Tom Waits / discography
This discography is an overview of the musical works of Tom Waits . According to sources and record awards, he has sold more than 2.5 million records in his career, including over 1.5 million in his home country alone. Waits' most successful release is the Rain Dogs album with over 600,000 units sold.
Albums
Studio albums
| year | Title music label |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1973 | Closing Time Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK-  |
- |
First published: March 1973
|
| 1974 | The Heart of Saturday Night Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK- |
- |
First published: October 1974
|
| 1976 | Small Change Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK-  |
- |
First published: September 1976
|
| 1977 | Foreign Affairs Asylum |
- | - | - | - | - |
First published: September 1977
|
| 1978 | Blue Valentine Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK- |
- |
First published: September 1978
|
| 1980 | Heartattack and Vine Asylum |
- | - | - | - | - |
First published: September 1980
|
| 1983 |
Swordfishtrombones Island |
- | - | - |
UK- |
- |
First published: September 1983
|
| 1985 |
Rain Dogs Island |
- |
AT26 (2 weeks) AT |
- |
UK29 (5 weeks)UK |
US181 (7 weeks)US |
First published: September 30, 1985
|
| 1987 | Frank's Wild Years Island |
- |
AT24 (6 weeks) AT |
CH14 (4 weeks) CH |
UK20 (5 weeks) UK |
US115 (10 weeks) US |
First published: August 17, 1987
|
| 1992 |
Bone Machine Island |
DE42 (10 weeks) DE |
AT22 (7 weeks) AT |
CH21 (4 weeks) CH |
UK26 (3 weeks) UK |
US176 (3 weeks) US |
First published: August 1992
|
| 1993 |
The Black Rider Island |
- | - | - |
UK47 (2 weeks) UK |
US130 (2 weeks) US |
First published: September 1993
|
| 1999 | Mule Variations ANTI- |
DE4 (36 weeks) DE |
AT7 (10 weeks) AT |
CH7 (6 weeks) CH |
UK9 (3 weeks)UK |
US30th (9 weeks)US |
First published: April 16, 1999
|
| 2002 |
Blood Money ANTI- |
DE9 (8 weeks) DE |
AT5 (11 weeks) AT |
CH25 (7 weeks) CH |
UK21 (2 weeks) UK |
US32 (6 weeks) US |
First published: May 4, 2002
|
| Alice ANTI- |
DE10 (8 weeks) DE |
AT3 (10 weeks) AT |
CH24 (6 weeks) CH |
UK20 (2 weeks) UK |
US33 (6 weeks) US |
First published: May 4, 2002
|
|
| 2004 | Real Gone ANTI- |
DE19 (7 weeks) DE |
AT11 (7 weeks) AT |
CH16 (5 weeks) CH |
UK16 (2 weeks)UK |
US28 (6 weeks) US |
First published: October 3, 2004
|
| 2006 | Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards ANTI- |
DE26 (8 weeks) DE |
AT15 (8 weeks) AT |
CH22 (7 weeks) CH |
UK49 (1 week) UK |
US74 (8 weeks)US |
First published: November 20, 2006
|
| 2011 |
Bad As Me ANTI- |
DE7 (9 weeks) DE |
AT5 (8 weeks) AT |
CH3 (9 weeks) CH |
UK10 (4 weeks) UK |
US6 (7 weeks) US |
First published: October 25, 2011
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Movie soundtracks
- 1982: One from the Heart (with Crystal Gayle , CBS )
- 1992: Night on Earth (Iceland)
Live albums
| year | Title music label |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE
|
AT
|
CH
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1975 | Nighthawks at a Diner Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK- |
- |
First published: October 1975
|
| 1988 | Big Time Island |
- | - | - |
UK84 (1 week) UK |
US152 (6 weeks) US |
First published: September 1988
|
| 2009 | Glitter and Doom Live ANTI- |
DE61 (5 weeks) DE |
AT30 (5 weeks) AT |
CH47 (3 weeks) CH |
UK76 (1 week) UK |
US63 (5 weeks) US |
First published: November 23, 2009
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Compilations
| year | Title music label |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE
|
AT
|
CH
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1984 | Asylum Years Asylum |
- | - | - |
UK- |
- |
First published: 1984
|
| 1998 | Beautiful Maladies: The Island Years 1983–1993 Island |
- | - | - |
UK63 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: June 1998
|
| 2001 | Used Songs: 1973–1980 Rhino |
- |
AT63 (1 week) AT |
- | - | - |
First published: October 16, 2001
|
More compilations
- 1981: Bounced Checks (Asylum)
- 1984: Anthology of Tom Waits (Asylum)
- 1991: The Early Years ( Bizarre / Manifesto)
- 1992: The Early Years Vol. 2 (Bizarre / Manifesto)
Singles
- 1973: Ol '55 / Midnight Lullaby from Closing Time
- 1974: San Diego Serenade from The Heart of Saturday Night
- 1974: Blue Skies / New Coat of Paint from The Heart of Saturday Night
- 1975: (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night from The Heart of Saturday Night
- 1976: Step Right Up / The Piano Has Been Drinking from Small Change
- 1978: Somewhere (From "West Side Story") from Blue Valentine
- 1980: Jersey Girl from Heartattack and Vine
- 1980: Downtown / In Shades from Heartattack and Vine
- 1983: In the Neighborhood from Swordfishtrombones
- 1985: Downtown Train from Rain Dogs
- 1985: Hand Down Your Head from Rain Dogs
- 1987: Hang On St. Christopher from Frank's Wild Years
- 1988: 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six from Big Time
- 1989: Silent Night for SOS United
- 1992: Goin 'Out West from Bone Machine
- 1992: Who Are You from Bone Machine
- 1992: I Don't Wanna Grow Up from Bone Machine
- 1993: I'll Shoot the Moon from The Black Rider
- 1999: Hold On from Mule Variations
- 1999: Picture in a Frame from Mule Variations
- 2002: Alice from Alice
- 2002: God's Away on Business from Blood Money
- 2004: How's It Gonna End from Real Gone
- 2004: Dead and Lovely from Real Gone
- 2006: Long Way Home from Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
- 2006: Lie to Me from Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
- 2011: Bad As Me from Bad As Me
- 2011: Back in the Crowd from Bad As Me
Guest appearances
- 1975: Bonnie Raitt Home Plate (vocals on Sweet and Shiny Eyes )
- 1977: Bette Midler Broken Blossom (piano on I Never Talk to Strangers )
- 1977: Martin Mull I'm Everyone I've Ever Loved
- 1978: Soundtrack for Vorhof zum Paradies (Waits with (Meet Me) In Paradise Alley and Annie's Back in Town )
- 1980: Richie Cole with Eddie Jefferson Hollywood Madness (vocals on Waitin 'for Waits )
- 1985: Compilation Lost in the Stars - The Music of Kurt Weill (Waits with What Keeps Mankind Alive?; Later published on Orphans )
- 1986: The Rolling Stones Dirty Work
- 1988: Compilation Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films (Waits mit Heigh Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) (From Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs) ; later published as Heigh Ho on Orphans )
- 1989: The Replacements I'll Be You (vocals on Date to Church )
- 1989: Roy Orbison Roy Orbison And Friends - A Black And White Night Live (guitar and organ)
- 1989: Soundtrack Sea of Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (title track)
- 1990: Compilation Red Hot + Blue (Waits with It's All Right With Me )
- 1991: Primus Sailing the Seas of Cheese (vocals on Tommy the Cat )
- 1991: Teddy Edwards Mississippi Lad (vocals and guitar on Little Man and I'm Not Your Fool Anymore )
- 1992: Thelonious Monster Beautiful Mess (vocals on Adios Lounge (Duet With Tom Waits) )
- 1992: Ken Nordine Devout Catalyst (vocals on A Thousand Bing Bangs and The Movie )
- 1993: Gavin Bryars Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (vocals)
- 1995: Soundtrack Dead Man Walking (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture) (Waits with The Fall of Troy and Walk Away ; both later released on Orphans )
- 1997: Every Time I Try (soundtrack to Wim Wenders ' At the end of the violence ) (Waits with Little Drop of Poison ; later published on Orphans )
- 1998: Chuck E. Weiss Extremely Cool (vocals and guitar)
- 1998: Ramblin 'Jack Elliott Friends of Mine (vocals and guitar on Louise and Old Time Feelin' )
- 1999: Compilation More Oar - A Tribute To The Skip Spence Album (Waits with Book of Moses ; later published on Orphans )
- 1999: Primus Antipop (vocals and mellotron on intro and coattails of a Dead Man )
- 1999: Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac Reads on the Road (with Primus on On the Road )
- 2000–2006: C-Side & Petit Mal Gatmo Sessions Vol. 1-3 (vocals)
- 2000: Soundtrack for Condo Painting - Life From a Different Angle (Waits with Black Wings ; later published on Orphans )
- 2001: Compilation Groundwork: Act to Reduce Hunger (Waits with Buzz Fledderjohn ; later published on Orphans )
- 2001: Sparklehorse It's a Wonderful Life (vocals and percussion instruments on Dog Door )
- 2001: John P. Hammond Wicked Grin (vocals on I Know I've Been Changed , guitar on almost all songs)
- 2001: Dave Douglas Witness (vocals on Mahfouz )
- 2002: Compilation For the Kinds (Waits with Bend Down the Branches ; later published on Orphans )
- 2003: Compilation We're a Happy Family - A Tribute to Ramones (Waits with Return of Jackie and Judy ; later published on Orphans )
- 2003: The Blind Boys of Alabama Go Tell It on the Mountain (vocals on title track)
- 2004: Compilation The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered (Waits with King Kong ; later published on Orphans )
- 2006: Sparklehorse Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (piano on Morning Hollow )
- 2007: The Book of Knots Traineater (vocals, guitar and percussion instruments on Pray )
- 2008: Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (vocals on The Waitress )
- 2009: NASA The Spirit of Apollo (vocals and piano on Spacious Thoughts )
- 2010: Preservation Hall Jazz Band Preservation (An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program) (vocals on Tootie Ma Is a Big Fine Thing )
- 2011: Hank 3 Ghost to a Ghost - Gutter Town
- 2012: Compilation Music That Changes the World (Waits with Briar & the Rose )
- 2013: Compilation Son Of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys (with Keith Richards on Shenandoah )
- 2016: Compilation God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson (Waits with The Soul of a Man , John the Revelator )
- 2018: Marc Ribot Songs of Resistance 1942–2018 (Waits with Bella ciao )
- C-Side & Petit Mal Swarm Warning (vocals)
Music videos
| year | title | Director (s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The One That Got Away | John Lamb |
| 1983 | In the neighborhood | Haskell Wexler |
| 1985 | Downtown train | Jean-Baptiste Mondino |
| 1987 | Blow Wind Blow | Chris Blum |
| Temptation | Betzy Bromberg | |
| 1990 | It's All Right With Me | Jim Jarmusch |
| 1992 | Goin 'out west | Jesse Dylan |
| I don't wanna grow up | Jim Jarmusch | |
| 1999 | Hold on | Matt Mahurin |
| Come on up to the house | Lövgren is different | |
| What's He Building? | ||
| 2002 | God's Away on Business | Jesse Dylan |
| 2004 | Top of the Hill | Chris Blum |
| 2006 | Lie to Me | Danny Clinch |
| 2011 | Satisfied | Jesse Dylan |
| 2012 | Hell Broke Luce | Matt Mahurin |
Tribute albums
- 1989: Bad Liver och hans brustna hjärtan Fjorton sånger - Tom Waits på svenska
- 1990: Gerd Köster The Piano Has Been Drinking
- 1995: Holly Cole Temptation
- 1995: Various Artists Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits
- 1996: Sven Henriksen Rød pust: Sven Henriksen synger Tom Waits
- 1998: Jani Kovačić Povabilo Na Bluz (Invitation to the Blues)
- 2000: Wolfgang Ambros After me the flood - Ambros sings Waits
- 2000: Various Artists New Coat of Paint
- 2001: John Hammond Jr. Wicked Grin (produced and recorded by Waits)
- 2001: Claudia Bettinaglio Saving All My Love - A Tribute to Tom Waits
- 2001: Delmore Days of Roses
- 2003: Hell Blues Choir Greetings from HELL - The Tom Waits Songbook
- 2003: Laura Fedele porn show - Laura Fedele interpreta Tom Waits
- 2003: Kazik Staszewski Piosenki Toma Waitsa
- 2005: Billy's Band Being Tom Waits
- 2005: The Silver Hearts The Silver Hearts Play Rain Dogs
- 2007: Carlos Carega à Espera de Tom
- 2008: Scarlett Johansson Anywhere I Lay My Head
- 2008: Southside Johnny with LaBamba's Big Band Grapefruit Moon
- 2012: Jess Walker Mercy and Grand: The Music of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
- 2014: Rebekka Bakken Little Drop of Poison
- 2015: Ebba Forsberg Om Jag Lämnar Dig - Ebba Forsberg Sjunger Tom Waits
Awards for music sales
|
Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.
| Country / Region |
silver |
gold |
 platinum
|
Sales | swell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources) |
|||||
 Canada (MC)
|
- |
4 × gold4th
|
- | 190,000 | musiccanada.com |
 Netherlands (NVPI)
|
- |
3 × gold3
|
platinum1
|
125,000 | nvpi.nl |
|
United States (RIAA)
|
- |
3 × gold3
|
- | 1,500,000 | riaa.com |
|
United Kingdom (BPI)
|
6 × silver6th
|
4 × gold4th
|
- | 760,000 | bpi.co.uk |
| All in all |
6 × silver6th
|
14 × gold14th
|
platinum1
|
||
swell
Web links
- Tom Waits at Discogs (English)
- Tom Waits Library