fan to go get this three disc set. Go. I mean, stop what you're doing, get out of your chair and go get it. Now. And I don't want to hear, "oh, but I'm at work." Please. If your boss doesn't understand your need for a Waits fix, then it may be time for you to find a cooler boss.

I hate to say this is a MUST HAVE for any Waits fan, simply because I don't like that phrase, but you should have this. You NEED to have this. You MUST HAVE this! Damn, I said it anyway...

Thanksgiving and the Beatles by Darren

Thanksgiving time, specifically the week leading up to Thanksgiving, puts me in my "Beatles head". Now, anyone who knows me, knows I am in my "Beatles head" year 'round! But when Thanksgiving week rolls around, the Beatles become an even closer companion. This all began eleven years ago...Thanksgiving week 1995...the week that "The Beatles Anthology" documentary debuted along with "Free As A Bird", the first new Beatles song in 25 years.

The buzz in 1995 was that the definitive Beatles history, "The Beatles Anthology", was coming and it would be a multi-faceted project: a video documentary, an archival audio portion on CD and, eventually, a book. The video documentary would come first to television in edited form and then, to video (VHS, then, eventually, DVD). The full length documentary would clock in at around ten hours...the Beatles telling their story themselves - setting the record straight. Even more significant was that Beatles fans would get their first official peek at the Beatles master tapes as tons of unreleased material from the vaults would be issued as the audio portion of the "Anthology project" - three double albums that would be released into 1996. But what was going to be the special aspect of the "Anthology project" was that new Beatles songs would be part of the experience. Yes, new Beatles songs!! There would be two new songs. There was almost three. Yes three. No, wait... only two! Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney, the "Threetles", gathered together with cassette demos of a few unreleased John Lennon songs ... and they created that Beatles magic. First in 1994, 25 years after Abbey Road, Paul, George and Ringo "completed" John's 1979 cassette demo of his song "Free As A Bird". Then in early 1995, the Threetles were back at it for a second go 'round with another of John's demos from 1979, "Real Love". (The third song never came to fruition.) George, Paul and Ringo working together again. As close as we could come to a reunion. Words can't describe...

Then came the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 19, 1995. I remember the great anticipation. I remember the excitement and tension building. That night, ABC would broadcast the first part of the video documentary, culminating with the video of the first new song - "Free As A Bird". The significance grew for me when I heard the news on WINS that afternoon...the broadcast of the first new Beatles song in 25 years was a major news story!

I was five years old when the Beatles broke up (1970). I vaguely remember the Hey Jude compilation album and the final Beatles album Let It Be being released. I had the singles, but had faint memories of the Beatles final two hits - "The Long And Winding Road" and "Let It Be" - on the charts. I kind of remember being in the Palace Theater (in the Parkchester section of the Bronx) seeing the "Let It Be" movie with my mother. Now I was 30 years old and married almost one year and I was finally experiencing the Beatles...something new...as if they had reunited.

That night, I was riveted to the television as ABC (WABC, channel 7 in NYC) broadcast part one of "The Beatles Anthology". At shortly before 11:00PM, they would wrap up with "Free As A Bird". What would it sound like (I had never heard the bootleg of John's demo)? What would they sound like? What would John's 15 year old cassette demo sound like combined with professional, state of the art, 1994 overdubs? The anticipation was intense!

Needless to say, I was not disappointed at all. "Free As A Bird" was a magical masterpiece. I would need another massive blog entry to express my feelings about the song. Then, of course, there was the documentary! We can't forget that! The new interviews with Paul, George and Ringo. Seeing them together again. Unbelievable. The archival footage. Hearing John talk about the Beatles. And we were just getting started! That Tuesday, November 21, 1995, Capitol/Apple would release the first album, The Beatles Anthology 1, which would open with "Free As A Bird". The archival material on the album would chronicle the Beatles from the mid/late 1950s until 1964. The "Free As A Bird" single would soon follow. On Wednesday night, November 22 (Thanksgiving eve), ABC would broadcast part two of the documentary. Then, on Thanksgiving night (November 23, 1995), the third and final part would be broadcast. It was sad watching the end. The Beatles have broken up, good night! I remember that on that Thanksgiving day, a commercial rock radio station (I forget which one) was playing the entire Beatles song catalogue from A to Z all day. I loved when stations did that. They would do it from time to time. Unfortunately, nobody has done it since then. I also remember frustrating my wife by telling her that we HAD to leave her parents' house EARLY that day, cutting short our Thanksgiving visit, so that I'd be home in plenty of time for the final part of the Anthology! We had over an hour drive home and we had to deal with the L.I.E.!! I wasn't taking any chances!! We had to leave EARLY!!!

In 1996, the second new Beatles song, "Real Love", was revealed in March, just before my 31st birthday. It was included on the second anthology album, The Beatles Anthology 2, and issued as a single. Man, it was almost as good (maybe as good) as "Free As A Bird". By the fall, came the final album, The Beatles Anthology 3. (Then, of course, the entire ten hour documentary was released and later, the book.)

The "Anthology"/"Free As A Bird" experience from Thanksgiving 1995 has stayed with me and created this Beatles vibe that will always live within me (and without me!) when the Thanksgiving holiday arrives and Christmas is right around the corner.

Now it's eleven years after that "Beatles Thanksgiving". I'm 41. I have two beautiful children and my wife and I have been married almost twelve years (this Saturday, December 2, will make it twelve!). My Dad died three years ago this Wednesday. I've moved out of my beloved Bronx. But, I am still at WFUV!!! Some things never change! The "Beatles Thanksgiving" vibe, or that "Beatles head" I referred to earlier, was renewed this year when last Tuesday, November 21, 2006, the new Beatles album Love was released...yup, during Thanksgiving week!


Darren DeVivo
11/27-28/06

Frankie Valli, but no Four Seasons by Darren

I hope everyone reading this had a terrific Thanksgiving holiday. Welcome to the holiday season of 2006...it's here already!!! Unfortunately, for me, I spent a good part of the weekend sick. I was well enough, though, to take my mother to the Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall (the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center) to see Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in concert Friday night! The show was the second of four shows by the original "Jersey Boy". It's amazing, at the age of 69, how well Frankie's voice has held up after all these years! He sounded great. By the way, the billing was misleading. The Four Seasons are no more and this was actually Frankie Valli with his band.

Darren DeVivo
11/27/06

Darren DeVivo and Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall!

I just returned from Carnegie Hall where I attended the North American premier performance of Paul McCartney's new classical work Ecce Cor Meum. This was the second performance of the piece, which made it's world premier last week in London at Royal Albert Hall. As many of you know, Paul has numerous classical works already under his belt - 1991 saw the release of Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio. That was followed by Paul McCartney's Standing Stone in 1997. The album Working Classical from 1999 was a collection of shorter pieces and "classical renditions" of some of his pop songs. (Also, check out the benefit/tribute album A Garland For Linda from 2000.)

This was a really special evening at Carnegie Hall. Yes, I shaved and left my sneakers at home!!

First, the program. The evening was split into two parts. The first half of the show featured a selection of Paul McCartney compositions from his pop work and earlier classical works. The second half of the show was Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart) performed in it's entirety. The first half featured the following songs:
1) My Love (the Wings song from the 1973 album Red Rose Speedway)
2) Warm And Beautiful (a Wings song from the 1976 album Wings At The Speed Of Sound)
3) Calico Skies (from Paul's 1997 album Flaming Pie)
4) Golden Earth Girl (from Paul's 1993 album Off The Ground)
5) Somedays (from Flaming Pie)
6) Junk (from Paul's first solo album McCartney from 1970)
7) Nova (a classical composition of Paul's from A Garland For Linda)
8) The World You're Coming Into (from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio)
9) Ghost Suite (also from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio)
10) Celebration (from Paul McCartney's Standing Stone)
The perfomers during this half were: soprano Kate Royal, tenor Andrew Staples, the Loma Mar Quartet and a chamber orchestra.
The second half was Ecce Cor Meum in it's entirety - first movement "Spiritus", second movement "Gratia", Interlude (Lament), third movement "Musica", fourth movement "Ecce Cor Meum".
The performers were soprano Kate Royal, the Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by Gavin Greenaway, the Concert Chorale of New York, the American Boychoir and organist Colm Carey.

I am not an expert when it comes to classical music, but I can tell when something is pretty outstanding, and tonight's performance was outstanding! It amazes me that someone who has written some of the most important mainstream popular music of our time can also compose credible work in the classical field. But, knowing Paul's talents, maybe it shouldn't amaze me. Despite this, there were a couple of areas that I thought were a bit weak. It was slightly awkward to have a classical soprano and classical tenor tackle pop lyrics, like those in "My Love", for example. If a pop singer, like Paul, were singing to a string quartet's accompaniment, that might have sounded a bit more natural. That said, the strong melodies in Paul's pop songs allow them to work in a "classical" setting. In regards to the entire Ecce Cor Meum, there are moments when Paul's lyrics are a bit on the simple side, an occasional fault of some of Paul's pop material. Other than these minor critical observations, Ecce Cor Meum is a special work and tonight's entire performance was wonderful.

It was obvious by the entire program that this show was one for and inspired by Linda McCartney. Almost all of the pop songs that were performed in the first half were songs about and for Linda. Also, Ecce Cor Meum was composed during Linda's illness and completed after her death, so her spirit, and Paul's grieving, is very prominent in the piece.

Being that it was the only North American performance of this new McCartney work, it was no surprise that the evening was a star studded event. Spotted in Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium was Alec Baldwin, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Elvis Costello and a VERY pregnant Diana Krall, the wonderful concert promoter Sid Bernstein and others. Actually, it was my wife who spotted Elvis Costello and Diana Krall leaving the Hall after the show. I was chatting with WAXQ's (Q104.3) Ken Dashow in the lobby and missed them. My wife was blown away with how pregnant Diana Krall is (she's due to have twins real soon)! She said Diana looked real uncomfortable. As we were walking into the lobby before the show, we walked right past Alec Baldwin!!

It goes without saying, but Sir Paul McCartney was in attendence as well! Now you have to imagine the scene. I am sitting with my wife on the floor...uhh, we were in seats, but the seats were on the floor in the orchestra (the parquet). We are sitting dead center, in the back of the orchestra (uhh, parquet)...three rows from the very back. They were outstanding seats. Directly over our heads, about 15-20 feet above us, is the first tier. Guess who is sitting DIRECTLY ABOVE ME? PAUL HIMSELF!! He is merely 20-25 feet above me. When he leans forward, I can see his face. He's right there!!!! As my wife said, "So close and yet so far away!". Alec Baldwin was sitting to his right and Woody Harrelson and Steve Buscemi were to his left. Needless to say, the crowd went nuts when he arrived at his seat just minutes before the show began. I have to admit, I yelled up to him, "Hey Paul! Look down!". He didn't. After the show was over and the performers were taking their bows, Paul arrived on stage. He intoduced the performers and thanked them. And then the heavens opened...a blizzard of confetti blasted into the hall, snowing down on us. As it fell, we realized that the confetti were pieces of white tissue paper in the shape of hearts..."Behold My Heart"!

DDD
11/14-15/06

Rita Houston goes to Dylan Part 1 plus set list

Bob Dylan at Nassau-Monday 11.13.06 on a very rainy nite.

This is possibly the most "ON" i've seen Dylan--EVER. He was SINGING, yes actually singing every word, AND he looked like he was having a good time. Every song was easily recognizable even the classics that had some unusual new arrangements. I'll post the set list below. I wish i had some photos of Bob as he looked great last nite in a skinny black cowboy suit and wide flat brimmed hat. There were moments when Bob was dancing behind his keyboard. I watched him closely as he called the changes in the songs and called for the endings. AMAZING. Seems the new songs have really inspired him and i was really inspired by the audience reaction to them. For example, Beyond the Horizon, which may be my fave from Modern TImes, came early in the show and the audience really knew the song. I wish i knew if Bob knows that or even cares--u gotta believe he does. "you think i'm over the hill, past my prime" the place went crazy letting him know we don't think that at all. I wondered if this was a show that would convince a non dylan fan. u know the one who thinks he can't sing or doesn't make sense. I dunno. but ibet maybe.

Why tho must we go to a sports arena for a rock concert? It's just so unfriendly and cold. I love how most security people assume you are a criminal trying to get over then just a person with a question. Ah, i'm so naive. AND, our seats were on temporary bleachers so they rocked the whole nite. I'm uncomfortable when the floor below me moves--post traumatic stress issue. But that's the critical end. I did amuse myself during Highway 61 by counting the shiny bald heads up in the few front rows. With the lights shining on them it created quite a glow. I was a guest at the Discussing Dylan class last week at the New School and one thing that came up is that Dylan fans are mostly male. More so than say Bruce or even Van M or def the Stones. Seems there are some obvious reasons for that but last nite was further proof of that.--especially the shiny dome section.


Here's the set list:

1.	Maggie's Farm
2.	She Belongs To Me
3.	Honest With Me
4.	Spirit On The Water
5.	It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
6.	When The Deal Goes Down
7.	High Water (For Charley Patton)
8.	Visions Of Johanna
9.	Rollin' And Tumblin'
10.	Ballad Of A Thin Man
11.	Tangled Up In Blue
12.	Nettie Moore
13.	Highway 61 Revisited
	(encore)
14.	Thunder On The Mountain
15.	Like A Rolling Stone
16.	All Along The Watchtower

So this is a blog?!

Welcome to the first ever blog from the mind and fingers of Darren DeVivo. So this is what blogging feels like! Nice!
If you ask some of my friends, they will tell you that I love to send lengthy, content heavy emails, just for the hell of it. I often feel the need to express my opinions, share my thoughts and generally "foam at the mouth (keyboard, in this case!)" about a variety of things and I use the random email as my forum. Now, I can lay my madness on all of you on the WFUV blog! I usually like to write about the thing that is dearest to me - music. Whether it's a concert I saw, an album I'm excited about, some bit of news I want to spread and share, here is where it will be. You know that I'll write at length about all things Beatles as well! I'll also want to share my thoughts on a lot of different things...like the Mets, baseball and sports in general, movies, my family, etc. Sometimes I'll vent on things that piss me off...or turn me on! Hopefully, you'll find these random thoughts somewhat entertaining.

For those of you who don't know me well, I am on the air weekdays from 10:00AM until 2:00PM. I have been a member of the WFUV staff for 23 years, having walked through the doors of the station for the first time in September 1983. My first appearance on the WFUV airwaves came on Sunday, February 26, 1984 from 6:00 until 8:00AM! In January 1991, I took over the afternoon drive slot (currently occupied by Dennis Elsas). Exactly a year later, I moved to morning drive (where Claudia Marshall is today). I woke WFUV listeners up for 9 years, until January (what's the deal with January!!) 2001 when I moved to my current midday slot. Recently, I hosted "The WFUV Long Player With Darren DeVivo" which was on the air on weekends for about 5 1/2 years. At various times during my time at WFUV, I was also the Production Director, Assistant Music Director and Music Promotions Director.

Check back often for my posts...and thanks for listening to WFUV.

11/11/06

Dylan Tribute at Lincoln Center-set list and more

There I was sitting on a stool just sidestage as the house announcer for the Dylan tribute at Avery Fisher Hall. I introduced all the artists so I had quite a perch to view it all. Here's the set list:
Bob Mould-If Not For You
Joan Osborne-To Make You Feel My Love
Natalie Merchant and Phillip Glass-The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol
Al Kooper-It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry
Spottiswoode and His Enemies-The Times They Are a Changing
Sandra Bernhardt-Like A Rolling Stone
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Jamie Saft Trio-Ballad of a Thin Man
Lee Ranaldo-Positively 4th Street
Lauren Shera-Don't Think Twice It's Alright
Medeski, Martin and Wood with Oliver Wood-Buckets of Rain
Allen Toussaint-Mama You Been on My Mind
Jill Sobule-Ring Them Bells (with Cyndi Lauper)
Warren Haynes-I Shall Be Released (with Joan Osborne)
Rosanne Cash-License to Kill
Jay Farrar-Going, Going, Gone
Phil Lesh-Thunder on the Mountain (with Warren and Joan Osborne)
The Roots-Masters of War
Cat Power-Moonshiner (but it was actually House of the Rising Sun)
Ryan Adams-Isis
Patti Smith-Dark Eyes
Ramblin Jack Elliot with Jennifer O'Connor-Knocking on Heaven's Door (with Patti Smith and Al Kooper on mandolin)

Phil Lesh was late, ran in just moments before he was going on stage and then planned out the song with the band and Joan Osborne and Warren Haynes right before they went out--amazing. Cat Power was supposed to do Moonshiner but it sure sounded like House of the Rising Sun to me. The Roots rocked it so hard. I hope someone got a recording of that. I'll try to post some pics soon

Rita H goes to see 2 old guys playing and 1 is still very cool

Rita goes to Carnegie! George Jones and Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall. i first heard Kristofferson when I was like 10 and i oddly ended up with Kris Kristofferson's Greatest Hits. First, I fell in teenage love with the cover and then the music got me in ways that belied my young years. I now look back on that album as my introduction to country music (in mount vernon, new york!) and beer. Well yes cuz the lyric " the beer i had for breakfast wasn't bad so i had one more for dessert" convinced me that I couldn't wait to be a grown up so I could try that someday too. For the record, it's not really that good.

It was Kris, solo, acoustic...told a few stories, gave many respectful shout outs--Johnny and June, Janis, Lennon..., and that catalog of songs. Sure, he's not the best singer and not the best guitar player but it SO doesn't matter with his honest, confident delivery. He did Sunday Morning, Help Me Make it Through the Night, For the Good Times and a newer one that we played on FUV and i was so happy that a lot of people in the crowd seemed to recognize it--This Old Road...great. He also seemed to be very into playing something that was more current for him. Ah, the curse of a mighty catalog!

George Jones on the other hand was just not really cool. well it was cool for a few songs but i got bored. The presentation, the band, it's was all so slick. Plus, his voice, bless his heart, was not in good shape. I was thinking about Tony Bennett by comparsion or even Frank Sinatra who I wished i was seeing last nite. There was also a slide show...a pandering, mellow dramatic, let's flash the images of dead people slide show....funny how the audience would clap for certain people--Johnny Cash and Patsy but then not so much for well, let's say Lefty Frizell.

So, i split a bit early, got in my car and listened to George Jones on my IPOD. That was much better

I had a great dinner before the show at Molyvos! Fantastic Greek food...check it out next time you're at Carnegie.

Next time for me will be Alejandro Escovedo w strings in December!