The Innovators and the World Builders: Tom Waits named his favourite songs from the 1960s
It isn’t easy to come up with any decade that was better for music than the 1960s. For someone like Tom Waits, the decade didn’t just signal a moment in time but proved the explosiveness of innovation in all its diverse forms, helping him to formulate the basis for what would later become his gritty, poetic sound. From these influences, Waits became one of the most versatile visionaries ever with a lyrical mastery that rivalled the likes of Bob Dylan.
While Waits’ influences seemingly change like his own ever-evolving transformation, many of them underscore the essence of his own appeal while allowing him to venture in any direction he pleases. This might be a significant risk for many, but for Waits, it’s the lifeblood that makes music powerful. After all, if he isn’t doing what he feels is right, there really is no point at all.
The ’60s, therefore, saw a resurgence of many of the sounds and genres that are easily detectable in Waits’ own work. From simple rock rhythms and blues structures to folk and poetic lyricism, many of Waits’ favourites from the decade tell stories he longs to grip onto beyond the surface, particularly the ones that dig into the realism that not only mirrored the times but captured the spirit of his artistic ethos.
Still, despite Waits’ perceived flippancy when it comes to musical tastes, many of his favourites from this period in time reflect his commitment to diversity and musical development, touching upon different legendary figures who revolutionised their respective spaces. In interviews, he makes this clear, admitting that his list of favourites might change despite the basic appeal remaining the same. As he put it: “If you ask me tomorrow, the list would change, of course.”
Some are more obvious than others, like the Bob Dylan songs, among which ‘Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands’ is one of his favourites. “For a songwriter, Dylan is as essential as a hammer and nails and a saw are to a carpenter,” he said, noting the cruciality of Dylan’s presence and how he effectively reinvented what it meant to place yourself at the centre of the narrative within a song.
While it’s also easy to see why Waits would fall in love with the music of The Kinks, The Who, and Roy Orbison, his affinity for slower, more heartfelt melodies shines through in songs like Sam Cooke’s ‘Bring It On Home to Me’ and Ray Charles’ ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’. At the same time, many tracks from the era reflect his appreciation for genre-blending, showcasing how his talent for mixing elements of country, soul, and rock was influenced by these seminal ’60s icons.
Hidden between the lines of many of these songs is also an atmosphere of mysterious intrigue, particularly in the works of Dylan, alongside Bobbie Gentry and Buffalo Springfield. These often venture beyond simple description, sparking a deeper experience that mirrors the same sense of enigma Waits sought to inject into his art, creating the kind of world-building aura that has come to define his legacy. As he once said, “My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket.”
Tom Waits’ favourite songs from the 1960s:
- ‘96 Tears’ – ? and the Mysterians
- ‘Ball and Chain’ – Big Brother and the Holding Company
- ‘Boris the Spider’ – The Who
- ‘Bring it on Home to Me’ – Sam Cooke
- ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’ – Ray Charles
- ‘China Pig’ – Captain Beefheart
- ‘For What it’s Worth’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Georgia On My Mind’ – Ray Charles
- ‘Harlem Shuffle’ – Bob & Earl
- ‘Hello Walls’ – Willie Nelson
- ‘In Dreams’ – Roy Orbison
- ‘Like A Fool’ – Ike and Tina Turner
- ‘Just Like A Woman’ – Bob Dylan
- ‘Louie Louie’ – The Kingsmen
- ‘Moon River’ – Andy Williams
- ‘Night Train’ – James Brown
- ‘Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ – Bobbie Gentry
- ‘Prisoner of Love’ – James Brown
- ‘Restless Farewell’ – Bob Dylan
- ‘Ringo’ – Lorne Green
- ‘Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands’ – Bob Dylan
- ‘Soldier Boy’ – The Shirelles
- ‘Substitute’ – The Who
- ‘This is a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ – James Brown
- ‘Train Kept-a-Rollin’’ – The Yardbirds
- ‘Walk Away Renee’ – The Left Banke
- ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ – Howlin’ Wolf
- ‘You Really Got Me’ – The Kinks
- ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me’ – Smokey Robinson
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