Way Back Wednesday - Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis

Today's Way Back Wednesday song was released back in 1978 by Tom Waits on his brilliant "Blue Valentine" album.

This particular version of "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" is a live one. The song is punctuated by weird and somewhat inappropriate laughter from the audience. This has long been a favourite song of mine. 

Waits is singing about a woman who writes a letter to a man she knew, explaining that she's pregnant, sober and  married to a fine man who is going to raise her baby as his own. Life is good for her, or rather would be, she confesses, if she still had the cash she used to spend on drugs. Sadly, we learn that she's been fibbing to poor old Charley. The hooker is actually in jail but will be released on Valentine's Day. It's a sad story but I love the way Tom Waits tells it.

I hope you give it a listen. Happy hump day kiddos, stay safe xo

And hey Charley I think about you

Everytime I pass a fillin' station

On account of all the grease

You used to wear in your hair

And I still have that record

Of little anthony & the imperials

Because It's Tuesday - week of February 18

Well once again it's Tuesday (yes, I know that it feels like a Monday but it's actually Tuesday) so I'm sharing a cover with you today.

Today's cover song was written by one of my favourite songwriters, Tom Waits. He wrote the song for his wife, Kathleen Brennan (she was from New Jersey) and he released it in 1980 on his most excellent "Heartattack and Vine" album. Many folks think that this is actually a Bruce Springsteen song (his version is super popular and he is the king of New Jersey so you can see why it would happen).

It's a beautiful, tender song and the version I'm sharing with you today is absolutely lovely. So, without any further yakking by me, here it is today's song, Corinne Bailey Rae's version of the Tom Waits classic, "Jersey Girl." It was released last year on the "come on up to the house - women sing waits" compilation

You know she thrills me with all her charms

When I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms

My little girl gives me everything

I know that some day she'll wear my ring

Way Back Wednesday - Eggs and Sausage

It occurred to me after I posted about my breakfast the other day, that I should have probably shared a favourite Tom Waits song with that post.  I did not think of it at the time so I'm sharing it for Way Back Wednesday.

"Nighthawks At The Diner" is probably my favourite Tom Waits album.  When we had our restaurant, we used to play it, in it's entirety, regularly.  For Way Back Wednesday, I'm going to share with you "Eggs And Sausage [In A Cadillac with Susan Michelson]."  Now, back in 1975, even in California, he probably wasn't singing about the vegetarian sausages I cooked on the weekend.  Most likely, they were pork breakfast links of some variety, his eggs were probably over easy (mine were scrambled).  

Thinking about "Nighthawks At The Diner" brought back some warm memories of our restaurant and all of the delicious breakfasts that came out of that kitchen.

Eggs and sausage and a side of toast
Coffee and a roll, hash browns over easy
Chili in a bowl with burgers and fries...

May there be some delicious, warm your bones breakfasts in your near future.  With the weather turning cold this week, chili in a bowl sounds pretty good.  I hope you enjoy this week's stroll down memory lane.  There really is no one better to take a stroll with than Tom Waits.  Enjoy xo