Glitter And Doom Live [Deluxe Edition]

Glitter and Doom Live, a double-disc set, marks Tom Waits' third live effort in his nearly 40-year career, each one summing up his career to the point of its release. The first, Nighthawks at the Diner issued in 1975 on Asylum, is regarded by many as one of the greatest live albums of all time. The second was Big Time, released during his tenure at Island in 1986. The musical performances on disc one of Glitter and Doom Live were culled from Waits’ historic sold-out tour of the U.S. and Europe. He compiled and sequenced the set himself, intending to make them sound like a single show. The material leans, understandably, on his recordings with the Anti label. There are stellar performances here, such as “Get Behind the Mule” from The Mule Variations, “Trampled Rose” from Real Gone, and a haunting version of Leadbelly’s “Fannin Street” from Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, to mention just three of the 17 cuts here. But he goes back to his Island albums too. For instance, there are completely re-visioned readings of “Lucky Day” and “I’ll Shoot the Moon” from 1993’s Black Rider, and a killer — though equally revamped — version of “Singapore” from 1985’s Rain Dogs. Musically, the performances are flawless, as is the sound on this set. The killer stage band includes Vincent Henry on woodwinds and harmonica, guitarist Omar Torres, Patrick Warren on piano and keyboards, Casey Waits on drums/percussion, and Seth Ford Young on bass. There is also a guest appearance by Sullivan Waits on sax and clarinet; Tom plays piano and guitar. Waits decided to ax most of the stage banter from disc one, and instead created a bonus disc in this deluxe package. It is a single 35-plus-minute track called "Tom's Tales," which splices stories and dialogue, reminiscences and spontaneous comedy.