Tom Waits – Foreign Affairs

1977’s Foreign Affairs takes the jazz and poetry that Tom Waits explored on his earlier albums in a more cinematic direction, foreshadowing his own breakthrough work in the 80s. Opening with the instrumental “Cinny’s Waltz” and featuring some new standards like “Muriel” and “I Never Talk To Strangers”, his dramatic duet with Bette Midler, this album gets into some of Waits’ most ambitious storytelling ever. Foreign Affairs also features the jazzy, colorful “Jack and Neil” and the sweeping, dramatic “Potters Field” as well as classic Waits ballads “Burma Shave” and “Sight for Sore Eyes”.

01. CINNY’S WALTZ 02. MURIEL 03. I NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS 04. MEDLEY: JACK & NEAL / CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME 05. A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES 06. POTTER’S FIELD 07. BURMA-SHAVE 08. BARBER SHOP 09. FOREIGN AFFAIR