The 1973 album "Closing Time" is the beginning of a long and impressive career of one of the most original songwriter/performers you'll ever hear. You might be a little surprised though - is this young man with an almost angelic voice really the same artist who later gave birth to such unclassifiably brilliant, deeply growling, daring masterpieces as "Franks Wild Years", "Rain Dogs" and the Grammy winning "Bone Machine"?

In a fairly recent interview, Tom admitted that he could no longer listen to this album; "It's like looking at pictures of yourself with big ears", were his words. While a far cry from the originality of his later work, Closing Time is not an album without musical merits. Indeed, there are a few songs here that offer glimpses of the brilliance that he later perfected, and a few songs have later been covered by other artists.

The album is a mix of folkish, countryish and jazzy tunes, with an acoustic feel. Let's take a closer look….


Ol'55

The album starts with a song that many consider a Waits classic. Personally it is not one of my favourites. It's a catchy country-folk ballad about "freeway, cars and trucks". You get the point…. Guitars, a piano, and simple percussion work make up the background, with a barely detectable group of background singers adding flavour to the mix.


I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You

Musically continues in the same vain as the opener, a folk-country ballad, which, incidentally I like, despite the fact that usually country music isn't my thing. The fact that here Waits flashes his storytelling skills for the first time may have something to do with the appeal of this song. The lyrics tell a story about an instant infatuation, and the lack of resolve and courage to grasp the moment. I think that just about all of us can relate to this one…

An interesting discovery I made was that this song was recently covered by Vonda Shepard and used in an Ally McBeal episode. Here's a glimpse at the lyrics:

…….Well the night does funny things inside a man
These old tom-cat feelings you don't understand,
Well I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette,
I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we've never met.
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you.

I can see that you are lonesome just like me,
And it being late, you'd like some company,
Well I turn around to look at you, and you look back at me,
The guy you're with has up and split, the chair next to you's free…
And I hope that you don't fall in love with me.

Now it's closing time… the music's fading out.
Last call for drinks, I'll have another stout.
Well I turn around to look at you, you're nowhere to be found,
I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round
And I think that I just fell in love with you…

*sigh* The memories….. can't you just picture that pretty red-head who was eyeing you at the bar that one night back when…..


Virginia Avenue

Switching on to the jazzy lane here, this song notably features a great sharp, atmosphere creating trumpet - and Tom's young, angelic, "too-big-ears" voice…. I still quite like this one.


Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)

A pure country song, nothing spectacular or noteworthy here, if you ask me. Country fans may find some form of attraction in this one, but it's not my cup of tea.


Midnight Lullaby

This is a jazzy ballad, with the trumpet again playing over the piano background. I would describe this one as a dreamy song - it's quite nice actually. Tom's voice is not quite as "big-ears" as in Virginia Avenue, but still quite a few whisky shots away from his later-day growl.


Martha

This one is a classic ballad, later covered at least by Tim Buckley, who's voice is still more angelic than Waits' was back in 73. Features a piano and strings in the background, this ballad is built around a story of a man making a nostalgic phone call to a former lover.


Rosie

One of the less memorable songs of the album, but still not bad. Tom going for almost a falsetto at points…. can you believe that…. Probably one of the songs that makes the album awkward for Waits himself to listen to nowadays.


Lonely

This is a real slow, dreamy "closing time" song. You can easily imagine a bar-singer singing this one alone, with only the company of a piano after the last customer has left. Very simple lyrics, which is very un-Waits-like.


Ice Cream Man

The fastest song on the album, this one is a catchy feel-good jazzy classic rock song. Makes your foot stomp. Ends in a quiet lullaby-like piano tune. A very nice song, one of the high points of the album.


Little Trip To Heaven (On The Wings Of Your Love)

A nice jazzy ballad, featuring a piano, drums and a trumpet. And of course Tom himself, singing away…. This is the sort of a danceable, atmospheric song fit for a late-night hazy jazz club.


Grapefruit Moon

The ballads continue…. This one is not my favourite, despite the memorable melody. Kind of a nostalgic, longing feel to this one.


Closing Time

The album closes with the title track, which is a beautiful instrumental piece - piano, base, strings and the trumpet create a great peaceful closing jazz ballad. I love it!


Conclusion:

Although not as unique as Tom's later work, this album is well worth its money. Belongs in every fan's collection, and musically may appeal to a much wider audience than most his later work. The album is all radio-material, and does not really significantly depart from people's usual ideas of what music is…. :-) Good stuff!


Recommended: Yes